All posts by Eltham Arts

JOIN US! Creative Networking Evening, 15 March

February 28, 2023UncategorizedEltham Arts

Book your FREE place via Eventbrite (click here) or by ringing Eltham Library on 020 3915 4347.

Date: Wednesday 15 March 2023

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Location: Eltham Library, Archery Road, Eltham, London SE9 1HA (Google maps)

Are you looking to connect with like-minded individuals in your community? Would you like to expand your creative circle? If yes, then mark your calendars for 15 March and join us for a Creative Networking Evening at Eltham Library!

This free event is for anyone who is interested in the arts in Eltham and the surrounding areas within the Royal Borough of Greenwich – whether you are an artist, writer, musician, designer, or any other creative, be it professional, amateur or hoping to start, all are welcome, all ages. It is an opportunity for you to connect, collaborate, and share information about your work or interests with fellow creatives.

The evening will kick off at 6.30pm with the Eltham Arts AGM open to all, when you can expect to hear about what Eltham Arts has been up to.
A free wellbeing activity, as a taste of the wellbeing resource being launched (see below)
This will be followed by the launch of the Breathing Space zine, a wellbeing resource arising from the recent RGB-funded project. You can read about the Breathing Space project here.
Afterwards, there will be a Networking Session where you can mingle and get to know other creatives in the room. Refreshments, including some delicious light bites, will be provided to keep the conversation flowing.

So, whether you are a seasoned creative professional or hoping to start out, we encourage you to come along, make new connections and expand your creative network.

Please do book your free place so that we know numbers for the evening, especially the catering – thank you! – via Eventbrite (click here) or by ringing Eltham Library on 020 3915 4347.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Arts and Wellbeing Week

July 25, 2022Community, Eltham, FestivalEltham Arts

Well, lots of people enjoyed the Eltham Arts ‘Arts & Wellbeing Week’ during 16 – 23 July 2022.
The week consisted of the Creating Connections exhibition, shadow puppetry workshop and lots of other creative activities during the week in the library.

The week ended with a day of music in Passey Place where the local musicians played songs on the theme of Joy and Nostalgia for the Eltham Arts Music Challenge 2022.

More details of the week’s busy schedule and the fantastic participants on our Events page.

You can WATCH a flavour of that fabulous arty week in the video here, including some of those musical performances on that sunny, hazy day…

https://youtu.be/qPgPCzWE-UE

Creating Connections

April 7, 2021UncategorizedEltham Arts

At Eltham Arts, we are proud to present our new project “Creating Connections”. This is an opportunity for the entire local community to get involved to inspire others and to be inspired.

The project has been funded by Arts Council England to work with young children and senior citizens of SE9 area to address their wellbeing needs through arts. Read more …

Our project Update – The younger members have taken inspiration from the letters they received and have created their shadow puppetry stories! We hope to put these stories into a small animation/film in the new year and share it with the community through our digital platforms. We are also aware that many members of the community may not have digital access. So, to encourage their participation, we collaborated with Eltham library and hosted letter reading workshops over the phone. We are also planning to share our final outcome in a live event in February if the situation permits. Letters received through the project will be archived in the library for all members of the community to access.

We will be uploading few more letters during the Christmas break. So if you know someone – a neighbour, a friend or someone in your family who has been struggling with isolation, then pick up the phone and read them a letter. A letter can bring a smile and make someone’s day. We hope the letters bring some cheer to those who might not be able to see family and friends this Christmas.

Wish you all a calm, relaxed and safe Christmas. May the New Year bring new beginnings, hopes and aspirations for a better future.

Here is a lovely letter from one of our young writers …

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

December 19, 2018Community, Eltham, Eltham Arts, Wall ProjectEltham Arts

With 2018 coming to an end and our annual Festive Singalong at the Eltham Centre now completed it is time to look back at the year

It has certainly been an amazing year with our WALL project which started in 2017 (with the New Eltham Mural) and has run all this year involving over 2000 people of all ages !

The Writing on a Wall creative writing competition fired the creative imagination of our community producing hundreds of short stories and poems on the theme of Walls in our Lives and an awards night on World Book Night which filled Eltham library ! A book with a selection of entries will be out very soon.

