The idea
The Park is managed by a local, volunteer led charity, called, The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park (FoTHCP) for local people, Ken and the team are supported by over 3000+ volunteers who take part in nature conservation work throughout the year.
In the summer of 2014, Shuffle Festival relocated to THCP and used the historic lodge as our base - opening a café/bar area for the festival duration. This proved a huge a success with local people and the hope of opening it up permanently was born. By Summer Shuffle next year we hope to have it open for all to use…. by request!
Plans for the lodge include a new office for the FoTHCP and we also hope to establish a community café and event space through an exciting extension to the building. We plan on building a workshop/laboratory for science and conservation workshops for kids and adults - as well as an exhibition space, music venue and of course cafe. But you can use it for whatever you want.
What we'll deliver
- A new extension to the existing building will bring a fun and modern twist to this old cemetery house.
- Create a fantastic asset and community hub owned and managed by the community for the community
- Open for local people to use. Ken + Shuffle team will run film, science, nature and creative workshops year round.
- Create a wide range of training opportunities and apprenticeships leading to employment
- Increase health and wellbeing for people by making the unique asset of the Cemetery Park accessible to more people.
- This new space will be built using award winning architects, extending the envelope and use of the vacant building.
- Walk past 'The Lodge' from 2015 and grab a coffee and sandwich! Your kids and dogs will love you…….
Why it's a great idea
Shuffle is about film, science, music and exciting festivals that make Mile End life that little bit sweeter through imaginative creation of fleeting and very permanent places in forgotten or hidden parts of this inner London village.
Working with the friendly guys from Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park to create 'The Lodge' extension as a realisation of the hopes for community-led regeneration in Mile End is a project we are excited to deliver together with your support. With have a committed team of local people, who along with our award winning festival, film - makers, cooks, artists and designers - we believe we can make this space a unique part of Mile End and London, for all to use.
The Lodge and the characterful 'Hamlets Way' in which it sits is the most interesting artery of the area and one that given the right investment and stewardship will blossom into a base for both the wilderness in the Cemetery Park, small business and urban cultural elements.
Steps to get it done
- £100 - Signed, framed, limited edition Shuffle Festival 2015 poster and thank you on social media + website (5 only)
- A new green wood workshop in the yard of the Lodge
- Finishes and grand opening during Shuffle Festival 2015 (shaping up to be the best Shuffle yet!)
- Instead of 'Winter Shuffle' we ask you to help us build this amazing project by giving Mile End a present this Christmas
- Or a new cinema screen on an empty green space in Hamlets Way
- * We intend to get planning permission in the new year, in the unlikely event this does not happen the money go to:
- £10 - Thank you from Shuffle and Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park and mention on social media + website.
- £20 - Limited edition Shuffle Festival 2015 poster and thank you on social media + website (250 only).
- £250 - Tour of the Cemetery Park, dinner for two in the Shuffle restaurant, 2 festival tickets and Thank you's (5 only)
- £50 - Two pre-release tickets to Shuffle event of your choice and thank you on social media + website (20) only
- £500 - Full 9 day festival pass for you + a guest and thank you on social media + website (10 only)
- In the new year, we'll get you all over to start gathering ideas for the design brief.
- Offering rewards to everyone who helps us raise our target
- Plans based on a brief set out by FoTHCP + Shuffle drawn up February 2015. Building works will begin April 2015.
The festival includes two cinemas, a restaurant and a highly creative and affordable programming of music, science and film and has across cultural + generational attendance whilst also being affordable and accessible to everyone.
The festival is described by local resident Danny Boyle (one of the founders and festival organisers) as a 'microcosm' of the spirit created during the Olympics in the opening ceremony. In it's first year the festival won the Time Out award for Cultural Excellence and Shuffle as an organisation was exhibited in the Guggenheim as one of the '100 Urban Trends' from around the world. We reinvest funds made from the festival in the local area.
We look forward to bringing a year round programme of exciting things to The Lodge, as well as continuing the annual festival in the summer each year. Free tickets will be given to all people who give to The Lodge for the strangest and best programme yet!
Music for video: "Infinity Street" by Sui Zhen / DJ Susan
