Wild in Art is inviting people from across the UK to submit real-life stories and poems about key workers for a chance to be included in the Gratitude installation.
Visitors to the installation will be able to listen to stories and poems from adults and children, that pay tribute to all key workers, from doctors on the front-line to shopkeepers and delivery drivers, carers and teachers, via the Gratitude App and via the Gratitude website.
A selection of the stories will be recorded by a host of well-known voices including singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, Adil Ray OBE and actors Julie Hesmondhalgh, Ciarán Griffiths, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Christopher Eccleston, John Thomson and Shobna Gulati, to help us tell the story of this unprecedented time.
The story, which should be no longer than 500 words in length, must tell a personal story about a key worker and showcase the amazing work they have done during the pandemic. It can also be a story about yourself, for example if you work as a key worker or if there is something a key worker has done for you personally that has made a difference to your life.
To submit a key worker story for consideration, please read the Gratitude Stories Frequently Asked Questions below and the Terms and Conditions and then complete the submission form.
The deadline for submitting your story is 5pm on Wednesday 2 June 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I submit my story?
To submit your story, please complete the online form at thisisgratitude.co.uk/submit-a-story
We recommend that you type up your story first and save a copy for your records. You can then copy and paste it into the online form.
When are submissions open?
Submissions are open now. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Wednesday 2 June 2021.
Is there a word limit for my Gratitude Story?
Stories must be 500 words or less. There is no lower limit.
Is the title included in the word limit?
No, the title will not be included in the word count.
Are there any guidelines I need to consider when writing my story or poem?
Your submission must tell a personal story about a key worker and showcase the amazing work they have done during the pandemic. It can also be a story about yourself, for example if you work as a key worker or if there is something a key worker has done for you personally that has made a difference to your life.
Key workers could be shopkeepers and delivery drivers, carers and teachers and many more people providing vital services as well as doctors and nurses on the front-line.
When planning and writing your story, please ensure it is appropriate for public broadcast, bearing in mind that the audience will be broad-based and of all ages. Stories that are overtly religious, political or sexual in nature will not be accepted. Corporate advertising is not allowed.
Can I submit more than one story?
No, you can only submit one story. If you submit more than one story we will only consider the first submission that we receive.
Are there any age restrictions?
No, we are looking for stories from people of all ages.
If you are under 18 years of age you will need an adult to approve the submission and agree to the Terms and Conditions on your behalf. The adult can be a parent, guardian or teacher. The adult must provide their own contact details on the submission form.
How will the stories be selected?
The stories will be reviewed and shortlisted by the Gratitude team which includes representatives from Wild in Art and our Gratitude partners. We would like to ensure that the stories reflect as many different key workers as possible and represent people from across the UK.
Wild in Art reserves the right to moderate all submitted stories before recording, broadcast or publication.
I’ve sent my story, when will I hear back?
Once you have submitted your story you will receive an automated email acknowledgement. We will shortlist the submissions and make the selection of stories to be voiced by well-known figures in June 2021.
If your story is selected a member of the Gratitude team will contact you in June 2021.
Please be aware we are a small team so while we would love to be able to contact everyone individually, please accept that if you have not heard from us by 9 July 2021, we are sorry but unfortunately your story has not been selected for inclusion in the project. We unfortunately won’t be able to respond to individual requests.
I didn’t save a copy of my story – can you send me a copy?
Unfortunately we aren’t able to return stories.
When will you announce which stories have been selected?
If your story is selected a member of the Gratitude team will contact you in June 2021 however we ask that you keep the news under wraps until the Gratitude installation is open to the public on 20 August 2021.
The stories will be announced publicly when the display is open to the public in August 2021.
I’m having problems submitting my story?
Often issues can be caused by a browser/device/internet issue. We recommend that you try the following:
- Try using a different browser to your default browser
- Try resetting your cache/cookies – it could be that your browser is trying to load an old page
- Try a different device
- It could also be that there is a security/firewall setting that is preventing you from accessing the page. Are you able to try a different internet connection?
If you still have problems please email us at gratitude@wildinart.co.uk
How will my personal data be used?
Wild in Art is committed to protecting your personal information and will not to do anything with your information you wouldn’t reasonably expect. We will ensure that we look after your details responsibly – and that any organisation using your information on our behalf do the same.
Your data will be used to process your submission and inform you about Gratitude. Subsequently, your data will be added onto Wild in Art’s database system to comply with our legal obligations.
All data provided by you may be used by Wild in Art for marketing, communications and evaluation purposes unless you opt out in writing. We don’t and never will sell or pass on any of your details to another organisation for them to use for their own purposes. We may, however, use third party organisations to help deliver services on our behalf, for example distributing our email newsletters or feedback questionnaires, managing participant lists for our events or managing media and PR.
The data obtained from your submission form will be stored and shared in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and any other data protection legislation which may amend or supersede the GDPR. As part of our commitment to privacy and transparency, you can review more information about how we collect and use personal information via Wild in Art’s Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
