Entrenchments 2015 is one of a number of initiatives Victoria University is taking to contribute to the centenary of World War I. Began on 30th March, the month-long event will be held all the way until the end of April.

Billed as a creative conversation, Dr Sydney Shep, Wai-te-ata Press printer and reader in book history, say: “[it] aims to promote cultural understanding and global peace.

“Prejudice, antagonism, territorial disputes, and war often result from a profound lack of understanding and respect for differences in language, traditions, religion, faith, and politics.”

The event features Canadian illustrator Julian Peters and Wellington-based illustrator and writer Sarah Laing.

The event is an initiative of Victoria University’s Wai-teata Press and the New Zealand Centre for Literary Translation, in partnership with the Canadian High Commission.

This year marks the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign, which started on 25 April 1915. Often heralded as the birth of New Zealand’s nationhood, it has also been touted as showing attributes that exemplifies Kiwi culture.

A variety activities will be held during the month, with one being the Daily Despatches – a visual interpretations of the daily tweets from @LTCOLMalone, of the late Lt. Col. William G Malone, commanding officer of the Wellington Battalion at Gallipoli.

The interpretations will be publicly sketched on large glass panels, and the images then tweeted using the hastag #joinjulian

The month will culminate on 28 April with an exhibition and launch of the creations, with illustrators and authors in attendance.