Progress in Geography

On Friday Head of Learning Janet Clark joined the Architecture Centre Network’s Head of Learning, Cara Courage, to speak at ‘Progress in Geography’, the Geographical Association’s Annual Conference and Exhibition at the University of Surrey.   

Around 70 geography teachers listened to Cara talk about the Network’s national offer to teachers and schools and Janet talk about the Building Exploratory's work with secondary school Geography Departments.  

Using Hackney as a case study, Janet encouraged teachers to use their local urban built environment and demonstrated how maps, photography, buildings and creative practice can be used to inspire and engage young people studying geography at all Key Stages.

Find out more about out our school workshops at www.buildingexploratory.org.uk/schools

A big thank you goes to Alan Ledger of Durkan Estates, for stepping in at short notice on Friday morning to speak to the Senior Bees about some of the redevelopment work taking place just across the canal from our office.

Having met previously with architects, designers and planners, the Senior Bees appreciated hearing about this redevelopment from the contractors perspective. It was really interesting to hear about Alan's role at Durkan and it was a real eye-opener to have an insight into the complexities of managing large scale developments.

We hope to welcome Alan back to give another talk once the scheme has been completed.

The work over the canal has really picked up over the last few weeks with a forest of cranes springing up and the building on the Durkan site starting to take shape.

Getting involved at the Building Exploratory

Over the last couple of weeks we have held three really busy and very successful open evenings for people who want to get involved in our work.

At the end of March we welcomed 12 potential new volunteers into our office for tea and biscuits and to learn about what we do and the experience they can gain from helping us to develop our learning programmes.

Last Monday 15 artist attended an open evening, which we organised to increase our pool of freelance artists who would like to work with us on up-coming creative projects. The artists' practise ranged from painting, illustration and printing to sculpting, ceramics and installations. The artists' were also all very keen to take up our offer of professional development, which will enable the to gain experience and skills to engage with a variety of audiences they may not have worked with before.

On Thursday evening 8 young people from our local area, along with some of their parents, visited us to help us with our plans to develop an Arts Award accredited programme about local sporting architecture. The group, aged 13-15 were all excited about the project, during which they will have the opportunity to visit a range of historic and contemporary sports venues, including swimming baths, boxing clubs, football stadiums, and of course, some of the magnificent buildings on the Olympic site. We hope to begin this programme in September.

We have been really overwhelmed by the all this enthusiasm for our work and can't wait to work with all these fantastic people!

Arts Council Funding Announcments

Responding to the news yesterday that the Building Exploratory will no longer receive regular funding from the the Arts Council, chief Executive Nicole Crockett said:  

“We are disappointed that Arts Council England has taken the decision not to continue funding the Building Exploratory. We are overwhelmed by demand from schools and local education authorities who recognise the value of our programmes. Our emphasis on creative learning, alongside our focus on developing a sense of place with some of the most diverse and disadvantaged communities in the UK, has made us one of the pioneers of the Big Society.

Our extensive programme of engagement has consistently delivered real results, promoting local partnerships between schools, community groups and artists, and helping to nurture a shared appreciation of the local environment. The Building Exploratory has created an important model for many other organisations, demonstrating how to effectively engage with children and young people.

It is essential that significant progress is made to ensure that local people are involved in shaping sustainable communities in areas, like East London, that are undergoing radical change. We will continue to seek new partnerships and new sources of funding in order to continue developing and extending this important work.”

Refurbish: The life and times of a tower block

14th May 2011, 10.30 - 12.30 at The Building Exploratory

Learn more about the history of tower blocks, see our own refurbished model, and then go on a guided tour of the Holly Street Estate. FREE. Book by calling 020 7729 2011 or emailing mail@buildingexploratory.org.uk

This event is part of Discover Hackney's Adult Learners Week

Dalston Square Time Capsule

This month we are delighted to be working on a project commissioned by hackney Council Cultural Services Department working with Holy Trinity and Convestone Primary Schools on a time capsule project for Dalston Square.

Pupils from the schools will work with artists, a photographer and a poet to record the redevelopment of Dalston Square, creating plaster casts, images and text which will go into the time capsule which will be buried in Dalston Square in May.

Hertford Road Development

More drilling, more digging and some piling.