East London Textile Arts exhibition

Patchwork Lives is an exhibition of textile hangings created by residents of East London to celebrate the diversity of life in Newham during the Olympic Year. Sewn by women, men, and children of all levels of ability, they bring together people of different faith and cultural backgrounds to express themselves and raise money for creative projects abroad. The exhibition is in the Crypt Gallery at St Martin-in-the-Fields from Monday 14 – Sunday 20 May.

East London Textile Arts is an independent organisation working in East London. It was set up by local people of different faiths and ethnicities to make textiles that reflect the cultural diversity of the area. A small project reliant on its own fundraising, the group works in partnership with local community centres. There is also have an outreach program aimed at people who cannot access mainstream creative opportunities for reasons of health, family ties or economic constraints.

East London Textile Arts aims to work with people of all faiths and ethnicities, making community textiles to decorate local public buildings to the highest possible standards. It is a long term project, building creative skills in communities through long term developmental projects. Training is a key element of their work, which is done both within the projects and by sending volunteers and workers to relevant part-time college courses. As well as teaching crafts, fund-raising and community skills are recognized as vital areas of expertise needed to ensure the survival of creativity within East London communities.

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Tom Jones - Soul of a Man.

Reaching Beyond

Reaching Beyond is an artistic event in East London (visual arts, poetry, community involvement) culminating in an exhibition at Bow Road Methodist Church between 23 July and 2 September 2012. The exhibition site is about mile from the Olympic Park. The title, Reaching Beyond, is intentionally open to a wide range of interpretation.

Join in Reaching Beyond by entering their competitions for visual art and poetry, sharing in the voyage of discovery of The Visitor, coming to the Exhibition and taking part in events including kerbside art.

Reaching Beyond is coordinated by Colloquy, an Art and Theology project which is part of the Methodist Church. They have an inclusive remit, welcoming people of all faiths and none. They want to encourage people to join in the project, and to think creatively beyond limits of any one language, medium or culture.

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Young Disciples - Freedom Suite.

Canning Town regeneration tour

Photographs from today's Area Regeneration Group tour of regeneration iniatives in Canning Town, including the Emirates Air Line and the Siemens Urban Sustainability Centre.

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Ooberfuse - Still Love My Enemies.

TELCO 15th Anniversary Assembly

I was at the Troxy tonight for the 15th Anniversary Assembly of The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO) which saw 2,200 TELCO citizens gather again in Tower Hamlets to celebrate a landmark 15 year relationship of organised communities working together to transform their neighbourhoods. Through bringing communities together and training leaders in the art of public action, TELCO has changed the way local communities make politics happen in east London.

TELCO is the founding chapter of London Citizens, the UK’S largest independent community alliance. Fifteen years on, in 2011, TELCO is now 65 community institutions strong, working in five major east London boroughs and has pioneered Community Organising in the UK as part of London Citizens with over 200 communities in membership.

The Assembly saw the first 50 TELCO members who have successfully applied for jobs at the 2012 Olympics receive certificates from Lord Coe together with reports of local action by TELCO institutions and updates on broader campaigns such as CitySafe and the Living Wage. It was very inspiring to see young and old, churches, mosques, schools and unions working together for the benefit of local communities by prioritising relationships and affirming the contribution and voice of all. Great too to see those, like Bishop Roger Sainsbury, who were involved at the very beginning of TELCO, and therefore CITIZENS UK too, present and their contribution also affirmed.

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Jackson Browne - Lives In The Balance.  

East London Libraries Festival

Nick Dobson of Redbridge Library Services writes that the inaugural East London Libraries Festival will be with us soon an interesting programme of events across six Boroughs including here in Redbridge. The brochure can be downloaded from: http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/leisure_and_libraries/libraries/events_and_activities/east_london_libraries_festival.aspx

Some of the Redbridge highlights include:

On 22^nd September at the Town Hall, Ilford (7.15pm start), Imran Khan as the guest speaker.  Former Pakistan cricket captain, Imran is now a major political figure in Pakistan and his book “Pakistan: a personal history” provides a unique insider's view of a country unfamiliar to a western audience. Tickets for this event are £7.50, but tickets also entitle you to a £2.50 discount if you buy a copy of Imran’s book at the event. Contact the Central Library for tickets (020 8708 2414).

