The idea
We are close to completing the launch of three multifunctional spaces, providing a platform to celebrate the Latin American culture in the East Street and support the local community. We plan to launch a cafe, a rehearsal space for local dancing groups, and run workshops and classes, a strategic step that will contribute towards the wellbeing of the area while securing the future of our summer festival.
Carnaval del Pueblo is an association that since 1996 runs events and workshops around the Latin American culture, involving the community that famously gathers around the Seven Sisters and Elephant and Castle areas. The money raised in our shops in the East Street will go to fund a one day and free Latin American festival taking place in the summer.
We also want to use our case to prove that the East Street market has room to diversify its offer, including educational platforms, leisure and new forms of trading that will help the market become a new landmark in South London.
What we'll deliver
- Deliver dance and language classes (English and Spanish) and other activities around the Latin American culture
- Introduce a space for artists, makers and entrepreneurs to kickstart their retail businesses
- Open a Latin American cafe and the smallest coffee museum in the world - a space not found anywhere in the area
- Provide training and work opportunities for the locals - including certificates and volunteering programmes
- The Carnaval del Pueblo spaces will lead the creation of a new hub encouraging collaboration, community and creativity
- We will buy new equipment to deliver the highest quality Latin American coffee
- Offer a co-working space to share ideas, meet other professionals and connect to the internet
- Provide a platform for other organisations to run their events, seminars and classes.
- We will raise money to celebrate the iconic Carnaval del Pueblo festival, free and open to everyone in Burgess Park
Why it's a great idea
Our three spaces will tackle three key issues: representation, regeneration and sustainability, and all of them from a strategic centralised location situated between Elephant and Castle, Burgess Park, Walworth Road and the Old Kent Road:
1. The shops provide the Latin community with a much needed space to promote and celebrate the Latin American culture, offering a space to rehearse, learn and train for future career opportunities while adding a touch of colour to the local market.
2. They kickstart the transformation of the East Street market, introducing a new type of trading, a place for families to gather and have fun, and furthermore it show others of potential entrepreneurial opportunities in the area that would make use of other empty space scattered along the East Street.
3. They secure the future of our Latin American festival, creating an opportunity for self-sustainability that will allow us to keep our grassroots event free and work with local artists and performers.
Steps to get it done
- Buy basic equipment and supplies for cafe and first round of workshops and classes
- Buy materials for interior fit-outs following plans by Studio Gil
- Installation of storefront by Peabody Housing Association (July 2017)
- Installation of timber floor + Installation of internal furniture, storage spaces, shelving units, serving bars
- Opening of the 3 shops: Celia Cruz Cafe, Carmen Miranda (space for makers) and Selena (flexible and co-working space)
- Complete cafe with all extra equipment + Smallest coffee museum
- Start promotion campaign and planning for the opening + Finalise activities programme and hire staff
As proud partners of the Royal Institute of British Architects we will be having the event BEYOND BORDERS in the East Street shops 8-25 June, a great opportunity to come and meet our team and experience the promising location for our project.
To know even more about the Association, Carnaval del Pueblo will also feature in the event RIBA LATE - BEYOND BORDERS 3 July https://www.architecture.com/whats-on/riba-late-launch-of-architecture-open
and in the photo series by Heartstone organisation to appear as part of the 'Chandra's London' exhibition by Nick Sidle in City Hall 22 June http://heartstonechandra.com/projects/chandra-consulting-stories/on-assignment-photo-gallery/
