Local people become ‘Artists in residence’ through new project aimed at bringing art and wellbeing to Havering homes.
Over the past week, hundreds of ‘Home Inside-Out’ creativity guides have been hand-delivered to Havering residents to help locals spruce up their homes and explore their local neighborhoods through new ‘post-lockdown’ eyes.
Created by architecture studio WSMS, this guide gives handy tips to create inspired spaces within your home without having to spend any money, and offers fantastic family ideas of how to get out and about to explore your town as an ‘Urban Investigator’.
‘Home-Inside Out’ is the first of a series of initiatives that local arts Organisation ‘The NO Collective’ will be running throughout the summer called ‘ourNEST‘, a programme highlighting the work of great local artists,and helping residents find inspiration from their homes and towns.
“You may have seen a 6ft Bird House’ being erected outside the ASDA queue in The Mercury in Romford” says Natalie, co-founder of the arts collective and local resident. “We are now asking local people from Harold Hill, Rainham, Orchard Village and Romford to apply for a free art kit to take part in embellishing it’s windows with their favorite viewpoints, to make ‘this Bird House our home!”.
The project, which will also see a series of art films and ‘creative tutorials played on screens in Romford has had support from The Fore, The Mercury and local arts programme ‘Havering Changing’ who, funded by Arts Council England, are initiating a number of exciting creative projects in the area.
“We are so thrilled that we are able to really highlight some of the great artistic talent we have in the area, as well as supporting local people to discover their inner artist.” Says James, newly appointed director of Havering Changing.
Each aspect of this community project has been carefully considered to adhere to social distancing requirements and the needs of those who may still be shielding. Currently, you can access the ‘Home Inside-Out’ guide for free online, pick up a copy at The Mercury in Romford or by post if you are shielding via the Havering Volunteer Centre’s heroes. There is also a virtual gallery and free creative resources for fun things to do on the projects webpage: www.nocollective.co.uk/ourNEST
If you live in Harold Hill, Romford, Orchard Village and Rainham you can apply for a free ‘Bird Box’ which will be posted to you and contain all of the materials needed to create a ‘window’ for our community Bird House.
To get involved, please contact: info@nocollective.co.uk, sign up on our webpage or call 01708 733620.