We organised another Song Challenge this year on the WALL theme and the singer/songwriters were even more in number . The July day in Passey Place ‘Songs Across a Wall ‘ was enjoyed by all the community as friends, families and shoppers all stopped to congratulate and listen to the performers . What musical talent we have !

The award winning film on the walls and barriers to working class actors ‘The Acting Class’ by Inside Film was screened in March 2018 at Bob Hope Theatre, Eltham. This ended with a lively debate

All year the local community have joined together to produce bricks ! Not any old bricks , but works of art from cardboard shaped bricks, ceramics, mosaics, glass, crochet. knitted and resin. Almost a thousand of these were made into a Community Wall in the SE9 Container Gallery . It was magnificent. The exhibition of the WALL project with the community wall, photography , ceramics and textiles was the highlight of the project , bringing together all the aspects of the project.

We have continued to support and celebrate all local creative groups and individuals through social media and attending events . The Life in Eltham column in the Greenwich Visitor spreads the word all over the borough as well.

It has been hard work for all the team and not without difficulties and problems , but with so much local enthusiasm and support we have reached the end of the year! What will 2019 bring?

Happy Christmas and a happy and creative New Year to all our network!

from Gaynor

WALL exhibition opens on Sat 22 Sept!

WALL exhibition FINAL poster

Eltham Arts 2013-2018 Connecting the Community through the Arts

August 3, 2018Community, Eltham, Eltham Arts, Newsletter, UncategorizedArts, Celebration, Eltham Arts, Eltham SE9Eltham Arts

Eltham Arts was founded by Gaynor Wingham in Aug 2013 following a successful community poetry competition ‘Celebrate Eltham in Verse’ which highlighted what a proud and creative community lives in Eltham and the SE9 area. 2014-GaynorInLibraryBookLaunch

The aim was to connect the community through the arts. It has been a huge success and it is a good time to reflect and celebrate the last five years of Eltham Arts. A small team of unpaid volunteers have achieved all of this with the support and love from the local community.

Creative Community Challenges

2013 A Celebration of Eltham in Verse – Local writers invited to write poems to celebrate Eltham, Awards event for all ages on World Book Night. A published book with a book launch. An exhibition of entries:
2014 Tales of Eltham – Local writers invited to write short stories on the theme of ‘Eltham’ Awards event for all ages on World Book Night. A published book with a book launch. An exhibition of entries:
2015 Postcards from Eltham – Local artists invited to design a postcard about Eltham. Awards event for all ages on World Book Night. Published postcards. An exhibition of entries:
2016 Eltham Arts Song Challenge – Local singer/songwriters invited to write and perform songs on the theme of ‘Winter’. Album produced and launched ‘Aspects of Winter – the Eltham Collection’.
2017 Eltham Arts Song Challenge – local singer/songwriters invited to write and perform songs on the theme of ‘a culinary nature’. Album produced and launched ‘A Plateful of Songs – the Eltham Menu’
2018 Writing on a Wall – Local writers invited to write poems and short stories on the theme of WALLs in our lives. Awards night for all ages on World Book Night
2018 Eltham Arts Song Challenge – Songs Across a Wall. Local singer/songwriters invited to write and perform songs on the theme of ‘WALL’ All day live music event in Passey Place, Eltham High St

Eltham Arts Winter Festivals

For 23 days in November 2015 and 2016 produced two wonderful festivals with involvement of a huge number of local groups and individuals from Eltham and SE9. In 2015 there were over 120 events and over 150 in 2016. With music, theatre, exhibitions, an art trail, roving poets and many other events.
The Winter Festival involved thousands of local people in organising and attending events in their local area and to feel part of a thriving community
Terrific opening events in Passey Place and closing events in the White Hart pub. A great success.
Eltham Arts organised a wonderful professional opera evening in 2016 as part of the Festival

Eltham Music Festival in Passey Place and July is … Eltham Music Month

2014 Eltham Music Festival – Four Saturdays of live music in July by local musicians and choirs. Eltham Arts designed and publicised the programme with Royal Greenwich Regeneration staff
2015, 2016 and 2017 Three Saturdays of live music in July by local musicians and choirs. Eltham Arts designed the programme with Royal Greenwich Regeneration staff and provided most of the publicity!
2016 and 2017 ‘July is … Eltham Music Month’ programme drawn up and promoted with music events organised all over Eltham, including in the parks, pubs, heritage buildings and churches. The 2016 programme was supported by Eltham Ward Councillor funding.

