We're Here Because We're Here (art event)

File:Soldiersatkingscross 06.jpg

Throughout the day, some 1,600 volunteers, all men, dressed in replica British army uniforms of World War I, appeared in groups at railway stations, shopping centres and other places.{{Cite episode |title=Jeremy Deller: We're here because we're here |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b083bk7n/jeremy-deller-were-here-because-were-here |access-date=2016-11-13 |network=BBC Television |date=2016-11-13 }} Each volunteer represented an individual, named, soldier who died on the first day of the battle. When approached, they did not speak, but instead handed cards to members of the public, bearing the name, age and regiment of the person they represented, and the hashtag #wearehere. Deller described these cards as "like small tombstones". From time to time, the volunteers would sing the recursive refrain "We're Here Because We're Here..." to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, as sung in the trenches before the battle.

During planning, the event was kept secret, and it occurred with no advance publicity. Nonetheless, many pictures subsequently appeared on social media, with the advertised hashtag.

Deller was assisted by Rufus Norris, artistic director of the National Theatre, who came up with the idea of asking the volunteers not to speak to each other or the public. The event was produced by Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the National Theatre,{{cite web|url=https://becausewearehere.co.uk/|title='we're here because we're here'|date=1 July 2016|access-date=1 July 2016}} and the volunteers were trained in conjunction with a number of regional theatres.{{cite web |url= https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/content/we%E2%80%99re-here-because-we%E2%80%99re-here|title= we're here because we're here |author= | website= National Theatre | access-date= 4 July 2016 }} The project was commissioned by the UK's arts programme 14-18 NOW, which was set up for the World War I centenary.

The public's reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Journalist Simon Ricketts described the project as having:{{cite web|url=http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2016/july/were-here-because-were-here-jeremy-dellers-silent-commemoration-to-the-soldiers-of-the-somme/|title=We're Here Because We're Here – Jeremy Deller's silent commemoration of the soldiers of the Somme|date=4 July 2016|work=Creative Review|access-date=4 July 2016}}

{{Blockquote|the power of art, of human tribute, of sombre significance. #Wearehere is a deeply uplifting action that was much needed.}}

and Creative Review called it:{{Cite tweet|number=749025739903754241 |user=CreativeReview |date=1 July 2016|title= How #wearehere became one of the most meaningful UK public art projects of recent times}}

{{Blockquote|one of the most meaningful UK public art projects of recent times}}

On the evening of the day of the event, Deller and Norris discussed it on BBC Radio 4's Front Row programme.{{cite episode| title= Artistic Responses to the Battle of the Somme, from Jeremy Deller to the Caribbean| series= Front Row| credits= Presenters: John Wilson Producer: Jerome Weatherald| station= BBC Radio 4| url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07h2vp7| airdate= 1 July 2016| minutes= 1:10 }}

A documentary, Jeremy Deller: We're here because we're here was broadcast on BBC television on 13 November 2016, Remembrance Sunday.

Deller and Norris's book, with 100 photographs of the event, was published on the battle's 101st anniversary.{{cite web |title=Jeremy Deller: We're Here Because We're Here |url=https://shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk/jeremy-deller-were-here-because-were-here.html |publisher=National Theatre |access-date=11 December 2017 }}

File:File-We're Here Because We're Here - Milton Keynes CROP.jpg

Locations included:

{{Flatlist|

• Aberystwyth
• Bangor
• Belfast
• Blackpool
• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Chester
• Derry
• Glasgow
• Ipswich
• Lerwick, Shetland
• London
• Manchester
• Milton Keynes
• Newcastle
• Penzance
• Plymouth
• Salisbury
• Sheffield
• Snowdonia
• Southampton
• Swansea

}}

• {{cite book|last1=Deller|first1=Jeremy |last2=Norris |first2=Rufus |title=We're Here Because We're Here |year=2017 |publisher=Cultureshock Media |isbn=9780995454620 |url=https://shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk/jeremy-deller-were-here-because-were-here.html }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|We're Here Because We're Here}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://civilservice.blog.gov.uk/2016/07/12/remembering-the-fallen-of-the-somme/ Remembering the fallen of the Somme] - by one of the event's participants
• {{YouTube|ISbT5HQEpFw|Footage from Belfast}} (includes singing)

{{DEFAULTSORT:We're Here Because We're Here (art event)}}

Category:Art festivals in the United Kingdom

Category:World War I memorials in the United Kingdom

Category:2016 works