Wonderland – 2023 Art Exhibition and Scholarship ceremony

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Wonderland

As we approach the Summer break it feels like the perfect time to look back at the incredibly special summer showcase event we held at the beginning of July. Sponsored by MTD Group and hosted by Conductor London, One Crown Place and Sun Street Hotel in the City of London, we celebrated the creative achievements of all our participants in the last year.

Wonderland Exhibition –  July 2023. Big thanks to Patrick Fry for the amazing graphics!

The exhibition was absolutely brimming with incredible art, all produced by our participants during our programme of creative workshops throughout the year. Guests on the night viewed ceramics, visual art, fashion, film and photographs. All created by people affected by homelessness.

Headpieces on display from our ‘Wearable Art as Fashion’ series of workshops

Beautiful ceramics designed and created by participants

Images from our Analogue Photography workshops

This year we wanted to make the exhibition as interactive as possible so we treated our guests to live screen printing workshops run by the wonderful Nicole Line as well as drawing workshops led by Joshua Beatty. We even had our own DJ booth, designed, built and painted by a group of participants along with Poor Collective.

Screen printing workshop so guests could give it a go too!

One guest loved the print so much that she printed it onto her trousers! Looks so good!

Our DJ booth created together with Poor Collective

As we all gathered together to celebrate the creativity in the room, we felt so privileged that participants Sam and Deon agreed to speak to the audience about their own Accumulate experiences. Sam, as a participant and scholarship winner in 2022, and Deon who is taking part in the MATTA programme, working so hard to inspire creativity in others. Listen to their stories in their own words via our Instagram posts. Sam’s is HERE Deon’s is HERE

Sam spoke about this Accumulate journey

Deon spoke about her experience as a participant on our MATTA course.

As part of the evening were just so excited to present certificates to each participant who attended our workshops as well as the highly anticipated scholarships to selected participants so they can continue their developing their creativity in higher education.

Participants were all presented with a certificate by Chair of Trustees Michelle

After a heartwarming speech from our Director and Founder Marice Cumber, our Chair of Trustees Michelle presented the scholarships to each winner along with their delighted sponsor.  They will study, fully funded, on Access to Higher Education courses in Fine Art, Design and Digital Media and Fashion at either Ravensbourne University or Morley College. Huge congratulations!

Stuart won the Accumulate Ian Shaw photography prize and also received an award of a camera and a year of mentoring by tutor Giulio Mazzarini.

Congratulations Alicia and thank you to sponsor Debra from Grove End Housing

Congratulations Ya’aesh and thank you to sponsor Debra from Grove End Housing

Congratulations to Alexandria and thank you to BOP Consulting for their sponsorship

Congratulations also to scholarship winners Hayley and Sana (not pictured) and sponsors AHMM Architects and EC Bid London.

To round off the celebrations, we were treated to a fashion show of participants all modelling the incredible headpieces they created in our series of workshops ‘Wearable Art as Fashion’. The show was led by previous Accumulate scholarship winner Nikol who really got the crowd going! Check out a video of the show HERE

Nikol led the fashion show!

Amazing pieces! Well done to all the participants.

Accumulate, after it all, is about community. We are so thrilled that so many participants past and present attend our events. A true testament to the experiences they have taken part in and the lasting friendships they have formed.

This was a truly special evening. The perfect showcase for all our participants for their achievements this year. We can’t wait to see what’s next for you all.

Photo credits: Ben Peters Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming Soon! Wonderland

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COMING SOON!

Accumulate, the Art School for the Homeless presents………Wonderland

On Thursday 6th July we will treat our guests to a spectacular display of ceramics, visual art, fashion, film and photographs created by people affected by homelessness. We are so excited to also include a Wonderland live screen-printing and drawing workshop on the night so everyone can get involved!

This exhibition will display the striking creative work of the Accumulate participants which they have worked so hard to produce this year. We will hear their stories and witness how creativity has made a positive difference to their lives.

 

 

The Accumulate Wonderland exhibition is all about community and working together to achieve better things. It celebrates the creative achievements of a group of people, living in hostels and temporary accommodation, who participated in this year’s Accumulate Wonderland workshops, created their own supportive community and advanced and developed their skills and confidence through creative learning.

