May 2021 Update
And just like that June has arrived! May has been another super busy month for Accumulate so its the perfect time to look back at what we have been up to!
Two New Accumulate Art Kits
Our Accumulate Art Kit project is going strong with two fantastic workshops running, the first being a session around ‘Identity’, Participants created portraits about their own identity and the different layers that make us who we are. This kit was created by photographer Alejandra Carles-Tolra working with Autograph gallery and their incredible archive. We had some fantastic pieces created by residents of homeless hostels in Cornwall and London. You can view the whole gallery HERE.
Artwork by resident of Harbour Housing, St Austell
Our second kit launch this month is called ‘Design Your Own Patch’ and was designed by our friends at Museum of Youth Culture. Patches have been used for generations to show off their identity and interests to the world. Sewn onto jackets, bags and jeans, people have patches for the musicians they love, events they have been to and the campaigns they support. Our ‘Train the Trainer’ session on this kit was a great success with hostel workers being guided through the workshop & creating their own design so they are equipped to get creative with their own clients. Keep an eye on the gallery HERE for all the new designs coming through along with some fantastic inspirational images.
Train the Trainer session for ‘Design Your Own Patch’ Art Kit
Accumulate at the Barbican
Our group have been lucky enough to spend time at the Barbican Centre in person again this month. We are so happy to see this incredible space open again and to be able to spend time together again as a group after so long is just incredible. Our Advertising campaign workshop continued with the Lego brief set by D&AD. We were joined by fantastic guest speakers Paul & Danielle from We Are Social who spoke to the group about using social media to make an advertising campaign inlcuidng virtual shops and also going lo tech and just using a phone to produce really creative solutions. We were also joined by Jack Pryor from Unexpected Mini Figures who talked about the joy of Lego play and inspired everyone to get building and creating. We are so grateful to have this level of skill and expertise on our workshops.
Photo Credit: Fiona Quadri
Our group were also delighted to attend the private view event of the Jean Debuffet exhibition ‘Brutal Beauty’ at the Barbican. This was the first day museums were able to open again after the lockdown so was really special to feel so inspired as a group together again. The exhibition is fantastic, highly recommended if you get the chance to go.
Accumulate gang at Debuffet exhibition, The Barbican
Marice Cumber on the May Contain Podcast
We were so excited to see Accumulate founder and Director Marice Cumber feature on the May Contain podcast hosted by Daniel Kelly. talking about her own mental health struggles and how it inspired the founding of Accumulate, using creativity to empower people affected by homelessness. Download and listen HERE!
It’s great to be working with Dan again. We first collaborated back in 2019 working with him and the Ted Baker team on a series of fashion workshops culminating in a fantastic fashion show. Dan is doing wonderful work raising awareness and breaking the stigma around allergies. Take a look at this Instagram account HERE.
New Stockist for Book of Homelessness
We are so happy to see our first publication Book of Homelessness find a new stockist in Artwords Bookshop in Broadway Market. You can read more about this project and get your own copy HERE. All profits from the book are split with its authors, so they can earn from their creativity and Accumulate so we can continue to provide creative workshops for people affected by homelessness.
Podcasting Skills
A new project we are working on in conjunction with St Johns Waterloo is a Podcasting course. Accumulate participants will be creating a podcast about Waterloo’s cardboard city in the 90’s and homelessness today. This podcast will be broadcast as part of the Waterloo Festival next year. Watch this space!
It really was a busy one! Thanks for reading along and your continuing support for Accumulate. Enjoy the sunshine!
