We’re very excited to launch our new partnership with Google Arts & Culture, just in time for National Storytelling Week. We’ve been working with Google to share our programmes via their Arts & Culture platform, bringing our local, community-focused activities to a global audience.
Our newly launched profile features over 300 virtual pieces of artwork available to view online, anywhere in the world, as well as online Stories guiding digital visitors through our exhibitions. Storytelling is such an intrinsic part of our work, and we aim to recreate as much of the original feel and experience of these projects as possible, bringing to life the discussions and ideas shared across the sessions, as much as the final exhibits and murals.
To kick-off our platform launch, we chose five exhibitions that champion storytelling and personal history – click the square icon in the bottom right corner to view in full screen:
Working with Paint the Change, long-term partner Halima Khanom and local community groups, our Culture For a Changing City mural reflects the people that make up Tower Hamlets, sharing their personal stories with over one hundred portraits and artwork of cherished items.
In Focus explores notions of identity for Muslim and non-Muslim women, by engaging in philosophical discussions and looking at how photography can be used to share ideas. The sessions were facilitated by Photographer Sarah Ainslie and Liz Allum from Global Learning London. Follow our group’s journey through the course during lockdown, sharing stories behind personal items, memories and reflections.
Go behind the scenes of our 2022 Choose Courage mural, a partnership between Rich Mix, Numbi Arts and Paint the Change. Inspired by international boxer and local hero Ramla Ali, young people in Tower Hamlets designed and launched a permanent mural in Bethnal Green, inspiring other young Londoners to be fearless in their passions.
What was it like to live in London’s East End twenty, fifty and seventy years ago? In Illuminate, hear from older generations as they share stories from daily life in Tower Hamlets. Local light artist Martin Richman ran a series of workshops with Heritage Learning Facilitator Halima Khanom to shine a light on personal histories from elder generations of East London’s communities.
Finally, explore how the UK’s largest mural tribute to the NHS came into being. Our 200 Nationalities, One NHS mural with Paint the Change celebrated diversity in our health service during COVID-19. Read a selection of stories from the hundreds of flowers submitted by members of the public, forming this giant mural.
We’ll be keeping our platform updated with new projects and partnerships we work with in the years to come. For now, we hope you enjoy delving into the fascinating personal histories and anecdotes that make London’s East End what it is today.