This event will also celebrate Accumulate’s  Wonderland community of creative practitioners, cultural and creative organisations, funders and sponsors who work with, collaborate and support Accumulate and help us to achieve so much meaningful and transformative impact and experiences for our participants.

Our participants have worked so hard on their creativity throughout the year

Part of this event will also include the scholarships which will be awarded to selected Accumulate participants so that they can continue their creative education and study, fully funded, on Access to HE courses in Fine Art, Design and Digital Media and Fashion. An amazing opportunity and all part of their creative journey with Accumulate.

It promises to be an inspiring evening. There’s still time to RSVP for your ticket to attend. Drop us a message if you’d like to come along.

  • Email us at info@accumulate.org.uk
  • Follow us on Instagram & Twitter @acccumulate_ldn

 

Creative Futures 2!

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The Second Edition

After the success of our first Creative Futures sessions back in the summer of 2022 we were delighted to introduce our second edition of this initiative in January this year. An innovative and first-of-its-kind event to build creative employment networks and opportunities between people experiencing homelessness and the creative industries.

 

Photo credit: Ben Peters

 

Photo Credit: Ben Peters

Game Changer

Our January 2023 instalment was kindly funded by the National Lottery and took place over three days at the office of D&AD in Shoreditch.

We had industry involvement from design, advertising, branding, fashion, publishing and content creation businesses, all of whom offered work-related opportunities to Creative Futures participants. These included Adobe, Grazia, Penguin Publishing, Kurt Geiger, Jones Knowles Ritchie, No Fixed Abode, GEM Creative Studio, On the One Agency, Page and Page Partners and The Digital Fairy.

Photo Credit: Ben Peters

Creative Futures 2 was a game changer that makes a real difference to creative people furthest away from the workforce but who have so much to offer. The positivity and enthusiasm felt by participants and industry folk were evident.

 

“A trillion, quadrillion thanks for the most amazingly awesome creative course ever.
I can’t express how much it’s expanded my energies and contributed to my creativity mindset…Creative Futures, truly caused me to start resonating on a new level – Marice, Rossanne, Tori and the rest of the team – infinite thanks and blessings to you all. The three/ four days have been the highlight of my 2023 and I already miss you all!”
Creative Futures 2 participant.

Photo Credit: Ben Peters

“I had such a great time chatting to the participants. Everyone I spoke to was so talented and great at speaking about their work, goals and inspiration. It’s so clear to see how much they’ve valued their time with Accumulate.” Claea Marcis from Jacky Winter who provided portfolio reviews for Creative Futures.

Photo Credit: Ben Peters

 

“What an amazing experience that will stick with me for a long time”.
Rob Mathie, Founder, On The One.

Photo Credit: Ben Peters

 

Huge thanks to all involved. We are so proud of what we have achieved with Creative Futures and can’t wait to update you on our participant’s continuing creative journey.

Photo credit: Ben Peters

 

Make Art To Teach Art

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“Make Art To Teach Art” Programme Tutor
Accumulate Art School for the Homeless

Job Type: Freelance
Salary: £200 per day
Closing Date: 19-12-2022

Accumulate Art School for the Homeless is looking for a lead programme tutor for the “Make Art to Teach Art” (MATTA) project. MATTA is a new and sector-changing education project that will be training and supporting people with lived experience of homelessness to become creative workshop leaders. The aim of MATTA is to increase the diversity of the sector and also enable people to earn and change their lives through their creative practice and become a creative educator and facilitator.
This role is ideal for a dynamic, self-starting individual who wants to make a difference through social impact and has experience in arts education teaching and learning, with a focus on inclusive teaching practices.
For full job description and details on how to apply please see below or go to this link
MATTA is a partnership project with the University of the Arts London and has been funded by London Community Fund.

