Lewisham Refugees Festive Market
TAPE presents Ceremony
T A P E is a collective fighting for a more inclusive film industry. They are hosting a free pop up exhibition, CEREMONY, on Saturday 24th October, with moving image, photography and illustrations, plus a market, with all work by Black creatives and creators.
We talk to founders Angie Moneke and Isra Al Kassi to find out more.
Firstly, how was your lockdown?
Isra: I was very fortunate to be able to work from home during lockdown, while home schooling at the same time had its own difficulties, it was nice to be at home with my son. It also offered me the head space and opportunities which has led to us focusing on T A P E more and taking it to the next level.
Angie: It was a little chaotic at first. I work for a film company and we were busy (sadly) putting our productions on hiatus. A couple of them are back on the road now, which is great - though it continues to be a really unstable time for the arts industry. But besides the general anxiety of everything going on in the world, it was actually nice to have some space during lockdown to do things at a different pace. And in terms of friends & family, it feels like we've never worked harder to stay connected, which was quite beautiful.
Tell us all about TAPE - how did you come together and what do you do?
We all met as Young Programmers at the Barbican in 2013 and we went on to found T A P E in 2015 as a response to the lack of representation on screen; wanting to platform and highlight the sheer variety of under-served films we know are out there. We decided to bring exciting screenings to a South London audience (where we're based), championing the forgotten could-be cult films of the festival circuit and programmes of women of colour both behind and in front of the camera. At the time, Isra was running a community hub in Streatham and we'd already bonded over our shared desire to set up a cinema one day, so we thought we'd start by curating events, wherever we could get someone to give us the space to. Our very first screening was in the back room of a tiny cafe in Peckham - it was so DIY (literally lugging a suitcase with a borrowed projector and cables down Rye Lane) and quite removed from the scale of events we run now, but it was amazing. We had a little party after with our audience and some themed cocktails, and it felt like the beginning of a long on-going celebration of film.
Over the years we've curated a number of well rounded screenings bringing together film, art, music, talks and more into one space and events with a focus on culture, identity, heritage and stories from diasporas.
We have also produced two zine issues: the first one called They Thought We Were Token, casting a lens on the history of tokenism of people of colour in cinema, and the second issue, Moon Sisters, taking a look at the representation of periods in cinema.
Since starting with a public domain film in that community cafe, we have now expanded to delivering talks on diversity and inclusion in the industry. We are also launching a short film streaming platform called GOOD WICKEDRY on the 14th October, commissioning written content by marginalised voices, and continuing to deliver exciting film programmes which focus on heritage and identity.
You are connected to Catford Mews. How so?
Isra: I was part of the launch of Catford Mews, and its successful first year of being open. I did the programming, oversaw the membership journey, events and marketing and recently left the role to focus on the very exciting future of T A P E.
What can visitors expect on Saturday 24th Oct at CEREMONY?
We very keen to offer an event which would encourage engagement and, like most of our events, introduce attendees to some excellent work and art which they may not have come across before. We also wanted to offer an opportunity to directly support local black creators which is why CEREMONY is more than an exhibition - it will also have a select few sellers in the venue where art and handmade crafts will be available to purchase. The exhibition part will be a mix of moving image, photography and illustrations.
Are you hosting or visiting any other events as part of Black History Month?
We are part of Brixton Village’s Crossover events, taking place in their new contemporary arts space, which sees a new collective host a screening every Tuesday in October. We’ll be screening the classic horror film TALES FROM THE HOOD and have put out a call out for short film submissions to be screened before the feature. We can’t wait to showcase the shorts to a wider audience - you can find out more about it here.
What titles would be on your lists of the best short films of all time?
Atlantics - Mati Diop's short film about migration which preceded her incredible fantasy/thriller feature version of the same name
Masterpiece by Runyararo Mapfumo - just a breezy, funny and sharp look at black male joy and friendships
What does the rest of 2020 and 2021 hope for TAPE?
We’re really excited to be working on our streaming platform GOOD WICKEDRY, an online cinema platform driven by carefully considered curation of short films. Every week we'll upload one film with an accompanying article or essay.
