Small Island Vibes… Let’s get together and feel alright

A free four-day programme of events and an exhibition, running from August 4-7, aims to bring Peckham’s mix of generations and cultures together and reclaim community spaces for everyone and to help create a sense of belonging,

Small Island Vibes is co-created and developed by residents and established social arts organisation, Peckham Platform.

The programme of activities celebrates Peckham’s communities of African, Caribbean and Latin heritage and offers them the opportunity to reclaim community open spaces and ‘platform’ their voices.

The activities take place in Peckham Square around the centrepiece of a mobile library and sound system, designed by Yes Make.

Inspired by nature, celebration and Peckham’s communities, the temporary sculpture is constructed of locally sourced timber from fallen trees.

Kevin Jones, public realm producer at Peckham Platform, said: “Like many areas of London, Peckham is seeing the impact of gentrification and how it can divide communities, rather than bring them together.

“Gentrification can make people feel like they no longer belong and that their way of life and history is being eroded.

“Small Island Vibes aims to break down barriers and the feelings of displacement among the different cultures and generations and uses art and culture as a way to bring people together in shared public spaces and let their voices and opinions be heard.”

Small Island Vibes will encourage critical enquiry through reading groups, workshops and resident consultation, as well family-friendly activities including Caribbean masquerade, craft and mural-making, pop up photographic portraits, and sound systems featuring Ghanaian Highlife, Caribbean Calypso, Lovers Rock and Afrobeats, accompanied by food and conversation.

Central to this year’s programme will be the public sharing of Tilting the Mirror, an intergenerational project funded by Creative Civic Change, that uses arts and creativity to help people make changes in their communities.

Since 2019 Tilting the Mirror has worked with community groups, supporting young people and older people in Peckham to come together through creative visits, artist commissions and workshops.

Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf, artistic director at Peckham Platform said: “Tilting the Mirror aims to promote cross-cultural and cross-generational understanding by encouraging all residents to contribute to a new future for the area.

“Creativity provides a platform for those who often struggle to be heard in the process of the rapid transformations within our area.

“The focus so far of Tilting the Mirror has been in-depth engagement, working with a small number of participants closely over several years.

“We are very excited to bring this project to the public during Small Island Vibes and are looking forward to hearing the voices and opinions of many more members of our community.”

 

Pictured: Example workshop activity that will take place during Small Island Vibes. Picture: Peckham Platform