A poem to celebrate post-lockdown Leicester.
A poetic response to a post-lockdown Leicester was yesterday unveiled by Leicester City Council.
'We've Missed You' will run over a six-week period and support local companies and provide reassures to residents and visitors by welcoming back to being out and about again.
'We've Missed You' will be brought to life through community-led poetry masterclasses, striking photography and evocative videos created by and inspired by the city’s diverse population.
The campaign is has been launched with a specially-commissioned video and poem called 'By the Clocktower' showing how people can start to make the most of what the city has to offer.
Through lockdown, we've all commented on what we’ve missed most and what we are looking forward to most, as rules are relaxed. It's this sentiment that’s inspired the campaign, in different creative, and surprising, ways that will be revealed over the six-week campaign.
The emotive poem and video, specially written by Arch Creative co-founder and poet, Joe Nixon, looks back to the things we’ve all missed most over the successive lockdowns, but – more importantly – what we look forward to enjoying once again, as normality begins to resume, be that a stroll through the city, a coffee with friends, a bite to eat, a spot of retail therapy or some of its top-notch entertainment.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby told Leicester City Council: “The poem By The Clock Tower, and the accompanying video, are a timely reminder about what life was like in the city before the pandemic struck, and reflects the hopes of very many people that we can begin to enjoy that once again, in a safe, sustainable way.”
Listen to the spine-tingling, tear-jerking poem below.
‘By The Clock Tower’ is based around the city’s iconic Clock Tower monument, which has, for generations, been a central meeting point, sitting proudly in the heart of the city’s retail district.
Joe said: “The idea of meeting at the Clock Tower is something that is inherently unique about living in Leicester. We’ve all said and done it.
"The Clock Tower is that beacon that we all know and love in the city, but it is so much more than just a clock: it is an emblem of hope, of permanence, of making plans and of meeting loved ones, once again."
The poem, and the wider six-week campaign uses poetry and creative writing throughout to showcase some of the things we’ve missed most and inspire locals to learn about new businesses that have launched over lockdown.
Leicester is, and always has been, a diverse city that rises to its challenges and responds creatively.
This video and 'We've Missed You' is the labour of love of local Leicester residents and was created by Leicester City Council in conjunction with Arch Creative and Fraser Urquhart Media.
The campaign is funded by a European Regional Development (ERDF) Reopening High Streets Safely grant to support high streets get safely back to business.
There are many more exciting and thought-provoking aspects of this community-led campaign – including social media campaigns, creative writing masterclasses and activities that I’ll keep you in the loop with as the weeks progress.
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