We want to cut through the noise of excessive content by highlighting one great thing at a time - bold & invigorating choices with diversity of content so audiences can experience a rich tapestry of cinematic offerings. It will open people up to filmmakers they may not have heard of, who have created unique kinds of art that they may not have experienced before. We want this variety will build a stronger and more nuanced, but also universal, picture of the make-up of our cinematic world.
We hope to be building on our mission of creating a collaborative creative space and are working on a number of seasons and projects delivered in collaboration with a wide range of creatives, venues and organisations. More importantly, we’re looking to champion fair pay, representation and diversity in the industry.
With our vast experience in exhibition and production we are also looking to produce and distributes films and are lucky to be surrounded with such talented people who can collaborate with to deliver more exciting work in 2021.
Don't miss TAPE presents Ceremony on Saturday 24th October, 11-5pm, at the Mansion. Free entry.
Find out more about TAPE on their website, or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
Dance Educates
How has your lockdown been?
Full of highs and lows! I was home-schooling two young children which was a challenge as I think a lot of parents found. I was constantly Googling things like how do you do long division without a calculator? And what exactly happened in the Stone Age?
I was also very lucky as the Primary school I teach at wanted the continuity of dance lessons for their children during lockdown so I created and filmed three lessons a week in our attic! We were able to play these through our YouTube channel which reached many children at home.
What's your background and what was your journey to dance?
I grew up on a dairy farm and knew pretty quickly that this life was not going to be for me (sorry Dad). My school was one of the only ones in the county to run GCSE dance and this is when I knew that dance was going to play a big part in my life. I moved to London to study at Trinity Laban and gained my degree in Dance Theatre. From here I knew I preferred teaching to performing so studied for my PGCE in secondary dance in Brighton.
I worked in a few secondary schools but missed working with dance Artists so slightly changed my pathway and worked for Woking Dance and then The Place as an Educational Specialist, working with Artists and teachers. This was the perfect combination. I was still teaching but honing my skills in project management with amazing dancers.
I left The Place to work at the Royal Opera House which was a fantastic experience working with some of the most passionate people you will ever meet. The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera are incredible and I got to know the building well by creating films and digital content about behind the scenes of this organisation.
I knew my heart was always in contemporary dance and when the opportunity came to work with choreographer Richard Alston I jumped at the chance. I became the Learning Manager for the Richard Alston Dance Company and had the dream job of linking schools (through workshops) with the dance company. Unfortunately the company closed earlier this year and so I decided to focus on Dance Educates...
When did you found your business, Dance Educates?
My business partner Alison Swann and I founded Dance Educates in 2014. We had previously worked together at The Place for many years and both feel very strongly about the positivity of dance in education. Our work many focuses on embodied learning (learning by doing) and we deliver cross-curricular dance in schools teaching subjects such as maths, literacy and science through movement. We are now branching out into further classes outside the curriculum.
What can participants expect from the classes?
We want dance to be accessible to everyone and this is at the forefront of our minds. We create relaxed but energetic classes focusing on building confidence (whatever age you are), creativity and technique (depending on the class). Children are amazing at creating dance and that’s our focus for the younger ones with help of music and stories. For the adults it’s a chance to use dance to move with others (COVID safe of course!), develop fitness and contemporary technique in a beautiful space.
How did you discover the Mansion? Do you live locally?
I discovered the mansion as I live locally and have been many times with my children to play in the sandpit, run around the open spaces and we even swam in the lake over summer! It’s beautiful and I was thrilled when you agreed to host our dance classes.
What does the rest of 2020 and next year hold for you?
2020-2021 is going to be an interesting year because who knows?! We would like to carry on developing our classes in South London (Crystal Palace and East Dulwich) but we also know that our classes work well online (Zoom) which is a good back-up in these uncertain times.
We are also working closely with Greenwich Dance as they are interested in our embodied learning work in education and we also run a regular adult contemporary classes for them.
We also have a long-standing relationship with the Open University who are very interested in how dance/movement at a young age can help express feelings and emotions in a safe space and reduce mental health issues later on in life. This is a new research project that we hope to develop and eventually use as evidence to show the importance of dance in education.
- Baby and Young Children Creative Dance Classes is on Mondays at 10.30am.
