Tag Archives: Eltham Arts

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

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

WALL Project is being built!

October 22, 2017Creative Writing, Eltham, Eltham Arts, Wall ProjectArts, Eltham, Eltham ArtsEltham Arts

WALL – Our exciting community multimedia project for 2017/2018

This project has a number of elements and is including the whole community in areas of creativity.

Bricks on the Wall

Project with local schools and community groups. Encouraging groups to draw/paint on brick size cardboard on the theme of WALLs. These will be incorporated into an installation in the SE9 Container Gallery and elsewhere .

We have heard from one primary school that they are planning to make ceramic bricks , which can then be installed on a wall on the school after the project . Other schools are now involved and planning exciting activities and brickmaking.

We now have mosaic , knitted , embroidered and crocheted bricks. A real mix of material and creative talent. El Recreo, our Eltham Spanish group are planning a fabric installation.

Free creative workshops are being organised at the Eltham Centre for all ages .so everyone can make a brick and be involved. These are family workshops and suitable for all ages .

Eltham library : 16th Feb and 31st May 2018 from 10.30 to 12.30am and 21 June 10.30 to 12

New Eltham Library : Sat 28th April 2018 from 2 to 4pm

Leading: Pragya Kumar and John Wingham

Writing on a Wall

A short story and poetry creative writing challenge. This is on the theme of WALLS around us. This is an exciting topic which encourages people to think about the walls around them and be inspired to express themselves creatively in prose or poetry. It may be a wall on a house or historic building, a wall dividing cultures or a personal wall within which inspires you to write. A great opportunity for all ages to be involved .

FREE Workshops were run by John Paul O’Neill to support the project and inspire everyone to join in and write a poem or a short story. These were at Eltham Library on 30th January 2018 ( Write a poem/short story – workshop for adults) and on 3 Feb 2018 2 (Write a poem. Family wokrshop for all ages). These workshops were very successful !

Poems and short stories have now been completed and there were a high level of excellent. entries. The celebratory event with an exhibition and awards took place on World Book Night 23^rd April 2018 at Eltham library and was a great success with over 300 people attending . There were awards for children and adults. We were also entertained by the local Eltham ‘Make a Noise’ Choir The exhibition of a range of entries was on display at Eltham and New Eltham libraries

It is planned that a selection of entries will published in a book of the same name.

Writing on A Wall flyer Eltham Arts PDF

Leading: Gaynor Wingham and Miriam Storey

Songs across a Wall

Singer/song writers were challenged to write and perform their songs around the WALL theme.

We are planning a whole day of WALL songs as part of the Eltham Music Festival in Passey Place , Eltham High St on 21st July 2017. This will give a showcase of local talent. We may also have other events at local venues where singer/songwriters will have an opportunity to perform.

We have produced CD’s in 2016 (Aspects of Winter) and 2017 (A Plateful of Songs) of songs from our challenges , which have been an excellent opportunity for publicity for individuals and the Eltham Arts network. We may be able to produce a CD this time .

Leading: Zahira al Zahira and Dave Kenningham

The Secret Story Garden

Based around the theme of Francis Hodgson Burnett’s book we are working with Eltham Library to developing an outside garden area of the Eltham centre as play and art space. Art works will be developed along with part of the planting. This is dependent on agreement from the building owners. GLL have expressed support for the project

Leading: Miriam Storey

Green Walls

Photographer Sandra Marques looks at the cellular structure of plants. We are considering how this may interface with the secret garden project. Exhibition at the SE9 Container Gallery (Sept/Oct 2018) .

Leading: Pragya Kumar (liaising with Sandra Marques)

My Wall

“My Wall” is a project by photographer Elizabeth Itisor. She aims to capture stories of local people by taking pictures of them against walls. Her final work will result in an exhibition in SE9 Container Gallery.

Leading: Pragya Kumar (liaising with Elizabeth Itisor)

Walls from the Water (The Foundation of Time)

Creative project from found objects (many bricks!) from mudlarking on the River Thames foreshore. No one is sure what will be created but it will be interesting and different! This is an 1860’s brick found at Greenwich from our WALL project display in the Eltham Centre (Nov 2017) . It was the star of the display and a talking point. Dave is an now expert on bricks!

