New wave of home-grown creatives to lead community-led projects across East London

Written By Guest User

Photo Credit: Ilyas Ayub 

15 artists from East London have been selected as part of a pioneering new programme to commission exceptional new artwork alongside local communities. Projects will include permanent public artworks, original theatre and large-scale outdoor performances and street carnivals, all with a strong community voice. 

The artists include photographers, digital artists, zine-makers, illustrators, sculptors, writers and performers, graphic novelists, film makers, socially engaged and archive artists. They will be working alongside some of the least represented people in East London when it comes to art and culture, unlocking creative potential across the region and allowing people from every background to get involved in high quality creative projects.  

A spokesperson for the East London Creative People and Places network said: “We are delighted to be part of this pioneering programme with Art School Plus and to be working together with the other East London organisations. We look forward to seeing a range of exceptional work created alongside our communities, as well as seeing the ripple effects across East London’s creative scene.” 

The project is part of a pilot across Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge, where four local arts organisations have joined together to champion local talent and build their skills in producing community-led creative work. 

Over 100 artists applied for the opportunity through an open call. The 15 successful artists will work with Art School Plus, experts in artistic collaborations and training, to further develop their creative approaches. They will then go on to work on specific commissions in one of the four East London areas. 

The artists are: 

  • Abel Holsborough, socially engaged artist exploring everyday histories though photography, performance and writing 

  • Briony Campbell, socially engaged artist and facilitator specialising in education, health and research 

  • Christina Ford, socially engaged artist specialising in inclusive, community-driven initiatives 

  • Ioana Simion, artist and educator specialising in zine making 

  • Kareem, photographer and storyteller 

  • Kirsty Bekoe-Tabiri, multi-disciplinary artist combining urban design with photography and fashion 

  • Lee Barham, filmmaker and documentary maker 

  • Maryam Huq, digital artist with a focus on heritage and identity 

  • Matty May, working class queer artist, writer, performer and facilitator, and self-proclaimed “Barking babe” 

  • Nyla Sammons, portrait and lifestyle photographer 

  • Rhiannon Armstrong, socially engaged artist focusing on empathy, interaction and dialogue 

  • Richard Garratt, artist and educator specialising in sculpture, painting and photography 

  • Sabba Khan, author and graphic novelist 

  • Sheyamali Sudesh, archival artist and writer 

  • Wayne Snooze, visual artist specialising in 80s comic art and lifestyle illustration

About East London Creative Communities 

Colours of Redbridge, Creative Barking and Dagenham, Culture Within Newham and Havering Changing are part of Creative People and Places (CPP), a national programme from Arts Council England, where local people decide what culture happens in their area. This collaboration in East London champions community-led arts and culture to provide better visibility and creative opportunity across the region. 

Ella Snell, Founder at Art School Plus said: “We’re thrilled to be working with this inspiring group of local creatives and communities across East London. At Art School Plus, our mission is to support and equip artists with the skills to create meaningful work alongside the people and organisations who call these neighbourhoods home. We believe that art belongs to everyone, and through this programme we’re taking another step toward ensuring that no voice goes unheard in shaping East London’s creative future.” 

About Art School Plus 

Art School Plus is a training provider and innovator of unique art projects. They are the bridge between artists and projects, supporting the cultural sector and artists with the skills and knowledge to develop mutually beneficial relationships and exciting work. The artists will be supported by Dr Adele Patrick, co-founder of Glasgow Women’s Library, who has been developing innovative cultural projects rooted in equalities and community learning for over 30 years. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Royal Society of Edinburgh. 

People interested in the programme should visit: https://www.culturewithin.org.uk/opportunities/east-london-creative-communities 

The East London Creative People and Places Projects are: 

  • IG @coloursofredbridge FB @coloursofred 

  • IG @culturewithin_ FB @culturewithinnewham 

  • IG @haveringchanging FB @haveringchanging 

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