Between 1939 and 1945 more than 30,000 civilian men and women from all parts of the Commonwealth died at sea.

A national arts programme

'Cruel Sea: survivors remember their service in the wartime Merchant Navy' In 2002 Age Exchange began planning a diverse national arts programm, Cruel Sea, exploring memories of the sea and service in the wartime Merchant Navy. The National Maritime Museum was the first supporting partner of this exciting project. Cruel Sea aims to raise the profile of the Merchant Navy and form a new arts partnership through the development of regional arts and reminiscence networks. The project has been funded by the Arts Council England.

The creative programme was planned for delivery in four major stages, each stage leading to the creation of a major arts presence, including exhibitions and performances in Bristol, Liverpool, London, Newcastle and Southampton. Further national involvement in the project has been generated by organizations with an interest in the Merchant Navy theme and the creative arts programmes.

Touring exhibition, 3D portraits and theatre production

Cruel Sea has now been completed. With 53 national interviews, Age Exchange chose to present the outcomes in three creative formats: a touring exhibition, a range of life size three-dimensional portraits of the veterans by award winning photographic artist Tim Macmillan (film director and original creator of the time-slice camera), and a national touring theatre production, planned in association with the Liverpool Everyman Theatre Company.

The exhibition for the project was launched at the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum on 11 November 2004 and toured nationally throughout 2005 in a variety of formats.

A selection of the work was displayed at the National Maritime Museum 9 May - 28 June 2005.

Please see the link below for further details:
www.age-exchange.org.uk/cruelsea/