Xmas Festive Fun

2015, 2016, 2017 Charity Carol singing in the Eltham Centre
2014, 2015 Charity Carol singing in the White Hart Pub
2014 Step in Christmas musical event. A first Xmas event for the newly reopened Severndroog Castle with Eldorado Extra.

Arts talks and conference

2014 Eltham Entertains – Five evenings of excellent talks and discussions on arts topics in Eltham Library
2014 to date Linked authors to talk at Eltham Library and promoted local authors.
2014 ‘Developing the Arts in Eltham. Free conference for the community with speakers and workshop groups to develop the Five Big Ideas.
Conference attendees discussing creativity in Eltham

Wall project 2017/2018 – multi media project involving all the community

Over the Wall and Far Away – mural on vacant shopfront in New Eltham which became the focal point for their Xmas lights celebrations
The Acting Class films. Organised a showing of an award-winning film at Bob Hope Theatre about class barriers in the acting profession
Writing on a Wall – creative writing competition. Poetry and short stories all ages. Awards night
Songs Across a wall challenge. Invited singer/songwriters to write songs on a WALL theme. All day event July 2018 in Passey Place Eltham
Bricks on the Wall – inviting the community to be part of a community wall project. Bricks produced in all types of media by all ages. Organised first Arts Award for y1 pupils at Haimo School.
WALL exhibition planned Sept/Oct at SE9 Container Gallery

Support for local groups / individuals /regeneration

Set up a large arts network all over Eltham and SE9 for individuals to make links
Provides venues and information and a platform to enable musicians to showcase and build a business.
Social Media support to celebrate and promote what’s going on in Eltham and the SE9 area, Eltham arts local network members and businesses. Over 3200 twitter followers and active Facebook account. Newsletters, leaflets and posters.
Raised money for local and national charities and supported local fundraisers.
Eltham Arts awards 2016 to the White Hart, Eltham Library and SE9 Container Gallery.
‘Life in Eltham’ monthly arts column in the Greenwich Visitor by Gaynor Wingham since Dec 2013 and features by Gaynor and others.
Partners in the redevelopment and regeneration of Eltham High St. Supported the development of Passey Place for community use.
Partners in community projects (e.g. Age Uk B&G Silver Sunday Yarnstorming )
Worked with the local police to organise the Eltham Park Festival in July 2017, bringing arts and music to the festival
Links with Eltham New Zealand since 2013. Hosted guests Sept 2017 and they have also organised similar projects inspired by us in their community to celebrate Eltham in Verse and the WALL project. Linked the two libraries in the UK and NZ.
Membership of GAVS, South Greenwich Forum and Eltham Town Centre partnership.
Set up stalls with free activities at local festivals
The Eltham Arts team attend many events provided by local partners, using social media to promote.
Help individuals to set up social media and support their initiatives
Encourage fun and creativity in Eltham and SE9

Songs Across a Wall – live event Sat 21st July at Passey Place, Eltham programme announced!

July 12, 2018Community, Eltham, Eltham Arts, Wall ProjectMusicEltham Arts

2018 July Music Month WALL event

ELTHAM ARTS SONGS ACROSS A WALL

PASSEY PLACE – 21^ST JULY 2018

10.15 AM DANIEL RUSSELL “Bridges over Walls”

10.30AM JIM PARRY ‘Once Upon a Wall Medley’

10.50AM MARTIN GUHA ‘I’m watching you’

11.10AM JOANNA GIRDLESTONE ‘Thru the Lines’

11.30AM CAROLINE KNOTT ‘Walls (Too high to climb.. low enough to trip over’)..

11.50AM ELEN BLANEY ‘You Must Decide’.

12.10PM DAVID FOWLER ‘Empty Towers’

12.30PM INDIAN DANCE LED BY ARCHANA PATIL

12.50PM ANGELA MCCARRON ‘Back To The Wall’.

1.10PM TONY CLARKE ‘Map of the world on her wall’

1.30PM MARIANNE-ROSE TOVEY (LEXY) ‘Tongue And Groove’.

