After an overwhelming amount of applications, 13 incredible and inspiring projects have been selected as part of the second round of the Make it Happen Fellowship Funding grants programme.
Make it Happen is part of the Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture 2019 Fellowship Funding programme which aims to make available grants to support artists and organisations to create locally relevant, ambitious cultural activity right across the borough. A panel of community ambassadors had the tough job of selecting the successful candidates from over 150 applications.
A number of the projects selected will celebrate Waltham Forest and the diverse communities that call our borough home. My Home will explore the untold stories of female immigrants that help to make our borough special and More than a Recipe Book will share stories of refugees through a new cookbook. Black Women and Hair Community Project will bring together elders and younger women to share experiences of black hair and culture in the borough and beyond whilst Home Project asks everyone… what does home mean to us?
The borough will be alive with the sound of music as three of the successful projects bring music of all kinds to Waltham Forest. There will be dancing in the streets for the Red Light Busking as they transform Walthamstow into a busker’s paradise. Through a monthly series of gigs in and around Leyton, Polish Jazz Series will showcase the very best Polish Jazz Musicians. Exploring community, identity, perception and reality Permanent Inclusion will combine performing arts to work with young people pupil referral units to create a new theatre performance.
Some of the projects will work directly with people to create ambitious new performances. Turning retirement and care homes into arts venues in collaboration with residents, Magic Me present the Inside Out Festival. Plus, Handprint Theatre will create a special performance for deaf and hearing audiences called Our Patchwork Community.
Looking to ancient crafts and for inspiration, three of the successful projects will explore craft and community. Feel the heat with the Urban Crafts Foundation and their mobile forge to learn new skills in metal making and blacksmithing. Local artist Maud Milton will create a series of mosaic installations across the borough. Meanwhile, in celebration of Black History Month, Hennography will explore the history of Henna from ancient beginnings in Egypt right up to the present day and contemporary society.
And finally, We’re All Bats presents a special programme of sound art and listening, inviting all ages to rediscover the art of listening. Highlights from an ambitious programme of activity include exploring the borough through music events, walks guided by sound and underwater music at a swimming pool. You heard it here first.
Over the coming months these projects will grow and expand offering ways to get involved and experience exciting ideas.
With thanks to The Great Hall, Leyton for hosting the official photoshoot.