The idea
Produced by Izba Arts, the Festival of Home is a cross-cultural arts festival celebrating the diverse diasporic communities and long-standing residents of Hammersmith & Fulham.
In a vibrant borough like H&F, we want to provide inclusive opportunities for communities to connect beyond spoken language. Through a curated programme of free workshops, talks, and public performances, the festival explores what "home" means by developing a shared visual vocabulary.
Participants will relearn traditional, nature-based crafts and ancestral skills, empowering them to express their heritage non-verbally. By weaving together literature, visual storytelling, and folk roots, we draw beautiful connective threads between global diasporic mythologies and native UK folklore.
This shared, tactile experience transcends cultural barriers, fostering deep community cohesion and providing H&F residents with powerful new tools for connection and mutual understanding.
What we'll deliver
- Weeklong community festival and exhibition
- 100+ paid local artists & facilitators
- 3,500+ diverse attendees
- An artisan makers market: responding directly to community demand
- Free Community feasts & refreshments: ensuring radical accessibility
Why it's a great idea
Festival of Home delivers powerful benefits to H&F:
1. Community Cohesion: A shared visual vocabulary levels the playing field, creating an inclusive space where diverse diasporas and locals interact, reducing social isolation.
2. Non-Verbal Expression: Relearning nature-based crafts empowers participants with non-verbal self-expression, building confidence for residents facing language barriers.
3. Shared Heritage: Exploring global mythologies alongside native UK folklore highlights our shared human roots, making diversity a unifying local strength.
4. Local Creative Economy: This funding ensures that participating artists, facilitators, and local suppliers are paid fair, industry-standard rates, sustaining H&F’s creative workforce.
5. Targeted Accessibility: Dedicated outreach will engage isolated, hard-to-reach groups, ensuring the festival is truly representative. Engaging in these community arts improves mental wellbeing, leaving residents deeply rooted and proud to call H&F home.
Steps to get it done
- Venue Contracting & Core Team Assembly (August 2026)
- Artist Programming & Community Outreach (August - September 2026)
- Volunteer Recruitment & Logistics (September - October 2026)
- Festival Delivery (October Half-Term 2026)
- Evaluation & Legacy Wrap-Up (November - December 2026)