- Adult Contemporary Dance is on Mondays at 7.45pm.
devi's x Beckenham Place Mansion
What's your background? Tell us about chef-ing, writing and which came first?
Before food, I studied economics, but found myself gravitating towards sociology and cultural anthropology. It was a really broad insight into the world of social sciences; the way we interact with one another and the way we build social relationships. It definitely sewed a seed of interest that eventually led me to work in Brazil for an NGO for favela children, as well as with children and young people in Foster Care in east London.
Cooking was something I turned to when I was feeling lost and deflated on both personal and professional levels and it then became my calling.
I’ve been working in the food industry for the past 5 years now, predominantly running Devi’s with street food, supper clubs, events and pop up restaurants, and a few offshoots like writing, consulting and a new podcast. I started writing about 12 years ago for my university student paper. The writing I do now and the podcast, tend to focus on the social and cultural values around food and particularly women. It’s still very important to me go beyond the superficial and be quite exploratory in unpacking the new social mores that we’re quickly rewriting.
Food & Feminism is important to you. Explain what that is and why it's meaningful.
Third wave feminism really started to gather momentum at the same time I began my career in the food industry. The food world is hugely made up of white, middle class, privileged men (and women) who have a great network of established and accomplished individuals to offer them a leg-up in what still remains a very competitive and expensive industry. I get really frustrated at some of the barriers working in food presents for women like myself, and it draws on many parallels from the intersectional feminism discussion.
Devi’s started as not just an opportunity to sell the food that I wanted to and grant myself some economic freedom through working for myself, but to start aligning myself with other underrepresented women of the food realm. The Food & Feminism podcast serves to have some very real, authentic and transparent conversations with other women who feel like I do; it’s a mouthpiece for us so we can feel confident in being vocal and actually be heard.
You appeared on television as a finalist on My Million Pound Menu, BBC2's food and business series. How was that experience?
Reality television is a heinous construct and I didn’t enjoy a single second of the experience! I did it for Devi’s.
Your bio mentions Netflix? Tell us more!
My Million Pound Menu is available to watch globally on Netflix and I have received messages from people all over the world, really kind words in support of what I’m doing. It’s strange but lovely.
What can people expect from your classes at the Mansion?
The classes I host at the Mansion are geared towards making Beckenham Place the heart of a developing food and drink scene. I really want to meet more locals, those with a keen curiosity for the things I love. My classes are largely relaxed, fun and social and I’m hoping for regulars and for these to evolve into meet-ups. We have this glorious backdrop and setting, I really want to embrace it.
Why have you chosen Beckenham Place Mansion as a venue to host your classes?
I live across the road from Beckenham Place Mansion and I’ve been coming here since its nearly-knocked-down days. I’m thrilled with the transformation; I’ve seen it literally come back to life. I feel deeply connected to this place, I enjoy each season by coming here. It really affirms my beliefs in the strength of community. I’m really happy living here, my closest coffee shop may be Wild Bean Café at the M&S garage, but with TFC and Little Sri Lanka flanking my home and the park on my doorstep, it’s a genuine pleasure to be a part of it.
Do you have any other exciting plans for this year?
Devi’s will be popping up in and around Peckham this Summer onwards, look out for us!
Allotment Cocktail Class is on Sunday 22nd March, 12-3pm, tickets are £25.
Introduction To Natural Wine is on Thursday 26th March, 7pm-10pm, tickets £25.
Wasteless Market
What is Wasteless Market and how did it come about?
The Wasteless Market CIC is a pop up market championing vendors of consciously made goods that are environmentally responsible. We bring some of the best Zero Waste vendors together under one roof, helping the community to reduce plastic waste and fight climate change by offering sustainable eco-friendly goods and services.
Just over three years ago, my sister lost her battle with breast cancer - she was diagnosed at only 36 years old. I started to worry about the chemicals in everyday products and the amount that I was putting into my body daily. Being a single parent, I started to worry about my children; who would look after them if I wasn’t around?! Therefore, I began researching healthier, more natural options.
