麻豆社

In her essay, Both Arms, Michelle Scally Clarke writes about the statue of that name by William Kenneth Armitage CBE, a Leeds sculptor known for his semi-abstract bronzes.鈥� It is a powerful public image of compassion, support and welcome, created as a monument to friendship. It resonates for Michelle about her own life journey as a mixed race care leaver who was welcomed and held by Leeds as a child and now an adult.

鈥楤oth Arms鈥� also holds great pride and nostalgia for Michelle, a visual symbol of Leeds as a city of hope for now and the future. Her essay explores Leeds as a city of welcome in multiple contexts - adoption and adaptation; migrants and refugees; traders and artists; students; and Nelson Mandela鈥檚 iconic visit to the city in the 1990s.

Michelle Scally Clarke is a writer and performer of drama, creative writing, and poetry. Work includes 麻豆社 Contains Strong Language 2023, Space2 2016 performance and workshop focusing on mental health 鈥楽uitcase鈥�, 2018 cross-cultural play 鈥楯eans, Whose Genes?鈥� and now peer-led Clear Out Your Closer poetry group, focusing on writing for wellbeing.

Writer/reader, Michelle Scally Clarke
Sound designer, Alisdair McGregor
Producer, Polly Thomas

Looking at Leeds is a co-commission between 麻豆社 Radio 3 and The Space with funding from Arts Council England.
A Thomas Carter Project for 麻豆社 Radio 3.