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Michelle Scally Clarke

The city of Leeds seen through public art - past, present and future. In her essay, Both Arms, Michelle Scally Clarke talks about the statue of that name by William Kenneth Armitage

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.

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Wed 13 Dec 2023 22:45

Broadcast

  • Wed 13 Dec 2023 22:45

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