Hainault Library will host two intriguing events. The first on 21^st September is a Psychological Crime Thriller Writers Panel featuring authors Erin Kelly, Julia Crouch and Ali Knight.  Tickets for this event are £2.50. On 5^th October Crime Writer Alison Bruce will be at Hainault. Alison is the author of the acclaimed DC Goodhew series and is one of the rising stars of the genre. Tickets are £2.50 and are obtainable from Hainault Library (020 8708 9206). Both the Hainault events start at 7.15pm.

South Woodford Library is the venue for an event with one of our finest contemporary authors, Julie Myerson. Julie, a regular panellist on Newsnight Review on TV, will be talking about her new novel “Then”. The event starts at 7.15pm on 27^th September and tickets are £2.50 from South Woodford Library (020 8708 9067 for enquiries). Lee Langley will also visit South Woodford on 20^th September.  Lee has written an intriguing novel, Butterfly Shadows, continuing the story of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly!

An event that is already selling well is Sinclair McKay’s visit to Fullwell Cross Library on 30th September (7.15pm start). Sinclair has written “The Secret Life of Bletchley Park”.  Bletchley Park was, of course, the venue of key operations during WW2, so this is a fascinating story. Tickets (£2.50) are available from Fullwell Cross Library (020 8708 9281).

Do you like cupcakes? Well as I’m sure you do, come to Gants Hill Library on 12^th October (7.30pm start) and meet Martha and Lisa founders of The Primrose Bakery and famous for their cupcakes.  They will tell you the amazing story of their rise from selling a few cakes to friends to being household names and running the famous Primrose Bakery and restaurants. Cakes will be available on the night and you can attend for the price of a £2.50 ticket available from Gants Hill Library (020 8708 9274).

There are also some great events at Wanstead Library (many in partnership with the Newham Bookshop). On 7^th October, Constance Briscoe (author of “Ugly”) will be introducing her debut crime novel, “The Accused”. The talk starts at 7.15pm and tickets are £5 from Wanstead Library (020 8708 7400) or The Newham Bookshop (020 8552 9993). 

On 11^th October meet three of our finest Historical novelists: Elizabeth Chadwick, Barbara Ewing and Jane Sanderson are in conversation with Jean Fullerton. Tickets for this one are only £2.50 available from Wanstead Library for this event that starts at 7.15pm.

Another fascinating evening is guaranteed on 13^th October when education comes under the spotlight with journalist and campaigner Melissa Benn discussing her book “School Wars” with former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen. This Wanstead event starts at 7.15pm and the tickets (£5) are available from the library or the bookshop.

Finally news of another big event, this time featuring the Queen of the Family Saga, Josephine Cox. You can enjoy afternoon tea with Josephine at Fullwell Cross Library on 6^th October (2pm start). Tickets are £2.50.

There is so much more: poetry events with Daljit Nagra (Wanstead 23^rd September), Mimi Khalvati and William Wordsworth (Aldersbrook 21^st September) and an Open Mic Poetry Night at Ilford (6^th October). Two events at Woodford Green with crime writer Oliver Harris on 28^th September and Afternoon Tea with Travel Writer Kate Nivison on 12^th October. 

There is also The Big Red Read Awards Night on 4^th October at Gants Hill Library (7pm start).  Readers across the Borough have been voting for their favourite fiction and non-fiction reads of 2011 and there is still time to vote!  Go to; http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/leisure_and_libraries/libraries/big_red_read.aspx for details or ask at any Redbridge Library.  The Awards Night is great fun and tickets are free!

Do try and get to some of the Festival Events and take a look at some of the great things happening in our neighbouring Boroughs too! In particular, try to get along to the First East London Reading Group conference, an all-day event on 8th October at the Docklands Campus of the University of East London. The Conference will address a wide-range of topics of interest to members of Reading Groups or people who just love literature and libraries! For details of the Conference and to book a free place, contact Anna Robinson on 07913 107 994 or a.robinson@uel.ac.uk.

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Gordon Gano and The Ryans - Gone To Pray.