January 2010

29/01/10

The new decade has begun, and Hidden Cities have had an exciting start...

January kicked off with the Seasider Consultation Workshop, which took place at The Shoreditch Trust. Representatives from the Culture, Regeneration and Tourism sectors from all across the UK came along to hear about the project and discuss wider issues surrounding Seaside Towns in transition, and the role that the Creative Industries can play in regenerating place. The event was incredibly useful in developing the project further and there was a lot of support for the initative. We are now working on a more concrete proposal, whilst developing ideas for the 2010 installations, which will see some of the UK's most unique and pro-active Seaside Towns working in collaboration with some of London's most innovative cultural hubs.

You can download the Press Release for the Seasider Consultation Workshop here:

Seasider Press Release

Roma attended the Coastal Communities Alliance Launch of the Coastal Regeneration Handbook this week which took place in Margate. Hidden Cities is always happy to be in Margate which has a lovely creatively edgy feel and it was exciting to see the Turner Contemporary Gallery rising from the ground. Roma felt very ahead of the curve staying at The Reading Rooms, which was the subject of much interest from coastal regeneration and heritage specialists alike. The only downside about the packed schedule was the lack of time to enjoy the enormous bed and bathroom - will be returning later in the year for fun!

The Bloomsbury Festival is now just 10 months away and the project is continuing to build momentum. We are delighted that The British Museum is now an official partner in the event, and will be joining the Festival's Steering Committee at the beginning of February. We are currently working with a host of local community groups to develop an exciting Community Programme for the event, which will have a longer term legacy to increase resource and funding opportunities for these important organisations.

The company's new Projects Assistant, Chimane Christian, joined us this month and has been enjoying getting to know the company, associates and projects through many meetings, lots of research and of course spending several hours soaking up Bloomsbury's fantastic cultural organisations (she's now planning to return to The Wellcome Collection with her neice!) Next month, amongst other things, she will be developing a monthly newsletter so if you would like to receive updates about our projects, please do send her an email with your details: chimane@hidden-cities.com

January has been a crazy busy month for extra-curricular activities too. We have been thoroughly entertained by attending Bright Club, a fantastic variety night run by Steve Cross and the rest of the Public Engagement team at UCL, seeing a whole host of new dancing talent at Resolution, hosted by The Place, the Renaissance Masked Ball at The V&A, and even closer to home, Roma has been knitting with the ladies of Lambs Conduit Street!

Another real highlight of the month was the screening of 'Generation Change' at the London Transport Museum, which was a wonderful film project run by 1A Arts Etc (formerly the Holborn Community Development Project). The film was written, directed, filmed, acted, and edited by a group of local youngsters under the guidance of industry professionals, with a brilliant result.

As always, if you'd like any more info about our projects, please get in touch.