‘We are Hackney’ Community Mural

July 10 2011

Recently postponed due to yet more rain, Koze and Dan were able to complete the colourful ‘We are Hackney’ community mural this weekend on a wall donated by Downsview Special School on Downs Road, Hackney. 

Local residents of all ages stopped and had a chat with the artists as they were creating the 16 metre mural.  A couple even got to try their hand at painting under the watchful eye of Koze. So how did Soulful get involved in helping a group of 6th form students to try and transform the perception of Hackney?

Well, the project was originally the brainchild of eleven students from Clapton Girls’ Technology School who formed themselves into a group called Tick4change, and the community mural ‘We are Hackney’ formed part of the project. Helped by national charity Envision, the girls pitched their Tick4change vision in a dragon’s den style meeting to get an initial £500 funding from the charity for the project. Their aim being to make a positive change to the image of the London borough. 

Soulful acted as the creative agency translating the students ideas into concepts and created various designs for review and sign off.  The project was brilliant for us to work on because it fitted so well with ethos of engaging young people in art and was a joy to do because the students were so passionate and committed to the project. As Koze says: “The mural was a very exciting and inclusive project which, as well as being inspirational for all who saw it take shape, also provided a learning experience for the members of Tick4change. They not only handled the project from the start but also got the chance to work alongside established artists to help complete the painting.”

Tick4change joined Koze and Dan to put the finishing touches to the mural on Sunday. Rasidha, Tick4change team leader, says:“This project has been brilliant and worked well on all sorts of levels. Our research has brought us in contact with with the young and elderly of Hackney Borough and we’ve all learnt so much. It also puts a positive focus on Downsview Special School, where the wall is sited. Koze and Dan we’re really good at planning stage, listening and responding to our ideas and it’s been great to join them to finish the mural. Wicked!”

Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington and Shadow Health Minister, said: “Well done to the students from Clapton Girls’ Technology School who have proved themselves to be real entrepreneurs. They should be congratulated for securing funding for the mural and for getting this great community project off the ground. I can’t wait to see the results!”

More photos of the day can be found on our Flickr pages.

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