1.50PM CON MALONEY ‘Billy’

2.10PM JIM RADFORD ‘Walls of Fear’

2.30PM KEITH FERRIS ‘All Life Is There’,

2.50PM ALAN CUMMINGS/LITTLE BEACH “Let The Walls Come Down”.

3.10PM DAVE KENNINGHAM AND

ZAHIRA AL-ZAHIRA ‘The Wall’

3.30PM LIAM FITZPATRICK ‘Across A Wall’

3.50PM RON RICHARDSON ‘Blood on the Wall’.

4.10PM INDIAN DANCE LED BY ARCHANA PATIL

4.30PM FINALE

July is … Eltham Music Month

June 19, 2018Community, Eltham, Eltham Arts, Eltham CD, Festival, Wall ProjectEltham music creative communityEltham Arts

2018 July Music Month leaflets Once again in 2018 we have a fantastic range of community led music events in Eltham this July. Ranging from jazz, folk, classical and rock , there is music in pubs, parks , churches and the town centre and local streets. All ages are catered for .There is even a Band for Babies event !

A highlight for us at Eltham Arts is the Songs Across a Wall event in Passey Place , Eltham High St on Saturday 21st July . Local singer-songwriters will entertain us all day with the songs they have written for the Eltham Arts Song Challenge 2018 (plus a few more!) . It will be a great day, so come along !

Here is the programme and venues. There may be more events – that’s what happens in Eltham. Ask in the poubs for what’s on offer there. There will be some open mic, so have a go as well ! During the month we will be using social media to highlight individual events and there are ‘July is …Eltham Music Month’ leaflets around the area . Spread the word.

July is … Eltham Music Month 2018

Sun 1 July Summer Sunday Music, Tudor Barn, Well Hall Pleasaunce 3 to 5pm

Sun 1^st July Live Music at the Rusty Bucket Sonny and the Harp 5.30pm

Wed 4 July Folkmob at Blackheath Rugby Club 8pm

Sat 7^th July Westmount Parade Open Day Live Music 10amto 3pm

Sat 7^th July Eltham Choral Summer Concert at Holy Trinity Church The Armed Man 7.30pm

Sun 8th July Summer Sunday Music, Tudor Barn, Well Hall Pleasaunce 3 to 5pm

Sun 8th July Live music at the Rusty Bucket 5.30pm

Mon 9^th July Folk and Blues Night at Bob Hope Theatre bar 7.30-10.30pm

Wed 11th July Folkmob at Blackheath Rugby Club 8pm

Thu 12th July Eltham Jazz Club Art Themen and Steve Waterman 7.30pm

Sat 14^th July Band for Babies by GAMD at Eltham Park Methodist Church 11am to 12noon

Sat 14^th July Queencroft Festival Live music 12 noon to 5pm

Sun 15th July Summer Sunday Music Tudor Barn, Well Hall Pleasaunce 3 to 5pm

Sunday 15^th July Live Music at the Rusty Bucket Harvey Montague 6pm

Wed 18th July Folkmob at Blackheath Rugby Club 8pm

Fri 20^th July Severndroog Summer Lates Motown 6.30-10pm

Sat 21^st July Songs Across a Wall day. Eltham Arts Song Challenge 2018 Passey Place 10am-5pm

Sun 22^nd July July Summer Sunday Music, Tudor Barn, Well Hall Pleasaunce 3 to 5pm

Sunday 22^h July Concert in Eltham Park South. Los Dawsons 3 to 4.30pm

Sun 22^nd July Jazz in the Afternoon at Eltham Palace – Maja 12 to 4pm

Sun 22 July Music at the Rusty Bucket Ruta Di & Paul Baker 5.30pm

Wed 25th July Folkmob at Blackheath Rugby Club 8pm

Thu 26 Eltham Jazz Club Nigel Price and Vasilis Xenopoulos 7.30pm

Sun 29^th July Eltham Park Festival at Eltham Park South. Live Music 12noon -5pm

Sun 29th July Jazz in the Afternoon at Eltham Palace 12-4pm

Sun 29^th July Summer Sunday Music, Tudor Barn, Well Hall Pleasaunce 3 to 5pm

Sun 29th July Music at the Rusty Bucket Marco Buono Project 5.30pm

Check local pubs for times and other events!