Make Art To Teach Art – Job Description

Job Title: MATTA (Make Art to Teach Art) Programme Tutor
Contract Type: Freelance
Contract Length: 24 days over 6 months (possible renewal after 6 months)
Salary: £200 per day
Accountable to: Director of Accumulate

Location: London (mostly Camberwell, some in central London locations)

Purpose of Role:

Accumulate, The Art School For The Homeless, helps young, homeless people to build their skills, develop their well-being and improve their lives through creativity. Accumulate has received Deutsche Bank funding to run a new programme in partnership with the University of the Arts London (UAL), for Accumulate members to learn how to facilitate their own creative workshops. This exciting role will be for the delivery lead tutor, to launch the programme in February 2023. The tutor will plan, design and deliver multiple iterations of the ‘Make Art to Teach Art’ (MATTA) course, Accumulate and UAL’s training for homeless people wishing to learn about facilitating arts teaching. We’re looking for an experienced arts educator to deliver a high-quality teaching and learning experience and related support to participants, adjusting course design where necessary. The person appointed will be responsible to the Director of Accumulate.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • To lead delivery of the ‘MATTA’ programme, monitoring progress and attendance and maintaining appropriate records.
  • To be responsible for teaching, course review and curriculum development.
  • To fully plan and prepare sessions, including gathering materials, in order to facilitate the participants’ learning.
  • To ensure all sessions embed creative practice elements in order to engage participants in learning.
  • To support individual participants’ development and learning journey.
  • To co-ordinate specialist contributions from guest artists and tutors.
  • To contribute to the evaluation report of the ‘MATTA’ course.
  • To liaise with the MATTA project team to schedule multiple iterations of the course.
  • To attend related meetings as required.
  • To liaise positively and effectively with participants and project team, including Accumulate staff, UAL outreach ambassadors and student helpers.

General

  • To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role
  • To promote equality and diversity in your work.
  • To personally contribute towards reducing impact on the environment
  • To make full use of all information and communication technologies in adherence to data protection policies to meet the requirements of the role.
  • To have or undertake a DBS check.

Key Working Relationships:

  • Director of Accumulate
  • Deputy Director of Accumulate
  • Project Team
  • Project Participants
  • UAL Estates Team

Shortlisting will be based on your responses to the following questions and how well you meet the criteria listed below in the Person Specification. Please make sure you provide evidence to demonstrate clearly how you meet these criteria.

To apply:

Please send a current CV, and 300 words answering these questions:

  1. Why do you want this role?
  2. What will you bring to the role?

Please send to: info@accumulate.org.uk

Application deadline: Monday December 19th 2022

Interview date if shortlisted: Friday January 6th 2023, between 9.00 – 13.00 hrs

Person Specification
Specialist Knowledge/QualificationsExpertise in arts education teaching and learning, with a focus on inclusive teaching practices.Relevant qualification:

  • Undergraduate degree in arts / social sciences/humanities. [desirable]

Ability to provide support and help to participants, undertaking health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.

Relevant Experience
  • Teaching/running arts workshops.
  • An active creative practice.
  • Experience of working with marginalised audiences.
Communication SkillsCommunicates effectively orally and in writing, adapting the message for a diverse audience in an inclusive and accessible way.
Teaching and LearningApplies innovative approaches in teaching, learning or professional practice to support excellent teaching, pedagogy and inclusivity.Motivates and leads curriculum effectively, setting clear objectives to support learning.Applies creative practice to the design of learning experiences.
Planning and managing resourcesPlans, prioritises and manages resources effectively.
TeamworkWorks collaboratively in a team and where appropriate across or with different professional groups.
Audience experienceBuilds and maintains positive relationships with participants.

Creative Futures Update

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Breaking Down Barriers

This Summer saw our first Creative Futures event, a two-day workshop of networking and profile building, interview and presentation skills, and matching participants with opportunities in the creative industries. We were thrilled to be hosted by D&AD in their Shoreditch offices.

This initiative, which we operate in partnership with leading creative businesses and organisations, aims to break down the barriers for people affected by homelessness to enter the creative sector, build networks and have access to opportunities.

Creative Futures Event at D&AD, Shoreditch
Photo Credit, Ben Peters

As a result of the summer workshops, our participants were invited to take part in creative sessions led by industry professionals. Check out our days at software leader Adobe and the London-based creative agency Jones Knowles Ritchie.

