Emerging from "the pioneering creative engagement model"* of The Tommy Flowers Community Pub in 2018, our 'Making Space' in the next door unit has tested out a number of Outreach initiatives over the last three years.Planning to have to vacate this former post office in Spring this year, we've unexpectedly been given another 12 months to occupy 48 Aberfeldy Street, so are launching this 'Breathing Space' programme to give local young artists time and space to develop ideas, while importantly offering creative learning opportunties to local residents.
Under the umbrella of the newly-formed Tommy Flowers Foundation, we're aiming to preserve the legacy of locally-born innovator Tommy, who was born and raised just along the street at the corner of Abbott Road. He upcycled bedsteads and 1940s telephone exchange equipment to create the world's first semi-programmable computer for Bletchley Park, 80 years ago this year.
'Colossus' so named because of its size was not only important in rapidly speeding up the breaking of German military codes, but also key in the disinformation campaign leading up to the surprise sites on D-Day.
We're very conscious of the concern that so many people have for the future of the planet, which is why we'll follow Tommy's example of upcycling waste/leftover items into useable items, takimng our examle from Tommy.
Our first project was art of the Untold Stories Programme with GLA's Commission For Deiversity in the Public Realm, the mesaured success of which saw us invited to give the lead presentation at City Hall in front of a large invited audience of community-focused organisations.
*Report by The Plunkett Foundation 2021
