A Fashion Collection created by young homeless people
Last week we gathered to celebrate the creative achievements of a group of people, all of whom are living in hostels and temporary accommodation. This event was so overwhelming for all involved! The energy and support in the room was unbelievable and it was wonderful to see just how far these participants have come.
A series of workshops
Over a week in November 2019, our participants participated in a series of fashion workshops. They reworked, redesigned and repurposed surplus stock and fabric that had been so kindly donated by the fashion retailer Ted Baker. Each participant designed and made a totally unique outfit for a specific member of the team of the law firm Briffa. The challenge? To redefine what a lawyer should look like for the 21st century. To reverse hierarchies and overturn stereotypes and enable and often ignored group of people to be in charge and in control. We were assisted on this project by fashion students from Ravensbourne University.
Empowerment through creativity
Through being involved in this project, the Accumulate participants gained self confidence, wellbeing and their personal value increased. They learnt new skills and became much more positive about themselves, their potential and their future. New friendships were made that didn’t exist before and boundaries and misconceptions were broken down. This ultimately reinforces an objective of Accumulate, to empower people affected by homelessness through their engagement and participation in creative projects.
Collaboration
The NO JUDGEMENT project, creative workshops, fashion show and party have all been achieved through the collaboration and generous sponsorship of the Briffa law firm, Ted Baker, Greenwich Digital Skills and Ravensbourne University London. We can’t thank you all enough!
Daniel Kelly and Nathan Singh from Ted Baker with Accumulate founder Marice Cumber.
This Autumn has brought a jam packed schedule to Accumulate as we are getting ready to launch our brand new project, A Radio Station for the Homeless!
A podcast taster session. Photo credit @benpetersphoto
This project will give our participants, all young homeless people, the opportunity to digitally broadcast their stories. They will also gain the technical skills needed to present, record and edit podcasts. We were thrilled to receive funding from Nesta UK as part of their Amplified programme. A fund supporting cultural and creative organisations that seek to develop digital ideas that generate social impact. We are also so happy to be partnering once again with Ravensbourne University London whose amazing tutors will pass on their digital expertise to train our participants.
Our particpants working with tutor Natalie Orchard. Photo credit @benpetersphoto
A Voice to a Marginalised Community
This project gives our group of young people a chance to tell their stories, giving a much needed voice to a marginalised community. ‘Its not all about being homeless!’ says our founder & Director Marice Cumber. ‘It will be a diverse and creative content made and broadcasted by people affected by homelessness – their music, their stories, their spoken word, their poetry, their interviews and programmes about the issues that matter to them.’
Working with Ravensbourne tutor Jack Brown. Photo credit @samvholt
Training by Industry Experts
We have been lucky enough to introduce some amazing guest speakers and tutors to work with our group. Industry experts worked with them on areas from creative branding to pitching & presentation skills and technical broadcast training.
The group with The Receipts podcast host Milena Sanchez
Branding workshop with Fahud Ahned, Senior Creative at Design Bridge. Photo credit @benpetersphoto
Technical skills with BBC producer & engineer Peter Monnery. Photo credit @benpetersphoto
Empowerment and Confidence
It has been amazing to see how far this group have come since our first taster sessions to now when our group are pitching their subject ideas to industry professionals! Each member of the groups confidence and self esteem has grown week on week, empowering them to a more positive outlook.
Pitch day! Presenting to industry professionals. Photo credit @samvholt
Stay tuned, six podcast subjects have now been selected and our group will go one to use their new found skills to produce and broadcast.
https://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_5193.jpg8061242Marice Cumberhttps://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accumulate-Logo-2019.jpgMarice Cumber2019-11-03 12:44:562020-01-01 09:24:44Radio Station for the Homeless
A new academic year and brings fresh focus for Accumulate
We are Accumulate and we are the first Art School for the Homeless. Based in London, we provide art school level tuition by professional tutors for people who often feel excluded from the regular education system. We work with participants from hostels from all over the capital. We offer each participant the opportunity to find empowerment and the chance to further their education through creativity.
