Programme:

”She Says: Light, Camera, Action!”, Friday 19th  of May at 8pm

An evening of community video screenings produced by Second Wave Youth Arts (Deptford, London) in the 1980’s.

In collaboration with London Community Video Archive (LCVA)Special guests: comedian and actress Angie Le Mar, Marie Berry, Deborah Rose and J B Rose.

Dear London, Why are you so dear? The ultimate use of a building now seems to be how much rent you can get for it and nothing to do with what people or neighbourhoods need. We can see what is possible and what is good, but to implement true change, do we have to turn to social action? Revolutionary solutions such as the right to squat, with occupation turning into ownership? You know London, we as Hartslane have indeed been down that road to reclaim and bring back to life a building that had been left to rot. How can we build on that experience and bring back humanity to your streets?

There is a certain theatricality about derelict buildings, which once were so full of life but now stand empty, waiting to be restored, used and loved again. What is the narrative, their story; who lived or worked there, why did they leave, why was the building abandoned? And perhaps more importantly why do these ruinous spaces evoke such mixed emotions in us, sensual, romantic, nostalgic, but frustration and sadness too. We feel we want to protect them.
We also ask why not more of the vast number of empty buildings is being re-used as homes when we have a chronic shortage of housing in the capital. Some of these buildings are not deemed to have any architectural merit so they get demolished. Often what is built instead though is soul-less and doesn’t speak to the community, doesn’t allow for any social interaction. Public spaces get developed into private spaces because buildings are now called properties. They are an investment with a high rental price-tag.

We are proud to present our Room 6.3 DEAR LONDON, where we celebrate the empty, forgotten buildings in London and imagine a new use for them, a new relation between people and space, where humanity is at heart.

Programme:

5-12 November 2017, SEWN SEEDS, Dance artist Maria Lothe brought together a collaborative group of visual artists to present 3 days of exhibition and performance inspired by permaculture and sustainability.

9 -10 February 2018, PULSE, An immersive installation performance collaboration between artist Clive Burton and the performance artist Dagmara Bilon.

1-3 March 2018, RECREATIONAL. A group show, centres around sites of work and play in the city- what defines & differentiates these, & what happens when roles are reversed or boundaries blurred.

9-21 March 2018, NEW NARRATIVES Exhibition