The sun shone for a joyful celebration for the Ocean on Tuesday 25th June in Princesshay Square. Over 100 people of all ages gathered to enjoy a multi media celebration including live performances, music, video, poetry in English and Arabic and Whale Song. Visitors were invited to immerse themselves in the content and take part in the interactive activities available at the event which included origami making, pom pom creation for a ‘mossy carpet’, an opportunity to meet and talk with scientists and more.

The We Are The Ocean project from the University of Exeter is all about shining a spotlight on the importance of the ocean to humanity and how we all need to take action to heal and save the ocean for future generations. Did you know that every other breath we take comes from the Ocean!

In 2023, the University of Exeter twinned 14 coastal schools in the UK and UAE as part of the Schools Across The Ocean programme. Over 400 children aged 10 – 12 worked with marine scientists, teachers, writers, translators and artists to find out and share how all living things on the planet rely on a healthy Ocean.

The ‘We Are The Ocean’ anthology, in English and Arabic, is a jigsaw of all 400 children’s words, thoughts, worries, discoveries, pictures, conversations, and hopes. The anthology was launched at COP28 Climate Change Conference in Dubai at the end of 2023 and presented to world leaders.

Princesshay is hosting this inspiring exhibition on Bedford Street featuring poems and imagery from the anthology until the end of September 2024. There is still time to visit and absorb the moving words from the mouths of young people across the UK and UAE united in their mission to protect and restore the ocean.

The project has had huge support from all over the world as people come together to share their hopes for the future of the planet.