Our course offer is extensive. Joining the Accumulate course means a participant can study a wide range of creative mediums. Our workshops include photography, fashion, visual arts, illustration and film which gives the group room to fully explore their creativity. We work in collaboration with major cultural institutions, universities and industry professionals to support our group’s learning.
This year Accumulate is super ambitious! Our course starts in October running all the way through to June 2020. We offer progression routes via our scholarship scheme onto the Access course at Ravensbourne University London. From there the Accumulate participants go onto the BA course. This is significant as it gives participants the chance to gain a university education which otherwise may not have been possible.
Thank you for following along on our journey. We can’t wait to share with you our new programme of workshops starting this Autumn. Watch this space….there is SO much to come!
https://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_3715.jpg8201236Marice Cumberhttps://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accumulate-Logo-2019.jpgMarice Cumber2019-09-04 10:26:562020-01-01 09:24:38Accumulate – The Art School for The Homeless
The Accumulate 2019 Exhibition launches April 2019!
On the 9th April, ‘Youth Culture’ the Accumulate exhibition for 2019 launches at Autograph in Shoreditch, East London. We are so looking forward to showcasing the incredible creative achievements of the group of participants who have taken part in the Accumulate programme this year.
Our group have covered a wide range of creative mediums in a really short space of time, given we only started with the group in January! We have introduced new workshops this year including fashion and sculpture which the group have absolutely loved. Collaborating with some big industry names which has been an absolute thrill for all of us involved.
The Road to Youth Culture
The start of the year brought together the group of participants. Each person taking part is affected by homelessness. Participants have come to from 7 hostels across London. For the first of our workshops we worked with our exhibition hosts and long term collaborators Autograph. Participants got to hear about the context and background to their extensive photographic archive as well as learning new skills with the camera before shooting on location around Shoreditch. Getting out of the hostel environment is a very important element to our project. Participants enjoy the experience of visiting and exploring new places as a focus to their workshop, helping them gain confidence away from the hostel.
On location in Shoreditch (Photo credit Sabela Peinado)
Fashion Workshop
2019 was the first time we have worked with a fashion theme in the Accumulate programme. We collaborated with international fashion brand Levis, London cultural space Somerset Houseand the photography archive, Youth Club Archive on this workshop. Participants got inspired, working with the theme of Youth Culture, reviewing Youth Club’s amazing social history archive of images. They then went on, using these influences to customise the iconic Levis Trucker Jacket to give it their own unique and personal look. An amazing outlet for self expression, learning new skills and finding inspiration working together as a group. The levels of creativity and imagination was just outstanding!
With the jackets complete, the group took part in photoshoots outside Somerset House and on location at the Printworks venue in East London. The group were fashion models and photographers for the day! The took it in turn to photograph each other, perfecting their newly learned camera skills!
Along with a fashion workshop, we were so excited to introduce Sculpture to the programme this year. This workshop was kindly funded by Art UK as part of their ‘Art is all around you’ UK wide sculpture project. We also partnered again with our friends at Autograph. We were very excited to hold part of the workshop at the BBC Broadcasting House! Inspired by the sculptures and history surrounding this iconic building, our participants worked on themes that influenced their identity and own ideas of youth culture. They began modelling their sculptures first from cardboard then covering them in plaster before finally painting them with breathtaking results!
Adding plaster to a sculpture (Photo credit sabelapeinado.com)
Zine Making
Amongst all this we also found time to create Issue 4 of the Accumulate zine Decay!! The creative ideas were first produced by our group, putting their own thoughts and feelings down on paper. This work was then passed on the 60 graphic design students at Ravensbourne University who worked to create the final spreads seen in the zine.
Creating at the zine workshop
The Youth Culture pop up exhibition will feature all the work our participants have produced during these workshops, including a show of the stunning customised Levis jackets and the official launch of Decay 4. As part of this event we will also be awarding scholarships to selected Accumulate participants, giving them the opportunity to further their creative studies on the Access HE course in Design and Digital Media at Ravensbourne University London. A life changing opportunity.
There is still time to register for this free event – click here. Please show you support for our participants and come along. We would all love to see you there!
https://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/IMG_2390.jpg8331223Marice Cumberhttps://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accumulate-Logo-2019.jpgMarice Cumber2019-04-04 18:24:282019-10-10 14:22:59Youth Culture – An Accumulate Exhibition
We have been delighted to introduce sculpture as a new medium to the Accumulate programme for 2019. Four days of workshops hosted by the BBC at Broadcasting House, as well as Autograph in Shoreditch and funded by Art UK as part of their countrywide ‘Sculpture Around You’ project.
Exploring themes & ideas
Day One began with discovering the history and themes behind the sculptures on display at BBC Broadcasting House. We were so lucky to have all these public sculptures brought to life during this tour by Head of History at the BBC, Robert Seatter. Following this, the group expanded and explored the themes they had been discussing, committing their ideas and thoughts to paper.
Accumulate at Broadcasting House!
Exploring themes & ideas
Bringing each design to life
Armed with their designs, participants began working with cardboard for the basis of their models. They then added plaster to their designs. They looked just stunning! Paint was then added to completely bring the sculptures to life. Each participant worked consistently over the whole four days, totally committed to their project, ensuring it communicated their ideas to the viewer.
Modelling from cardboard
Adding plaster
Finished Sculptures
Sculpture is not easy, and to take an idea from concept into 3D is a great challenge, especially with unfamiliar materials. Our group absolutely loved it. Frank, one of our participants, commented “Out of all the Accumulate workshops so far, hands down I’ve liked sculpture the most.’ It’s so great to hear feedback like this. Even more evidence of how far it is possible to go with a group of dedicated and fully engaged participants.
This February we have been so proud to partner with some amazing organisations, Levis, Youth Club Archive, Ravensbourne University London and Somerset House on our series of fashion workshops to coincide with London Fashion Week.
Accumulate participants wearing their Levi’s Jackets before the workshop
CREATIVE WORKSHOPS
All of the participants are young people living in hostels or temporary accommodation across London. Youth Culture was the theme of this project, with expression through fashion being the aim. Our participants worked throughout the week on their creative skills. They customised the classic Levi’s denim Trucker jackets (the fashion icon of youth culture). The jackets were so kindly donated to the project by Levis UK – thank you! Customising, adorning and decorating the jackets created an extremely individual, unique and personal look and the results were phenomenal! It allowed the group to express their thoughts, feelings and experiences in a creative and visual way. At the end of each day of creativity we photographed the group outside the iconic buildings of Somerset House in Central London. We were so lucky to have renowned photographer Duncan Raban work with group, encouraging them to model their creations with confidence.
Former homeless artist David Tovey, helps Crystal on the Accumulate Levi’s workshop
Imania uses graffiti and personal statements to decorate her jacket
The Accumulate participants worked consistently over 5 days. They came to every workshop at 10am and finishing at 5pm, travelling across London to attend. This is a major indication of their sense of achievement, drive and ambition and really shows how much this project meant to them.
FASHION SHOOT
The finale to our week was a fashion shoot with Youth Club Archive at Printworks London in Surrey Quays. This amazing location has a real industrial edge, such a great backdrop to our shoot. Here our participants had the chance to be models and fashion photographers for the day! We we thrilled to welcome some amazing make artists from the London School of Media Makeup and the London School of Make Up to make the group feel glamorous for the shoot! Participants took turns modelling their customised jackets and photographing each other, practising their camera skills on set.
The group were really overwhelmed with what they had produced and achieved within such a short period of time. They were so proud of themselves, something that can often be denied to them because of their circumstances.
We could not have achieved this ambitious and successful project without the support and involvement of our partners and of course the amazing Accumulate participants.
Photo credit – Sabela Peinado – sabelapeinado.com
https://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/accuday4-59.jpg36485472Marice Cumberhttps://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accumulate-Logo-2019.jpgMarice Cumber2019-02-21 17:39:472019-04-01 06:35:24Accumulate Fashion Workshops – February 2019
With the new year came a big milestone for Accumulate! We celebrated five years of our project with an exhibition and party hosted by our great friends Briffa Legal. It was held at their offices in the Business Design Centre in Islington, coinciding with the London Art Fair. This was such a great opportunity to showcase our work over the years and show how far we have come!
Accumulate Begins
Accumulate was set up in January 2014. We aim to use creativity and creative education to empower the lives of young people who are homeless and living in hostels and temporary accommodation. It began with one hostel in North London, and now we are working with six hostels across London. So far, 180 people have participated in our creative workshops!
sabelapeinado.com
Accumulate Workshops
Our workshops cover many creative mediums, from photography to fashion, from yoga to ceramics. We collaborate with London’s leading cultural institutions such as The Victoria & Albert Museum, Somerset House, The Tate, The Barbican and The BBC. At the end of our series of workshops, an exhibition is held to showcase our participant’s creative work produced in our workshops. We also give them the opportunity to sell their artwork. The profits from each piece are split between the artist so they can earn from their creativity and by Accumulate so we can continue to fund and deliver more creative workshops.
Our workshops are fulfilling, meaningful and engaging. We help our participants unlock their creative potential and learning abilities. In turn, this builds confidence and self-esteem, helping them believe in themselves more. They also create friendships within the group around their shared creative interests. All these skills help them to overcome their challenges helping them to navigate life, secure and remain in employment and enter education or training.
sabelapeinado.com
Accumulate Scholarships
In 2016 Accumulate fundraised to enable us to award its first scholarships so participants could continue their creative education, studying on the Access to HE Diploma course in Design at Ravensbourne University London.
These scholarships enable people to achieve a university education, a goal that previously may have seemed impossible. By 2018, nine Accumulate participants had been awarded scholarships with two of them moving onto undergraduate courses.
Life-Changing
The Accumulate project offers our participants the chance to unlock their potential, learn new skills, build resilience and self-identity. This is life-changing!
sabelapeinado.com
https://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_1581.jpg18242736Marice Cumberhttps://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accumulate-Logo-2019.jpgMarice Cumber2019-01-30 11:46:172019-10-10 14:33:20Accumulate is 5!
We thought we had a busy Summer….well Autumn and up to end of 2018 has been jam packed!
V&A Photography Workshop and Exhibit
September saw a photography workshop collaboration with participants from Freedom from Torture. This charity supports people who have been through immeasurable suffering as victims of torture. It was amazing to see this group of people come together and support each other, learning new skills. A couple of weeks later the images these individuals had produced were proudly exhibited at the V & A museum. Was wonderful to see these smiling faces launching their own exhibit!
Edible Utopia
We took part in an absolutely fascinating workshop at Somerset House. So weird and wonderful and something completely different for our participants. Experimenting with different effects, they produced some stunning images of fungus. They just loved working on these technical aspects, capturing the astonishing forms of the mushrooms! We were thrilled that the images were used by Somerset House projected onto the wall of ‘The Deadhouse’ as part of World Fungus Day!
Jump Up!
We got together again with our friends at Youth Club Social, checking out their latest exhibition ‘Jump Up’ celebrating 50 years of Notting Hill Carnival. After being inspired by the amazing photography on display, our participants got creative designing their own Carnival backdrops!
One Festival of Homelessness Arts
This was our second year being involved in this incredible event founded and directed by our great friend the Artist David Tovey. A celebration of the works of art, in so many forms, created by artists who have or are experiencing homelessness. We had the privilege of exhibiting images from our photography workshops ‘Portraits and Potential’. This workshops involved participants from YMCA Walthamstow who had their images captured by Accumulate Tutor and visual artist Othello De Souza Hartley. Afterwards we gathered together to discuss what each person saw in their own portrait and then reflect & share their hopes for the future. Inspiring.
House of St Barnabas Art Hang
We were beyond delighted to see the work of the Accumulate Zine DECAY 3, produced back in the summer, exhibited on a large scale at the House of St Baranabas in Soho. Such a proud moment so see our stunning pieces exhibited in this incredible setting.
Latest Workshops
As the dark nights drew in, we worked with a new group from Broadwater Lodge. A hostel for families in North London. It was just wonderful to see this group have fun with creativity and learn new skills. We also rounded off the year with workshops with participants from YMCA North London and Evolve in Stockwell who were perfecting their technical skills.
Alexandra Palace
As a final creative project of 2018 we worked together with artist Cristina Otto on the incredible project at Alexandra Palace. This installation is on display in the new East Wing at the palace and it really is quite a sight!
Student Successes
We are beyond proud to see 2017 Scholarship winner continue his creative education, enrolling on the BA Advertising and Brand Design course at Ravensbourne University! Luke said “Thank you for all this and the opportunity. I am nervous as hell but very excited to start a new life.”
2018 student Nisha Zala was also accepted in the Access to Fashion course at Morley College. We are so excited for you Nisha!
Hello 2019!
2019 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for Accumulate…….thank you so much for following along, your support means the world to us.
We are delighted to include the creative work of the Accumulate zine, Decay 3, in the bi annual Art Hang 2019 exhibit at House of St Barnabas. This exhibition launched in London’s Soho last week. We are so proud to exhibit next to so many other incredible not for profit artists and in such a stunning setting.
Photo Credit Nic Serpell-Rand
The artwork on display came from Decay Issue 3. This is the Accumulate zine that showcases the words, images and random thoughts of people affected by homelessness. We collaborated with House of St Barnabas and their Employment Academy team back in the Summer. The Employment Academy graduates, employees and members all sat round a large table to produce creative content together. By doing so formed their own creative community, whilst producing inspiring creative pieces. As part of this collaboration, students from Ravensbourne University’s Graphic Design course developed the ideas from the workshop into the final visuals you see on display.
Photo Credit Nic Serpell-Rand
It is just incredible to see the artwork displayed on such a large scale. It looked stunning! On the night, we also sold copies of Decay 3 along with prints of individual artworks. All profits from sales are split with the artist so they can earn from their creativity and with Accumulate so we can continue to support more people affected by homelessness find empowerment through creativity.
Photo Credit Nic Serpell-Rand
It has been a privilege to work with this inspiring organisation and support their vital work with people affected by homelessness and we hope we can work together in the future on more creative workshops.
https://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/artparty-50.jpg13332000Marice Cumberhttps://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accumulate-Logo-2019.jpgMarice Cumber2018-11-03 12:51:122019-04-01 06:35:47House of St Barnabas Art Hang 2019
This October will see the creative work of Accumulate participants included in an exhibition!
We are thrilled to be included in the AW18 Art Hang event at Soho private members club, House of St Barnabas. We worked together with the students in their Employment Academy programme. This programme aims to support people affected by homelessness get the skills & training they need to get back into sustainable employment. The participants came together on a series of zine workshops led by designer Patrick Fry. They produced creative content influenced by their own experiences. This creative work was then passed onto over 80 2nd year graphic design students from Ravensbourne University. The students were set a brief by their tutor to produce a series of magazine spreads for Accumulate. Three students were then selected to develop their ideas further and create the final visuals for Decay 3, the Accumulate zine.
This collaboration of organisations and people who gave their time and expertise to create this zine has been immeasurable.
We will be immensely proud to see this work displayed within the stunning environs of House of St Barnabas in its Bazelgette Room as part of their 2018, not for profit art programme alongside other incredible artists.
If you think you could support Accumulate in our continuing creative programme supporting people affected by homelessness by working with us or volunteering your time, please do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!
https://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DECAY_LAF_Posters-AW_05_34-20.jpg59934262Marice Cumberhttps://accumulate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accumulate-Logo-2019.jpgMarice Cumber2018-10-22 13:25:342019-10-10 14:30:04Accumulate x House of St Barnabas
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