We're Here Because We're Here (art event) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids We're Here Because We're Here |
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Participants at Kings Cross station, London
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| Artist | Jeremy Deller |
| Year | 1 July 2016 |
| Type | Event |
| Subject | Battle of the Somme |
We're Here Because We're Here was a special art project that happened all over the United Kingdom on July 1, 2016. It was created by an artist named Jeremy Deller. This date was important because it was exactly 100 years since the start of the Battle of the Somme, a very big and sad battle from World War I. The project was a way to remember the soldiers who fought and died in that battle.
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What Was the Event Like?
On that day, about 1,600 men volunteered to be part of the art project. They dressed up in exact copies of the uniforms worn by British soldiers during World War I. These volunteers appeared in groups in many public places, like train stations and shopping centers.
Each volunteer represented a real soldier who died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. When people came up to them, the volunteers did not speak. Instead, they quietly gave out cards. These cards had the name, age, and army group of the soldier they were representing. They also included the special tag #wearehere. Jeremy Deller said these cards were "like small tombstones."
Sometimes, the volunteers would sing a part of the song Auld Lang Syne. The words they sang were "We're Here Because We're Here..." This was a song soldiers used to sing in the trenches before the battle.
How Was the Project Planned?
The planning for We're Here Because We're Here was kept a secret. No one knew about it beforehand. This made the event a surprise for everyone who saw it. Even without any advertising, many pictures of the volunteers quickly appeared on social media with the #wearehere tag.
Jeremy Deller worked with Rufus Norris, who is in charge of the National Theatre. Rufus Norris had the idea that the volunteers should not talk to each other or to the public. This made the experience even more powerful.
The project was put together by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the National Theatre. Many regional theaters helped train the volunteers. The whole idea for this project came from 14–18 NOW, which is a UK arts program. It was created to mark the 100th anniversary of World War I.
How Did People React?
People loved the project. Most reactions from the public were very positive. A journalist named Simon Ricketts said the project showed "the power of art, of human tribute, of sombre significance." He also felt it was a "deeply uplifting action."
The magazine Creative Review called it "one of the most meaningful UK public art projects of recent times."
On the evening of the event, Jeremy Deller and Rufus Norris talked about it on the BBC Radio 4 show Front Row. Later, a TV show called Jeremy Deller: We're here because we're here was shown on BBC television on November 13, 2016. This day was Remembrance Sunday.
A book with 100 photos of the event was also published. It came out on the 101st anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Where Did the Event Happen?
The volunteers appeared in many towns and cities across the UK. Some of the places included:
