Presented by the East London Creative, People and Places Network, and Art School Plus
East London Creative Communities
East London Creative People and Places Network is a newly launched partnership between the four Creative People and Places programmes based in East London. These are: Colours of Redbridge, Culture Within Newham, Havering Changing, and Creative Barking and Dagenham.
We’ve teamed up with Art School Plus to pilot a new project which will support five artists based in Barking & Dagenham
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
— Sarah Wickens, Director of Programme
About the commissions
We’re excited to introduce five artists who will be collaborating with local people to co-create a programme of creative activities and events across three Barking and Dagenham communities.
Each artist has been selected to work closely with local people, bringing creativity, expression, and community engagement to the forefront. Our three commissions focus on:
Thames View, Barking – This commission will focus on working with the people of Thames View, working alongside the people of Thames View, Barking Riverside, and Scrattons Farm to champion residents driving change.
Supporting Caregivers – The second commission will work in partnership with Early Years Cocoon focusing on working with adults who care for young children aged 0-4, providing a space for connection, creativity, and shared experiences.
Marks Gate, Dagenham – Our third commission will focus on engaging with the people of Marks Gate and in partnership with grassroots groups.
This programme is designed to be a shared journey, where artists and residents come together to shape meaningful projects. Each artist will receive a £10,000 bursary and we anticipate the commissions will take place between March and September 2025
Meet the Artists
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Kirsty Bekoe-Tabiri
London-based multidisciplinary artist. Her “visual essays” often feature women of colour and bespoke fashion concepts, blending London cityscapes with the Edenic diasporic landscapes of 'back home’.
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Briony Campbell
Briony Campbell is a socially engaged East London artist and facilitator. Working within arts, education, health and research, Briony invites people to think about relationships, get creative and share stories.
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Abel Holsborough
Abel Holsborough is a socially engaged artist, born & based in East London. They primarily use photography, performance and writing in their work to explore the un-monumental and everyday histories.
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Christina Ford
With over 16 years of experience working closely with local communities, Christina is dedicated to co-creating art that sparks conversation, challenges perceptions, and fosters connection.
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Matty May
Their work often explores the peaks and troths, from mental health struggles to the importance of joy, they are passionate about the value of community and the importance of finding it.
About the training
Each artist will participate in a bespoke training programme designed and delivered in February 2025.
The week-long programme facilitated by artist and Glasgow Women’s Library founder Adele Patrick will be specifically tailored to artists working in East London, and focus on the skills and knowledge they’ll need to deliver community-led and co-creation projects in public settings.
After the training, artists will then work with the Creative Barking and Dagenham team and partners to develop new artwork for public spaces and/or deliver creative activity for local residents and put their newly gained skills into practice.