Many of the products I found happened to come without single-use plastic, and that is when my love of zero waste started, with a passion for the environment, the two went hand in hand perfectly. After my spray deodorant ran out, my first purchase was a natural deodorant tin and a natural baby balm. They were vegan, natural, handmade in the UK, had very few ingredients, the tins could be reused and the balm was absolutely fantastic on my daughter’s eczema! I was hooked! 
Where else have you held markets?
I’m happy to say, we’ve now had many really successful events within the borough of Bexley and due to a huge demand, we have decided to go on tour, taking the Wasteless Market to other local boroughs who have asked us to visit. Since the launch of the Wasteless Market in July 2019, dozens of people have chosen to reduce, reuse, swap or buy plastic-free products. Together we have saved so much waste from going to the incinerator already it’s truly inspiring
What can visitors expect at the Wasteless Market at the Mansion on 18th April? What kind of products will the traders be selling?
Visitors can expect a truly unique and uplifting experience. Customers love the Wasteless Market because it offers them the chance to make positive lifestyle changes which reduce their impact on the environment. They love it because of the range of beautiful and ingenious products on sale from vendors who are truly passionate about what they do, whether it is jewellery made from discarded board game pieces, vegan cosmetics in recyclable packaging, or plastic-free party bags, to name just three examples. Most of all, they love it because of the wonderful people who go there are all doing their best to make sustainable choices, whether that is through refilling their bottles with enzyme-free detergents, dropping off old toothbrushes for recycling, or learning how to make household cleaning products.
Every wonderful customer that comes through the door is there for a reason. Whether it’s to learn about natural or eco-friendly products, the Wasteless Market is helping them discover a better way. 
What is Terracycle?
The Wasteless Market also offers a Terracycle recycling drop off station run by volunteers, which gives people a recycling option that can't be fulfilled by our councils. People can bring their hard to recycle plastic packaging, such as crisp and other snack packets, coffee pods, old toothbrushes, pet food and baby food pouches, which are then sent off to Terracycle in exchange for money for the Kent Air Ambulance. So far we have raised over £200 for charities and kept hundreds of kilograms of rubbish out of the incinerator. Free advice is given to customers on how best to recycle a wide range of items.
Should visitors bring anything on the 18th?
If possible, visitors should bring the '3 R's' - Reusable bags, Reusable cup/cutlery and Recycling (Terracycle) - and the '3 C's' - Cards, Cash and Containers - for your refills, cakes and hot food (any kind of container, jar or bottle that can be reused). 
What easy tips do you have for our readers on how to be more green and sustainable at home?
Some brilliant tips from our vendors are:
If you have clothes you don’t wear anymore, try refashioning! There are loads of tutorials on blogs or YouTube to guide you. Simple changes can make all the difference, even if you don’t sew. Only about 30% of saleable donated clothing is sold in the UK - more likely it’ll be shipped to a third world country. Refashioning can give your clothes a second life, and helps you learn new skills.
Focus on making little changes and don’t feel overwhelmed that those steps you are taking aren’t enough. At home we aim to make 1 difference a month to increase our sustainability. Often we find we have successfully made multiple changes because once your mindset shifts it is amazing how many opportunities you find to reduce, reuse, repair or share resources.
Take your kids to the farmers market and your local packaging free shop if you have one. Shopping packaging free and sustainably should be natural to them. 
Any other exciting plans?
We’re also launching the online Wasteless Market, a multi-vendor website giving eco-friendly businesses a platform to sell their wares. Our crowdfunder will be going live soon, see more at wastelessmarket.co.uk
I hope that you will support me on this journey, for a healthier planet and brighter future for all.
The Wasteless Market is at the Mansion on 18th April, 11:00-15:00
Successful Mums
What is Successful Mums?
A training company to help mums back to work or start a business after having children. The majority of our training courses are funded by a range of companies that support the work we do, therefore free to local mums!
When and why did you set it up? What's your background?
I created Successful Mums in 2014 when I saw a gap to support mums after a career break. I understood how it felt to have children and lose your mojo, so wanted to provide a solution. I’m a trainer and career advisor and had worked with hundreds of different industries, so had a broad understanding of what employers are looking for and the many roles that exist and are crying out for women returners!
How have you worked with the Mansion?