Leading: Dave Kenningham

Over the Wall and Far away : New Eltham shopfront Mural

Mural on a vacant shopfront commissioned by NEBA (New Eltham Business Association). Completed Aug 2017 entitled ‘Over the Wall and Far Away ‘

A fantastic improvement (and talking point) loved by the community. Well done team !

We were delighted and proud that the New Eltham Lights Up community event on 27th Nov 2017 was staged right by the mural with local children carol singing and the lights being turned on by James Serjeant , Headteacher of Wyborne Primary School !

Leading: Pragya Kumar, John Wingham and Zahira Al Zahira

WALL Exhibition at the SE9 Container Gallery

This innovative gallery , designer built from shipping containers, is in the Grounds on St Thomas More Secondary School, Eltham has been booked from 22nd Sept 2018 for four weeks. We are delighted that we will have the opportunity for four Saturdays to have an installation and exhibition of works from the projects and film generated by the project. There may also be other events organised in the gallery during the show.

Leading: John Wingham and Pragya Kumar

The Acting Class – film screening

Eltham Arts were delighted to host a screening of ‘The Acting Class’ at Bob Hope Theatre as a part of their WALL project on Wed 21^st Feb 2018 . This film which focused on the class barriers within the acting profession led to a lively Q and A with the Directors , Tom Stocks and Labour politician Trevor Macfarlane. A good evening with a thought provoking film.

The Acting Class (D.O’Neill & M.Wayne, 2017, 77mins)

All the world’s a stage but not all the players are equal. When Tom Stocks, a young man from Bolton has to turn down a chance to study at the East 15 drama school because he cannot afford the fees, he sets up a campaign to highlight socio-economic exclusion in the arts. Tom is not alone. Actors from working class backgrounds are struggling to get in and get on in an industry stacked against them. Established actors worry about where the next generation of talent from modest backgrounds is going to come from. Christopher Eccleston, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Maxine Peake and Samuel West are among those who feature in this film talking about the barriers to success. And this is an issue not just for those who see their dreams thwarted because they do not have the ‘bank of mom and dad’ to back them. Who gets to be on our stages and screens matters to all of us. Whose stories get told, what images we have of ourselves, who we think ‘we’ are, helps shape our individual and national identities.

Awarded Best UK Feature Film by the Labour Film festival 2017.

Leading: Gaynor Wingham liaising with Inside Film

Wall – the Film

This will be a film to explore some of the issues raised by the WALL theme and document the project. Gaynor will work with photographer Robert Piwko

Filming has started and the film will evolve over the next 6/9 months. documenting projects but also exploring wider issues in our community. We are planning the film will be shown at the SE9 Container Gallery and elsewhere

Leading: Gaynor Wingham

Email elthamarts@aol.co.uk for more information or to discuss a project. or through the website contact.

Eltham Get Writing! Creative writing challenge

September 18, 2017Creative Writing, Eltham, Eltham Arts, Wall ProjectArts, Eltham Arts, Eltham SE9Eltham Arts

Writing on a WALL

Eltham Arts Creative Writing Challenge

Short stories and poetry wanted on the theme of WALL!

What does the word WALL mean to you? Eltham Palace? A garden wall? A hidden wall of shyness? A door in a secret wall? The Berlin wall? Graffiti on a wall? A wall between cultures which can be broken or climbed? Inspired to write a story or poem? Experienced or first-time writer. Have a go.

Prizes and awards for all age groups will be presented at a celebration on World Book Night 23rd April 2018 at The Eltham Centre, 2 Archery Rd, Eltham SE9 1HA.

To submit entries email writingonawall2018@outlook.com or for more information contact ElthamArts@aol.co.uk. Information on the multimedia WALL project on Facebook and on the Eltham Arts website.

Writing on a Wall – Competition Rules.

