This weekend, Liberty and Art Assembly will be taking over the streets and venues of Walthamstow. Below you will find some useful information to help you plan your days…
Liberty
22-24 November, across Walthamstow, free
The Mayor of London's Liberty festival is an exciting free weekend of cutting-edge art and performance that celebrates the work of D/deaf and disabled artists, showcasing new works and ambitious ideas. All venues and events will have a range of access facilities so that everyone can enjoy the action.
Friday 22 November
Some installations will open before the weekend, so there will be plenty of time to experience them. Architects of Air’s monumental inflatable sculpture of colour, air and light, the Arboria Luminarium in Lloyd Park, will be open from 9.30am-3.30pm. Remember to dress up warm as there may be queues, and make sure to wear socks as you will need to leave your shoes at the entrance. Nwando Ebizie’s Afrofuturist immersive tech installation, Distorted Constellations at Waltham Forest Community Hub, is also open on Friday from 6pm-9pm.
Saturday 23 November
The full programme of events for Liberty starts on Saturday. You can take a look here for a rundown of what is happening including Arboria, Distorted Constellations and a club night from Deaf Rave. There are also still a few spaces left on Deaf Rave's BSL Taster workshops taking place at the William Morris Community Centre.
Please note Arboria priority access tickets are fully booked, but it is free to turn up and visit. If you have any specific access needs, please speak to a member of staff.
Sunday 24 November
Don't miss some of our grant's projects presenting at Liberty: Shyne Phiri has developed work originally created with Stopgap Dance earlier this year into a live dance installation: Outside In and Handprint Theatre will present an open performance of Our Patchwork Community – A Tale of Two Houses.
Plus - a huge Trades Hall Takeover has just been announced for Sunday afternoon, including:
- Triple Threat!: The first solo piece by Sonny Nwachukwu exploring the themes of Race, Homosexuality, and Disability
- Live music from Heart n Soul artist Sam Castell-Ward
- Wheels of Madness: A short film following the adventures of Gal in his wheelchair to his favourite music festival, Sziget in Hungary.
- And to end the night Club Soda presents DJ Tony Cool and Soul Sister Julie Brickley
Access and getting around
There are signed, captioned and audio described performances across the weekend. Check our access info for details: wfculture19.co.uk/liberty/access
On Sunday there will be an accessible shuttle bus around Liberty venues, and from Tottenham Hale station (Stop A) – check wfculture19.co.uk/liberty/access to see the route.
Please note, a planned procession through Walthamstow (International Muslim Movement Procession) may cause some delays along Hoe Street and Forest Road on Sunday 24 November between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Please check tfl.gov.uk for updates and to plan your journey.
Art Assembly
23 November, across Walthamstow
Join some of the UK’s leading arts organisations in Walthamstow on Saturday 23 November at Art Assembly, a one-day festival exploring how art can make a difference to communities.
Events taking place across the day include actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament hosting a recording of their Talk Art podcast and Grizedale Arts constructing an outdoor classroom to host workshops on self-build, fermentation, bakery and craft skills.
Other events include:
Synergy Theatre Project
This weekend Synergy Theatre Project present their new play To My Younger Self as part of Art Assembly. The play examines issues around knife crime and features a cast of professional actors and artists with lived experience of the criminal justice system. Synergy Theatre Project are well known for their work supporting the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners, ex-prisoners and young people at risk. This new performance is set to be a highlight of Art Assembly. Performances are free but booking is highly encouraged.
The Resurrection of William Morris
Can artists save the world? Should they? What would William Morris think of Walthamstow in 2019? Join the final debate of Art Assembly at Waltham Forest Town Hall from 5pm to answer these questions and more. Featuring an esteemed panel of artists and aliens from across the galaxy, The Resurrection of William Morris will be a light-hearted end to an action packed Art Assembly. Click here for more info.
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