We run our popular taster sessions and networking events at the Mansion. This is a fantastic venue; not only for its architecture and beautiful park; but it's also a relaxing and central place for mums in the Bromley and Lewisham boroughs. The team are so friendly and efficient and are keen to support local businesses like Successful Mums.
What can attendees expect from next week's session?
The 2 hour taster session is a fun, free and friendly event for anyone looking to return to work, change career or be their own boss. I’ll be sharing my experience of where the flexible and part time jobs are, how to fill that gap on your CV with the transferable skills from parenting, along with the 12 steps to take when starting a business. There will be a room of like-minded mums, so it's a relaxed environment and we welcome babes in arms.
96% of mums that have attended feel more confident from the sessions and gain clarity about what they need to do next.. This makes me happy.
Any exciting plans for this year?
We are continuing with our Back To Work and Business Start Up courses, along with running a range of interesting events for flexible careers. We are very excited to be offering digital and marketing apprenticeships for women returners! This means we can provide digital training to women in the workplace too!
What are your top tips for mothers struggling to balance parenthood and work?
Take small steps, create daily habits or a checklist and don’t be too hard on yourself - we are all doing the best we can. Don’t forget to wear your invisible crown too – keep it in place.
How can mums get involved?
Join us for our next taster session and follow us across our Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to keep up with our exciting projects for mums. #thismumcan
New Light Concerts
How did you become a musician?
Anna - I began writing music when I turned 11. My family moved to beautiful Cape Town, South Africa and I vividly recall sitting on Hout Bay beach with my mini guitar, writing, staring out to the sea. Many years later I reached an imperative realisation that, if I was going to choose music, I had to wholeheartedly devote myself to it. So, with that, I left the UK and travelled the world for 9 months and wrote as many songs as I could, before moving to London to properly pursue a career in music.
Tell us about your career highlights so far
Anna - Some of my career highlights have been my sold out shows in London, touring the States, sound tracking and featuring in a Levis campaign, hearing my songs in some US TV shows. Performing live brings me the most joy though; connecting with your audience on stage is something that can’t be replicated anywhere else. The energy between both parties is magic.
How do you use the Mansion?
Anna - The Mansion is the epicentre of Beckenham for me; I jog around it, have enjoyed sauntering around the record store and sipped drinks from the bar, laying in the summer sun.
Susie - My partner and I moved to Beckenham in March last year and the Mansion and surrounding park were one of the first main reasons we wanted to move here. I used to run around the park most weekends, as well as lots of sunbathing here over the summer. I have also sung a number of times at the Mansion - I did my very intimate EP launch in the cafe downstairs in July and I also played at the Flower Show in June. I come here a lot and enjoy the variety of events and just chilling out here.
What can we expect from New Light Concerts?
Susie - As a very new mother (3 weeks!) I was keen to setup a daytime event that would be accessible for new parents and for anyone who doesn’t just do the 9-5. Music should be accessible to all and I felt there was a lack of daytime opportunities to hear good music so I hope these events will fulfil that.
Anna - Susie and I are thrilled to be hosting New Light Concerts as we felt there was a lack of music available to those around during the day, apart from classical. We want parents, children, the self employed, night shifters and retired to know that we’re aiming these shows at them! An opportunity to enjoy some of the best of popular music at a time that’s accessible for those not living the normal 9-5.
Why did you choose the Mansion as the venue?
Anna - We chose it because Beckenham Place Mansion is exquisite. The setting is charming and we wanted something quite special for the audience. The calibre of the show is just one component and, for us, every aspect in making it memorable is of great importance, including the venue.
Susie - So much has been injected into the Mansion and the park - as a newish venue I saw potential to get involved and for some really lovely events here. Having performed at a number of outdoor summer events here, I think the venue is truly unique, it’s in beautiful surroundings and offers so much for local residents. I’ve used it for walking, running, meeting friends for coffee, the vintage markets, music events, performing.
How did you come to hear about us?
Susie - A friend who grew up here took us on a tour of the Mansion and park before we moved here. I then started following the Mansion on social media.
Anna - My friends recommended the Mansion to me and I have been doing the same since I saw it for myself.
What are your hopes for the Mansion’s future?