Follow our Eltham Arts social media and website for more information

Venues

Eltham GPO, 4 Passey Place, Eltham SE9 5DQ

Eltham Palace, Court Yard , Eltham SE9 5QE

Eltham Jazz Club at Eltham Warren Golf Club, Bexley Rd, Eltham SE9 2PE

Eltham Park South, Glenesk Rd, Eltham SE9 1AN

Bob Hope Theatre, Wythfield Rd, Eltham SE9 5GT

Folkmob at Blackheath Rugby Club, Kidbrooke Lane, Eltham SE9 6TE

Holy Trinity Church , Southend Cres , Eltham SE9 2SD

Passey Place (Eltham High St), Eltham High St, Eltham SE9 5DQ

Queencroft Park , Queenscroft Rd, Eltham SE9 5EG

Rusty Bucket, Court Yard, Eltham SE9 5PR

Severndroog Castle, Shooters Hill, SE18 3RT

The Long Pond, Westmount Rd, Eltham SE9 1UT

Tudor Barn, Well Hall Pleasaunce, Eltham SE9 6SZ

Westmount Road, Eltham, SE9

Writing on a Wall Awards 23rd April 2018

April 23, 2018Creative Writing, Eltham, Eltham Arts, Wall ProjectEltham Arts

A fantastic response to our Writing on a Wall challenge. They were announced at a celebratory event at the Eltham Leisure Centre where the awards were presented.

Awards-CrowdClapping

Here are the results, with the top three in each category available to read here by clicking on the links!

Children’s Awards

Short stories:

1^st Dylan Dreyer (11) TheWall

2^nd Zacary Stewart (10) The Great Wall of Lego

3^rd Grace Abe (9) The Wall Standing Between Me and My Dreams

Highly Commended Taite McQueen (9) Over the Wall

Highly Commended Emma Yarrow (6) What can you see from the top of the wall?

Commended Lottie Gillard (7) The Wall Cert

Poetry:

1st Issy Jones (10) WALL

2^nd Abdul Salim-Said (6) The Playground Wall

3^rd Neil Kumar (6) Magical Walls

Highly Commended Aimy Durand (11) Overcoming Walls

Highly Commended Sadie Drummond (9) Over the Wall

Highly Commended Harry Siri (10) The Wall

Highly Commended Macie Brennan (10) Walls around my Heart

Commended Chloe Riley (10) The Wall

Commended Ben Evans(7) The Big Brown Playground Wall

Commended Eleanor Jackson (6) The Playground Wall

Commended Guste Sinkevecute (8) Over the Wall

Commended Lola Garside (8) Over the Wall

Commended Maria Nicolaie (8) Over the Wall

Commended Marietta Meyn (6 ) The Playground Wall

Commended Nadia Dziubich (7) The Big Brown Playground Wall

Commended Priana Rettes (9) Over the Wall

Commended Tia Maile (9 ) Over the Wall

Commended Willow Gage (8) Over the Wall

Commended Zachary Morgan (8) Over the Wall

Commended Agatha Stewart (6) The Playground Wall

Commended Roxanne Peters (9) Over the Wall

Specials community awards:

Moatbridge School (Innovative Banner)

Elephant Class at Wyborne School (Class poem)

The Stewart Family (Creative Family)

Neil and Jay Kumar (Creative Family)

Thomas & James Malia and Oscar Sanford (Creative Family)

Over 18’s Awards

Short Stories:

1^st – Linda La Tour – The waiting wall

2^nd Tony Clarke – The Photograph

3^rd Elizabeth Isitor – The Safety of Broken Walls (The Biafran War)

Highly Commended : Lizzy Smith – Waiting

Highly Commended: Maureen Stapleton – Good fences make good neighbours

Commended: Roberta Woods – Behind the Wall

Commended : Lizzy Smith – The Wall

Commended : Jasmine Alvis – Library Wall

Commended : Greg Byrne- More Dead Than I

Awards: Poetry over 18:

1^st Dawn Winchester – No Flow

2^nd Ellese Elliott – Dam

3^rd Jill Carr – The Struggle Within

Highly Commended Belinda Latchford – Courtyard

Highly Commended Miriam Long – A Mother’s Lament

Commended : James Curtin – Breaking Wall

Commended: James Curtin- Summer Wall

Commended: Alan Cummings – London Wall

Commended : Mick Cohen- Unite and Divide

Commended Anne Novis – The Lady of Eltham Palace

Commended : Natalie Peterson- The Truth behind my certificates

Commended : Miriam Long – The ancient stone wall

Commended : Angela McCarron – A wall is a wall

Commended : Christina Bullen – W.A.L.L

CollageAwardsEvent

Judges for the Writing on a Wall creative writing challenge!

