The Newsletter
Past Events
Launch
December 3rd saw the launch night of The Workshop at 44 Marlborough Avenue. We opened our doors, got the jerk chicken on the barbecue and the beers on ice to say hello to friends and neighbours, and were graced with the presence of some fine performers to mark the occasion. With performance poetry from Catherine Brogan and Paradox, folk music from Nick Mulvey and a blow –out performance from hip hop collection Caxton Press, a good time was had by all.
NB: Watch this space for a regular hip hop open mic night at the Workshop run by local musicians coming soon! Inspired by the show-stopping MC skills of many young residents on the Regents Estate.
Art Exhibitions
The walls of Marlborough Avenue were graced with all manner of interesting and unique art in December. German duo Heinmat Museum held their show ’busman’s holiday’ which explored ideas around unemployment and the artist’s role in society. We also held an art auction leadby the lovely Ingrid Sanfey for the charity Refuge, which supports victims of domestic violence in the UK. There were some fine pieces on offer, including a drawing by cult cartoonist Ralph Steadman, which helped raise money for a great cause. The vicar of Hackney Wick was in attendance, and rumour has it he got himself a great artistic bargain!
Upcoming events
Sasha Das Gupta – photography
Photographer Sasha das Gupta was immediately drawn to the space at 44 Marlborough Avenue, and struck by the closeness of the community around it. Sasha wanted to draw inspiration from her surroundings in the formulation of this exhibition, so spent many days wandering round the estate and getting to know the local residents. She had a fine old time at the pensioners’ bingo club and decided to make the charming ladies she met there the subject of her exhibition on Jan 31st. Through her series of portraits, Sasha wants to explore a new brand of social realism, and combat some of the negative connotations associated with social housing. She wants to focus on the community spirit and joyfulness of the female residents she has met and capture them in a sociable environment. This project marks the first of a series of documentary photography capturing residents of the Regents Estate.
The exhibition will launch on Jan 31st at 6pm with a drinks reception and run for a week, opening times 10am – 6pm.
Jamie Leith – photography
Photographer Jamie Leith will launch a unique and exciting community photo project at the Regents Estate on Jan 21st. Jamie has received sponsorship from Fujifilm and o2 Think Big to carry out his project with residents of the Regents Estate of all ages. On Jan 21st, Jamie will hand out disposable cameras to local residents and encourage them to take 3phtos every hour for the rest of the day, documenting their lives and environments on the Regents Estate and beyond. At the end of the day, participants will return their camera for printing. On Thursday evening for 4 weeks, Jamie will be running workshops with residents to select the best photos and prepare for an exhibition, training them in anything from event organising, to promotion to using photo shop.
Project launches Jan 21st at 11am, workshops every Thursday at 7pm from Jan 26th – Feb 23rd. culminating in an exhibition on Thursday 1st march at 7pm.
Anna Pearson – Resident
Anna is a campaigner and community worker who lives in Hackney. She’ll be running her community organisation Spots of Time from The Workshop. Anna says:
“Spots of Time a new social enterprise which makes it easy for people to do fun, inspiring & bite-size activities to benefit people in their community. From dress rehearsals in day centres to arts & crafts sessions with youth groups we passionately believe that these activities can help lift people’s day. With our website www.spotsoftime.org.uk you can fix up creative ways to give your time to local good causes in minutes and without any long-term commitment.
So get stuck in - just visit our website to pick your activity and book it instantly. You can even share our activities with friends first via twitter, facebook or plain old email and get a group together to volunteer.
We're always looking for new community organisations that are interested in receiving people to host fun activities both in Hackney and further a field as we expand into new areas of London. Or if you'd like to get involved in helping us run & promote Spots of Time we'd love to hear from you too!”
Lucy Ferguson – Resident
Lucy is a social entrepreneur and youth worker who lives in Hackney. She works for Mediorite, which is a social enterprise developing young people within media. They run www.yhworld.co.uk written by team of young creatives, it's all about promoting all the exciting arts opportunities available around London. Lucy says:
“We love creative projects and teaming up with other youth organisations, currently we've got the Discover Young Hackney Media Ambassadors dyhmedia.wordpress.com driving the DYH festival's communications, Design & Make showcasing young designer makers dyhdesignandmake.wordpress.com & www.focusedyoungindividuals.com With photography, theatre, T shirt making and filming projects planned and more exhibitions and screenings than you can imagine please come and say hello!”
Rolemop - BLC Hackney unemployed workshops
BLC Hackney is a community led project for unemployed people. The workshops offer practical help with tackling job interviews through a 2-3 hour workshop. Innovative, intensive, and interactive exercises are facilitated by experienced practitioners, techniques in drama, video and sound are harnessed to stimulate and engage participants to develop their practical skills specifically for the use of gaining future employment. Participants will improve presentation, confidence, and interview techniques.
Workshops are running in Spring 2012, to book in email info@rolemop.org.uk
Rolemop - Broken Loops Theatre Performance
Broken Loopsis a groundbreaking site-specific performance that amalgamates live acting, new writing, improvisation and cutting edge interactive technology in a poignant piece of theatre. This unique production unlocks the history between a mother and daughter; Cheryl and her daughter Rose, as they meet face to face for the first time after ten long years of silence. Be plunged into this simmering meeting and have a hand in how the story unfolds.
Rolemop will be building and rehearsing the piece in The Workshop the week of 13th February .
Performance night is Saturday 18th February at 7.30pm .
Voices Through the Estate Project – Rolemop and Residents
Voices Through the Estate project is an audio archive project that aims to explore the heritage, history and landscape of The Regents Estate from pre-war 1930’s to the present day.
At The Workshop the Rolemop Team will record and create a collection of Oral accounts, stories, memories and histories of local people from The Regents Estate, we want to capture the rich and diverse melting pot of its wonderful residents. The archive will offer an historical and visual background of The Regents Estate. In summer 2012 the memories will be presented in a special exhibition at The Workshop and we hope to have the material archived at the Hackney archives for public access.
If you would like to take part in Voices Through the Estate then please email info@rolemop.org.uk or pop in to The Workshop and have a chat.
Call out!
At The workshop, we’re looking for volunteers to help make this community arts space as dynamic and exiting as it can be. Whatever your skills, from youth work and mentoring to DIY and helping out at events, we would love to have you on board. We’re also always looking for local artists / musicians / photographers / filmmakers who want a space in which to showcase their work, so if you or anyone else you know is interested, please get in touch.
Contact eva@rolemop.org.uk
