A programme of art, culture and new infrastructure to reimagine the future of the UK’s biggest council housing estate
Rebecca Davies
;-) :-& ;-O New Town Culture: Art for Young People (Adults Welcome)
Valence House Museum
3 July – 5 September 2021
The ;-) :-& ;-O New Town Culture: Art for Young People (Adults Welcome) exhibition at Valence House Museum is a place for young people to relax, talk and be creative. This exhibition by artist Rebecca Davies is for young people but they can bring adults along too! You will find gigantic, noisy art made with young people at the many New Town Culture clubs and projects.
New Town Culture is a pioneering initiative building new connections between art, culture and frontline social care services. A programme of artistic and cultural activity taking place in adult and children’s social care across the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, working with artists, social care staff and carers to develop creative ways to support systemic change and to unlock the value of art and culture for all communities.
Rebecca Davies is one of over 25 creative practitioners developing new work and relationships through the New Town Culture programme. Her work with foster families throughout 2019–20 forms the starting point for this exhibition exploring creativity, interaction and conversation shared between adults and young people.
Please note that all visits to the museum and exhibition must be booked in advance to comply with the government's Covid guidelines see here.
Valence House Museum
Becontree Ave
Dagenham
RM8 3HT
New Town Culture celebrates the incredible stories, knowledge and skills of the residents of Barking and Dagenham through workshops, clubs, exhibitions, live performances and training for the staff and users of social care services. Working in partnership with local and national cultural partners including Company Drinks, Tate, The White House, South London Gallery, Goldsmiths University, Green Shoes Arts, Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance, Barking and Dagenham College and the Serpentine Galleries.
Rebecca Davies is from London and lives in Stoke-on-Trent. She has a deeply embedded and collaborative practice that crosses illustration, design, performance and event. Her work explores the role of art in making change, as a device and platform, to represent and communicate complex stories and politics. She has run participation projects with Turner Contemporary, Tate, South London Gallery and Whitechapel Gallery. Rebecca and artist Anna Francis set up The Portland Inn Project CIC in 2016 in a residential area of Stoke-on-Trent, working in collaboration with other artists, arts organisations and residents to improve their community and renovate an old pub building.
Supported by Cultural Impact Award for the London Borough of Culture, a Mayor of London initiative, and is now extending its scope through further funding from the Young Londoners Fund, the GLA and the MOPAC Violence Reduction Unit.
lbbd.gov.uk/new-town-culture
cargocollective.com/rebeccadavies