December 9, 2017Creative Writing, Eltham, Eltham Arts, Uncategorized, Wall ProjectArts, Creative Writing, Eltham Arts, Eltham SE9, LondonEltham Arts

John Paul O’Neill

John Paul O'Neill

John Paul is a poet, writer, broadcaster, lecturer & founded & runs Farrago Poetry. He ran, the first poetry slam in the UK in 1994, the longest running in Europe and hosts regular SLAM poetry events. He has performed in Europe and USA. He has also had poetry, short stories and articles published extensively, as well as producing spoken word projects and presenting and setting up community radio shows.

A Further Education lecturer, he runs workshops for adults and children in creative writing and performance, as well as teaching English.

He has run two creative writing workshops to support the competition and inspire people to join in .

Lee Stuart Evans

Lee Stuart Evans

Lee is the author of ‘Words Best Sung’, a novel set in Nottingham and London set in the 1960s. This was published by Arundel Books in 2017.

Originally from Nottinghamshire, Lee has lived in the Eltham area since 1998 with his wife and two sons, who go to local schools

Lee is a full-time TV and radio comedy writer. He has written for many well known and popular programmes including 8 out of 10 cats, Little Big Shots, The Jonathan Ross Show, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and a League of their Own

Jo Burke

Jo Burke Author

Jo is an actor, comedian and writer. She was brought up in Eltham and attended Middle Park Primary School. She studied Theatre and Performance at Goldsmiths University and The Drama Studio, London.

Jo has written, produced and performed five, four star, Edinburgh Festival shows and was a ‘So You Think That’s Funny?’ Finalist.

In 2015 her debut comedy book/autobiography ‘iScream’ reached No.17 on the Amazon listings . In 2016 she entered the exciting world of children’s books. Her books ‘Standing on Custard’ and ‘A Squirrel’s Tail’ are a huge hit with, children, parents and teachers

Russell Jones

Russell Jones

Russell comes from South Wales, but has lived and worked in South London for many years . After gaining a first class honours degree and later a B Ed in Education he worked extensively in Secondary Education winning the most innovative teacher in the UK in 2004. He was the Director of Performing Arts for Ark Schools until 2012.

Russell has also worked extensively in theatre both in Regional Repertory and West End. He was the Artistic Director of Soapbox Community Theatre for ten years directing and writing over 20 professional touring productions.

Russell has been the proprietor of Biscotti’s coffee and sandwich bar in Eltham for the last four years, which has a remarkable selection of movie posters on the walls. He is a great business supporter of Eltham Arts and his café has been a venue for Eltham Arts Winter Festival arts trails. Russell is delighted to have been asked to be a judge in this exciting competition.

Eleanor Fitzsimons

Eleanor Fitzsimons

Eleanor lives in Dublin, but has spent time living in London and is a regular visitor. She is a researcher and writer who specialises in historical and current feminist issues. She has an MA in Women, Gender and Society from University College Dublin. In 2013 she was awarded the Keats-Shelley Essay Prize and was runner-up for the Biographers’ Club Tony Lothian Prize.

Her work has been published in a range of newspapers and journals including The Sunday Times, The Guardian, History Today and The Irish Times, and she is a regular radio and television contributor. Her book Wilde’s Woman was shortlisted for the Tony Lothian Prize in 2014 and was published by Duckworth Overlook on 16 October 2015.

Eleanor is working on a new biography of Edith Nesbit, which will be published by Duckworth Overlook in 2018. Edith Nesbit lived in Well Hall Eltham from 1899 – 1922 and wrote many of her famous books (including the Railway Children) in Eltham