Small Island Vibes is a free four-day programme of events and an exhibition running from Thursday 4 until Sunday 7 August 2022, with the aim of bringing Peckham’s vibrant mix of generations and cultures together, to reclaim community spaces for everyone and to help create a sense of belonging.
Co-created and developed by local residents and established social arts organisation, Peckham Platform, the programme of activities celebrates Peckham’s communities of African, Caribbean, Latin-x and white working-class heritage and offers them the opportunity to reclaim community open spaces and ‘platform’ their voices. The activities take place in Peckham Square around the centrepiece of a mobile library and sound system, designed by local organisation, Yes Make. Inspired by nature, celebration and Peckham’s communities, the temporary sculpture is constructed of locally sourced timber from fallen trees.
Kevin Jones, Public Realm Producer at Peckham Platform, says “Like many areas of London, Peckham is seeing the impact of gentrification and how it can divide communities, rather than bring them together. Gentrification can make people feel like they no longer belong and that their way of life and history is being eroded. Small Island Vibes aims to break down barriers and the feelings of displacement amongst the different cultures and generations, and uses art and culture as a way to bring people together in shared public spaces and let their voices and opinions be heard.’
Small Island Vibes will encourage critical enquiry through reading groups, changemaking workshops and resident consultation, as well as family-friendly activities including Mas (Caribbean masquerade), craft and mural making, pop-up photographic portraits, and sound systems featuring Ghanaian Highlife, Caribbean Calypso, Lovers Rock and Afrobeats, accompanied by food and conversation.
Central to this year’s programme will be the public sharing of ‘Tilting the Mirror’, an intergenerational project funded by Creative Civic Change, that uses arts and creativity to help people make changes in their communities. Since 2019 Tilting the Mirror has worked closely with community groups, supporting young people and elders in Peckham to come together through creative visits, artist commissions and workshops.
Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf, Artistic Director, Peckham Platform says: “’Tilting the Mirror’ aims to promote cross-cultural and cross-generational understanding by encouraging all residents to contribute to a new future for the area. Creativity provides a meaningful platform for those who often struggle to be heard in the process of the rapid transformations within our area. The focus so far of ‘Tilting the Mirror’ has been in-depth engagement, working with a small number of participants closely over several years. We are very excited to bring this project to the public during Small Island Vibes and are looking forward to hearing the voices and opinions of many more members of our community.’
Thursday 4 – Sunday 7 August 2022
Location: Peckham Square, SE15
Timings: Between 12pm–6pm all days except Thursday 4 August and Sunday 7 August where activities begin at 3pm. See below for further information.
Brief Programme
Thursday 4 August, 3pm–6pm: Introduction to the Summer Programme
Friday 5 August, 12pm–6pm: Art and Social Practice
Saturday 6 August, 12pm–6pm: Family Day
Sunday 7, 3pm–6pm: Choir, Community and Supper Club
Further Information on Programme Activities:
Thursday 4 August, 3pm–6pm: Introduction to the Summer Programme by Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf, Peckham Platform’s Artistic Director and Kevin Jones, Peckham Platform’s Public Realm Producer. Peckham-inspired mural making with Nine O Arts; Euro Caribbean Vegan-Vegetarian Canapes provided by Blue Mountain Restaurant.
Friday 5 August, 12pm–6pm: Art and Social Practice: A day to discuss and share ideas for the future of Peckham with The ADV_™ an immersive consultation exercise programme and changemaking event at Mountview. A Reading group hosted at the library sound system will look at the connections between architecture, placemaking and sound; mural making with Nine O Arts and music by Louis Van Johnson Sound System.
Saturday 6 August, 12pm–6pm: Family Day: A day of music with steel pans by the Pantonic Steel Orchestra; mural making with Nine O Arts and a children’s headpiece making workshop and Mas (masquerade performance) with Mas Africa Carnival Arts. Come and have your portrait taken by Nigel Glasgow, our onsite photographer.
Sunday 7th, 3pm–6pm: Choir, Community and Supper Club: Bring your Sunday Best and join us for an afternoon of performances from the Stratford East Singers. The Library Sound System will be activated by Gemi Magic Sound System playing Old Time Sumtin’. A free (but limited spaces) Sunday supper will be provided with Caribbean cooking by Rock Steady Rum Lounge. Work up your appetite by mural painting with Nine O Arts.
Full details in the What’s On section of: www.peckhamplatform.com
