Magna Carta – Radiating Signals | Blueprint: Film Foundation

2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta. The founding document of our modern day democratic society.

There are only 4 remaining original documents, one of which is housed in Lincoln Castle. Lincoln has therefore been thrust into the limelight as part of the celebrations throughout 2015, and as such we’ve become heavily involved with the production of some exciting digital and creative content to help celebrate and educate the importance of the Magna Carta within Lincolnshire.

Blueprint: Film Foundation have been facilitating the ‘Radiating Signals’ project funded by Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire Co-op.

The project involves 2 artists working with 10 communities across Lincolnshire on the creation of 20 flags that will be displayed on the walls of Lincoln castle throughout the official celebration event in June.

As part of the process, Blueprint: Film Foundation’s Chris Searson travelled to 5 communities in Lincolnshire to deliver creative workshops to Lincolnshire ‘Community Champions’. The workshops gave some background to the Magna Carta itself and then a facilitated discussion surrounding the themes of democracy, human rights, freedom and justice. Following this discussion the group started to talk about what made places, people and items represented their community and linked with some of the themes of Magna Carta.

With the help of Chris the groups created 2-4 rough designs for a banner, which will then be interpreted into the final designs for the flags.

At the end of the Magna Carta celebrations, the banners will return to the communities they were conceived in to stand as a lasting legacy of the project.