Anna - To reach a broader audience from those who live a greater distance. There aren’t many other venues offering such a diverse events programme and in such gorgeous surroundings.
Susie - More of what you are doing and people coming from all over, not just local people.
Tell us about any events you have upcoming, at the Mansion or otherwise:
Susie - This is our first event at the Mansion. I am currently on maternity leave, so I hope to do many more!
Anna - I have just finished recording new material, so we're prepping music videos, photo shoots and so on. In Autumn I’ll be touring around the country with that and there's much more on the horizon too that I’m not allowed to talk about yet; I'm very excited! And as far as New Light Concerts goes, we hope to be preparing our second daytime concert!
Find out more about Anna Pancaldi on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Anna's tracks are available on Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6om1oTl0iSZGBRs52bJEqI
New Light Concerts are also organised by Susie B.
Christmas Family Panto
Tell us about how Take A Seat came about.
What can people expect from the Christmas Panto?
Do you live locally?
Why do you like hosting your events at the Mansion?
The venue is awesome, which just adds to the events. It's especially great for things like Halloween and Christmas! The staff are always on hand and so friendly and sometimes I even just pop down for a coffee and walk around the park.
Tell us about any events you have upcoming at Beckenham Place Mansion or elsewhere.
Beckenham Christmas Gin Party
Peter runs The Pedal Inn, a mobile bar events company with a special affection for gin. On 7th December they host Beckenham Christmas Gin Party at the Mansion.
The Pedal Inn Tell us a bit about your background
I’ve worked with a range of people and in a number of sectors, but one thing keeps me going; I love working with people and adding value to their life - whether that be from a new drink they’ve tried, to giving them a great experience, it’s what makes me tick.
I've got a mixed background, having worked in Secondary Education, Corporate Customer Relations and Hospitality.
I worked in a number of hospitality settings in my late teens to early 20s, I moved into education for a number of years as a secondary school teacher. After 5 years I felt it wasn’t for me, so moved to work in the corporate sector.
Having entertained and been entertained at a number of restaurants and bars, I had some great experiences and some not so great ones, too. It started to play on my mind that you could put a lot of corporate customer service into hospitality.
Where does your love of Gin come from?
I made a conscious decision in my early 20s to replace beer with gin, as it was a lower calorie option. Over the years, and since doing this job, I’ve fallen in love with the complexity and variety that comes with gin, from its impressive and interesting history to the fact that in just 5 years the number of producers in the UK alone is around 360 (give or take). I just think it’s a fascinating beverage.
How did your business idea come about?
We’ve always wanted to run a mobile bar; we ran the bar at our own wedding; but never had the financial freedom to run it as a business. After carefully putting some ideas together and saving a Pashley Trike from landfill, 2018 was the right time to get our plan rolling. We wanted to bring learnings and experience from different sectors into our business model, so we focus on great customer service and education, as well as trying to build a bar business that has minimal environmental impact. There are now three arms to what we do:
- Festival and Market Bar
- Wedding and Event Bars
- Masterclasses and Tasting Night
Our unique approach to designing and running Masterclasses and Tasting Nights has been really enjoyable. We’ve been to a couple of experiences hosted by a number of brands in the city and the issue we found with these sessions was the speakers trying to sell you their products. Our idea was to deliver a tasting and experience session similar to what was available at distilleries and in the City, but providing variety of brands and opinion, rather than delivering a sales pitch.
What were the highlights from the summer Gin Masterclasses?
We had some great feedback from our Gin Masterclasses over the summer. One of our highlights was seeing familiar faces come back for the varied sessions we ran. It created a small community, as well as clarified to us that we were doing something that people enjoyed. We received some great feedback from ticket holders and we were really proud to bring something new and different to the area.
You’re holding a Christmas Gin Party at the Mansion on 7th December. What can people expect?
The Christmas Gin Party will celebrate the adaptability of gin. Bottle Room ticket holders can expect a well stocked bar with a variety of premium and artisan gins and a spinning wheel to help those not too sure what they want to have.
