Social Cement, Tate Modern

unity is strength colourful writing, shaking hands
Lucy Harrison took up the first artist’s residency in the new Community Room in the Tate Modern Switch House. Involving key community groups from Lambeth and Southwark, she invited them to take part in events and activities, exploring ideas around different ways that people create a warm welcome, often through music, food or decoration. The project tested uses of the room and explored possible uses of the space in future.

The residency included a range of activities; workshops, walks and conversations both within the Community Room and the galleries, as well as out in the communities of Southwark and Lambeth, and evening social events including a Salsoteca night, a Neighbourhood Bingo game and a series of pop-up silkscreen workshops in collaboration with Portable Print Studio. Lucy worked with groups including Sin Fronteras, the Vida Walsh Centre, the Young Company at Southwark Playhouse, the Women’s Circle (IRMO) and residents from Southwark housing estates.

unity is strength colourful writing, shaking hands

A final event included a playlist of music collected during the project, silkscreen printing of positive and political messages, and bread and salt (an eastern European welcome ceremony) using bread designed in collaboration with Tate pastry chefs. A publication, designed by Lucy and printed at Aldgate Press, documented the project.

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