Adobe – Video Creation and Editing

In September. our Creative Futures participants attended a workshop hosted by Adobe at their amazing offices learning how to edit videos for TikTok using Adobe software.

Participants Crystal and Anita take part in the Adobe workshop

 

Malin Persson from Adobe who was leading the opportunity said: “It was truly magical hosting the attendees that came to the workshop and the day was just filled to the brim with laughter, creativity, fabulous ideas, new editing skills, and lots of Tiktok videos…the entire Adobe gang truly enjoyed sharing the afternoon with the group, and really hope they got the most out of the day and learnt some new tips and tricks 😊”

Participant Nikol said ‘I felt like a professional team player. It’s good to get a feel of these places because it kind of lights a fire under you.’

Jones Knowle Ritchie – Building your Profile

In October our participants made the most of another exciting opportunity working with the creative agency Jones Knowles Ritchie.

Luke and Anita at Jones Knowles Ritchie

Anita, who took part in the session said “‘The JKR workshop was fantastic. I left inspired by their advice, carefully listening to our ideas and individual feedback. On the way home, I shed a tear. I felt so touched. It was like there was hope that things could somehow work out. It lights me up.’

What’s next for Creative Futures?

It is so heartwarming to hear the fantastic feedback of both the facilitators and the participants in these opportunities. Positive steps, empowerment through creativity and an exciting future for our participants.

We are so delighted with how it has all run that we are going to do it all again in January 2023! Another two-day workshop working in conjunction with creative industry professionals. Want to get involved? Get in touch at info@accumulate.org.uk

Utopia: A New World for Everyone

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Design, Make & Build Your New World

Brand new for 2022, this project started in April this year. The brief for our participants, to create their own ‘New World.’ Over ten sessions, the final works will be displayed at this summer’s Waterloo Festival which is attended by around 500 people each year. By completing this series of workshops, participants also have the chance to win one of our annual Accumulate scholarships to attend an Access to Higher Education course at either Ravensbourne University or Morley College!

Workshop poster

We are thrilled to partner with Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects on this project, giving our participants the chance to work with professional architects and designers to bring their vision to life. We are also so grateful to our funders Arts Council England and Foyle Foundation for their support.

Collage inspiration

Building up their own ‘Utopia’ ideas using collages, sketches and mood boards was a great starting point. So much imagination and thought going into each individual design. Each participant has their own sketchbook so they can carry on developing their ideas and creativity in each session and outside the workshops. The group also worked on models creating ‘mini me’s’ that will live in their own ideal world.

Creating mini me’s! Photo Credit: Chez Christiealice

Discussing and presenting ideas to each other is an important part Accumulate, so everyone can engage, learn and support each other. Climate change and sustainability are major themes for discussion in this project, with tutors showing how they incorporate such important elements into building projects and how they would be central to a new Utopia. Participants took this expertise and then discussed how they would like to incorporate it into their own plans before starting to build their own Utopia models with a focus on the environment.

Photo Credit: Chez Christiealice

Photo Credit: Chez Christiealice

As the weeks past it has been incredible to see how much their model-making skills have developed and their confidence has increased – especially when it comes to discussing their own works and explaining their vision to others. They are an amazing group of people, giving so much support and encouragement to everyone. Our creative community is flourishing!

Photo Credit: Chez Christiealice

Within this project, participants have tried their hand at embroidery and textile design, creative writing, music and voice workshops. All of these elements have been incorporated into the final project including a song that the group have written and will perform at the festival!

Working on lyrics in the Music & Voice workshop

Ten weeks of hard work and creativity are now complete and we are so thrilled to be able to present the participant’s final works to our supporters with a private view event on 7th July, prior to the exhibition at the Waterloo Festival. At this event, we are also presenting the scholarships to selected participants so they can continue their creative education. Join us! We’d love to see you there to help celebrate. DM us over on Instagram for all the details!

 

 

 

Banner of Youth

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Our Banner of Youth project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, started back in March with a series of textile design workshops taking place over eight weeks taking place in the Fountain Room at the Barbican Centre in London. Our workshop poster below was shared with homeless hostels around London inviting participants to come along and get creative.

