Community collaborations through performance, installation and text
A community takeover shaped by the stories, experiences and ideas of the people living in Westgate Street. This free street party event included live music, open mic, spoken word, history talks, exhibitions, reminiscing sessions and the unveiling of a large textile artwork with hundreds of stars designed by the local people.
A self-supporting mentoring tool that integrates a mix of philosophy, First Nation wisdom and lived experiences into a collection of 100 tips (or stars) to help artists discuss how they can navigate creative projects involving audiences and communities. The stars act as a shareable resource that helps us care for ourselves and one another, starting as a social media campaign and now printed as a deck of cards.
An interactive resource exploring wellbeing, care and artistic practice. This was developed over a series of workshops with artists from Portugal Prints, exploring what a supported studio looks and feels like and considering how we could offer that kind of space to others at the Whitechapel’s A Century of the Artist’s Studio exhibition.
A social practice drawing project that toured the UK in a camper van during 2021. Hundreds of drawings were collected from people all over the country, creating a visual archive of the pandemic period and how it has changed our lives.
A social drawing project, offering a glimpse into the challenges and uncertainties that come with managing mental health during Covid-19. Workshops were delivered to a group of Londoners with chronic or long-term mental health needs, exploring how art-making and expressive marking can create a visual narrative and provide a space for care and sharing.
An immersive installation of giant papyrus scrolls, created by members of St. Christopher’s Hospice, Arts Network, Three Cs, and an Asylum Seekers Hostel. The participants designed a series of symbols to represent their life stories from beginning to end, considering the legacy of their lives and how we retell our own personal mythology.
A community-led project that celebrated the street life of Woolwich, exploring its past, present and future through public art. Local artists conducted life story interviews with people in the area to create a poetry trail and film that brought together themes of community pride, challenges and activism.
A text-based installation, created through a series of workshops with Slough residents. Participants were encouraged to share private ideas publicly and write words around social issues and shared community concerns. As a result, hundreds of creative writing pieces were developed and written on the walls of a former department store on the high street.
A film about the boroughs of South London, told from the perspective of its older residents with their memories and stories. The project was developed over 3 months through a series of creative reminiscence workshops, that served as an opportunity to contemplate the changing city, its past and imagined future.
A touring DIY t-shirt printing space, where the public were invited to create a slogan t-shirt with regards to the climate emergency. Participants were able to turn their anxiety into direct action, articulating personal concerns that are mutually shared amongst the community.