Our VIPs will get access to the Bottle Room, but also have the chance to be talked through 6 carefully selected local gins from London and the Home Counties. We’ve already secured 3 of the brands we’d like to offer, and are talking to and tasting a few more, to ensure we’ve got a great variety to pair with grazing platters.
We also have entertainment on the night, with a local duo playing some background music at the start and a sing-along duo helping us celebrate to the end.
We are likely to run a token-based system so all drinks will be the same price, except for a couple of small batch and limited edition bottles which will come with a premium price tag.
Why the Mansion?
What’s not to love about the Mansion? It’s an original community space and we have loved delivering our Masterclasses there. It made sense to celebrate Christmas and Gin at the Mansion with the local community.
Any other plans for the future?
We definitely want to deliver our Masterclasses again next summer, so we’re hoping Peckish returns so we can collaborate there. We’re already getting booked for events next year, including our first Rainbow wedding, which we’re really proud to be a part of.
Dependent on the success of the Christmas Gin Party, we will look to host another party in the summer or host a larger scale Gin Festival for more people to enjoy! We can’t consider these, however, until we make The Christmas Gin Party a success, so we urge people to book. With only 150 tickets available and over 1100 people showing an interest in tickets, we do suggest booking soon to avoid disappointment!
Artist profile: Marina Beard
What’s your background and how did you become an artist?
Having spent my childhood in Italy I was surrounded by a variety of beautiful things which attracted my attention. Looking back, I was like a magpie; collecting images of all sorts of sights and sounds. When I eventually came to live in this part of London, I continued to be fascinated by my new surroundings.
I received my degree in Fine Art Sculpture & Ceramics from Camberwell. Upon graduating, I began working on large scale sculptures and public commissions.
I eventually fell into teaching, after a year-long commission at a local school ignited my love of inspiring others to be creative regardless of perceived natural talent. I qualified as a teacher, and spent a decade working in both private and state schools; first as an Artist in Residence and, eventually, as a Joint Head of Department at a successful grammar school in South East London.
I also managed to squeeze in some work at the Clore Ballrooms on the Southbank for a festival, which is where my passion for combining live art performance with music began in earnest!
Why did you leave teaching?
In 2017 I realised I was approaching total burnout. I found that I had inadvertently traded teaching skills, subject curiosity and enjoyment in the creative process for pressure to achieve the highest grades. I was drowning in oceans of paperwork and government directives. This realisation led me to a career change. With shaky legs, and much to the dismay of others, I left my job and decided to return to the life of a full time artist.
What do you do at the Mansion?
I have been at the Mansion for a year now, and am involved in a variety of projects. I’m working on private commissions and am also back to indulging my passion as a sound artist. I still teach small groups and individual students.
More recently, I have become part of a group of artists here involved in creating large scale installations for events and community workshops. I love this work as it enables me not only to develop my own knowledge, but to continue using my skills whilst sharing that with the local community; hopefully to further engender a love of contemporary/traditional art.
What does your typical day look like?
As I live locally, it is a short journey to arrive every day to my little corner of heaven! I got over ambitious and decided to cycle recently – suffice it to say that hill + art materials + me was not a winning combination!
Most days I can be found sitting at my studio desk here at the Mansion, music on, tea in hand and a range of media flying around everywhere! I’m a bit of a workaholic - I find it difficult not to come in at weekends too, but I am trying to contain my time here in paradise, as family demands a fair share of my time also.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I am inspired by primarily by sound, light and the emotions I experience in relation to colour, nature and the environment I am in. I feel really strongly about protecting and caring for the environment, I support local & national charities and donate some of the proceeds of my sales to environmental charity. I also try to work with and include recycled material where I can, and some of the inks I use are made from materials sourced right here in the park!
I feel immensely privileged to be able to explore these ideas in my work in such a spectacular environment as our lovely park. I love being surrounded by trees and space, whilst being firmly grounded in South East London.
What does the future hold?
My future plans are to continue to make art here: at the moment I am preparing a body of work for a touring show in the US as well venues more locally. I am developing some small sculptures which may be ready for show at the Mansion before Christmas.. so watch this space..
I also hope to run a series of workshops from here, as I am really keen to see this space become even more of a creative hub in the local area. For myself I am also hoping to find the time and the finances to study for my MA..