Textile & Design Workshops poster

Workshop poster

 

Working in partnership with our long-term collaborators Museum of Youth Culture along with tutors Sadie Williams and Tori Taiwo, Accumulate participants designed and created fabric patches from surplus textiles inspired by the theme of youth culture and their memories of their own youth.

Working with surplus textiles

Working with off cuts of fabrics and leftover trims our group were able to get as creative as they wanted. It was wonderful to see each individual’s design developing and progressing over time and in these super engaging sessions. Check out these fantastic patches in progress:

 

Each patch was then sewn onto a huge banner entitled the ‘Banner of Youth’, which will be revealed on 7th July in The Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry.  Watch this space!

Banner of Youth in progress

 

 

 

Print, Weave, Sculpt

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This June, our group was super excited to start a brand new series of intensive creative workshops led by professional artists. We partnered with the University of Arts London in Camberwell on this project. Such a fantastic way for participants to learn new skills and uncover hidden talents. A three-day creative marathon!

 

Day One – Print

Working with print artist Caroline Fernandes participants learnt to use different print techniques and designed their own t-shirts. Everyone really loved this workshop, especially the heat transfer which they said was like ‘magic!’

Designing our own T-shirts using heat transfer printing techniques

Day Two – Weave

Led by textile artist Amber Roper our group took part in a weaving activity. We learnt all about creating patterns through weaving along with design and making our own tapestries. What was even better was their individuals learnt to be patient and focus on their creations. Feedback from this session was great. Everyone just loved getting creative with colour!

Working with colour on our weaving activity

Day Three – Sculpt

The final day saw the participants sculpt a display of their work. We built a structure from cane to which all the art made over this course was attached to create a pop-up exhibition. It was a real team effort and a huge achievement at the end of this course. It was wonderful to see it all displayed together, and the group was so proud of what they created.

Our pop-up exhibition!

One participant said ‘Fantastic people, brilliant sessions, fabulous work. It’s amazing what can be achieved individually and collectively.’

Our group of artists!

Huge thanks go to our tutors over the last three days of creativity. We are so grateful for your support and the group is still buzzing from your inspiring sessions.

 

 

Creative Futures

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What is Creative Futures? Creative Futures is a free 2-day workshop taking place at D&AD offices in Shoreditch in January 2023

Creative Futures will break down the barriers for people affected by homelessness to enter the creative sector, build networks and have access to opportunities.

It is a real game-changer that is completely new, will be led by industry and will overturn the systemic challenges that exist.

Creative Futures will provide:

  • Presentation and interview skills workshops
  • Using social media to build a creative profile
  • Speed networking with creative industry professionals
  • Offers of work experiences in creative businesses – work placements, job shadowing, workshops etc.

 

An important element of ‘Creative Futures’ is that participants will come away with a tangible work opportunity such as:

  • work placements (for an afternoon, day or week)
  • job shadowing (for an afternoon, day or week)
  • In-house workshops

We already have commitment from leading design agencies and are keen to be as inclusive and broad as possible with as many industries across Design, Advertising, Branding & Creative Content who can:

  • offer a work opportunity to a participant(s) and also attend Day 2 of Creative Futures for an afternoon of speed networking

If you are interested in getting involved in Creative Futures please contact Rossanne Pellegrino, rossanne@accumulate.org.uk

 

Pottery & Gardening!

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November brought our series of Pottery Workshop’s held at Space Studios in Hackney working with The Potting Shed. We haven’t worked with clay for a while in our workshops so it was fantastic to use this creative medium again in our sessions. Did you know ceramics are a favourite of our founder Marice Cumber, check out her amazing work here

The brief was to design and create our own pinch pot style plant holder that would then be glazed and fired and then planted up with a lovely succulent. Tutor Liz Jackson guided our group though all the stages from how to use slips and carving tools to decorate their creations to firing and glazing.

Look at the concentration on these faces! The group just loved working on this project. Pottery and gardening! Such a enjoyable and relaxing way to switch off from everything and get creative.

When they were finished, each member of the group had a beautiful and unique piece they had made to enjoy!