Around 450 students from 17 schools across the five Host Boroughs of Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest took part in a programme of design workshops inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The programme was delivered by artists from
Signs of Life (a local social enterprise) at the Bromley by Bow Centre. Students of all abilities and ages worked with photography, creative writing, collage, model-making, footprints and wheelchair tracks, ceramics and paint to produce the designs, a number of which are featured on the community hoardings along the Hackney Wick towpath.
The Signs of Life team of artists hit the ground running with this exciting project. We are still catching our breath after such a fantastic launch event yesterday when the students came to see their artwork on the hoardings! The hoardings look incredible, with the artwork taking on a new dimension at such a great size.
The Signs of Life team, with athlete Jonathan Edwards (third from left) and Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chief Executive David Higgins (third from right) by the hoardings:
We designed the creative engagement programme to be innovative and challenging, employing a range of creative genres. We wanted to ensure that we explored the diverse talents of the Host Borough schoolchildren to their fullest potential, while keeping the project as inclusive as possible for children of all abilities and ages.
When presented with any new creative challenge and asked to be spontaneous, the response of young people is raw and unmeasured. From both the quality of the work and their infectious enthusiasm in the workshops, there is no doubt that the 2012 Games and all the opportunities it will bring inspired every young person who took part.
It is a pity that only one entry per school could be selected, as so much of the work was excellent. We are glad to hear that the individual boroughs and schools will showcase a wider selection of the work in their own public exhibitions.
Personally I believe that the 2012 Games will inject much-needed life into this side of the capital. There is no reason why health and wealth in London shouldn’t apply to the East End. I don’t believe we are just working towards a sport event. Both the psyche and aspirations of our community are changing, along with the skyline.
My colleagues in Signs of Life and at the Bromley by Bow Centre have spent years working tirelessly to inspire and improve people's lives. I hope we can continue to collaborate with the ODA in helping to make a real difference at grass roots level.