Short stories up to 300 words and poetry up to 30 lines to be submitted with the theme ‘WALL’ on any subject, but must be suitable for an all age audience, original and unpublished.
This is a community family writing competition. Open to everyone who lives, works, is educated in, belongs to a club or group or shops in London SE9. Indicate which category (e.g. work) if address not SE9.
There will be awards in three age groups (u12, 12 – u18 and over 18)
All ages can enter. If aged under 18 the name and contact details for a parent/guardian must be provided and they must give permission.
If entries are submitted through a school, the school must ensure that parental permission has been given for the entry to be submitted and details provided on request.
Up to four entries are allowed per person with no charge for entry.
All entries are by email. The name of the entrant, age and title must be in the header of the email. (e.g. Chloe Smith over 18 ‘The Wall of my Dreams’).
The short story or poem with a suitable title and the author’s name must be typed on one side of paper and attached to the email.
The email must include name with contact details (name, address, email, phone number) and if the entrant is under 18 details of parental permission or school staff contact.
Schools, colleges and groups may submit entries on UBS memory stick. Contact for details.
Be careful with spelling and grammar as entries will be displayed or published as submitted.
The judges will be looking for an imaginative story or poem with a good use of language.
The closing date of the competition is the end of February 2018.
The judges’ decision is final and neither the judges nor the organisers will enter into any correspondence.
The copyright of the short stories remains with the author. However, authors, by entering the competition, grant the organisers the right to publish and/or broadcast.

Connecting the Community through the Arts:

Twitter: @ElthamArts
Website: www.elthamarts.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElthamArt
YouTube: ElthamArts Channel

Eltham Arts Winter Festival hailed a great success

The Eltham Arts Winter Festival, which ran from 31 October to 22 November, created a first-ever platform for local creative talent – existing, emerging and new, to showcase the rich artistic and cultural life of this part of the Royal Greenwich borough.

The 23-day arts fest offered more than 120 events from art exhibitions, music competitions, crafting, literary and historical tours, beer festivals and theatre. The diversity of venues reflected the community with events taking place in community halls, local pubs and retailers as well as established arts and historical venues. The offerings also included a first-time Art Trail including over 18 different venues around the SE9 area. The varied programme also featured a tour of the Avery Hill Mansion House as well as various healthy walks with Greenwich Get Walking.

The Eltham Arts Committee out in force at the festival’s opening event on 31 October

The Festival was organised by Eltham Arts, a voluntary community organisation, who responded to a suggestion by its network of individual artists and artistic groups. Taking up the call several months ago, the Eltham Arts Committee started busily putting together the eclectic programme of events and the Art Trail. An array of artistic talent was unearthed of existing arts practitioners, of emerging artists but the call also sparked creativity in those needing a bit of encouragement and confidence.

The celebratory opening event on 31 October in Eltham’s Passey Place, set the tone with its playful poetry, mellow music and children’s crafty fun, the latter in conjunction with nearby Eltham GPO pub. The costumed cast of Wizard of Oz, a regal town crier and some friendly visiting local police added to the fun.

Clive Efford at closing event — Local MP Clive Efford at the Festival’s closing event

At the closing event on 22 November at the White Hart on Eltham High Street, local MP Clive Efford agreed on the important role of the Festival and said: “Too often we don’t recognise the talent which exists in our community and events like the Eltham Arts Winter Festival have an important role in this. Not only has it led to a wider appreciation of existing artistic venues such as the Bob Hope Theatre but it has highlighted the contribution of local pubs, a longstanding fine tradition in British life.”

Meanwhile as the umbrella of the Festival closes for this year, the artistic and cultural life of Eltham continues with plenty of ongoing artistic happenings.

Eltham Arts has so far organised many creative events in the local area including a short story, poetry and postcard competitions, live music events, talks, tweetups, conferences and quizzes.

Follow @ElthamArts on Twitter and www.facebook.com/ElthamArt on Facebook to find out about Eltham Arts’ future activities.

Eltham Arts postcard competition a success

April 28, 2015ElthamArts, Eltham, Eltham Arts, Eltham SE9, Greenwich, London, postcards, Royal Borough of Greenwichduffinamy

More the 300 Eltham locals displayed their creative talents for Eltham Arts’ latest competition – ‘A postcard from Eltham’, and winners were announced at a celebratory event on 23 April.

Local community group Eltham Arts was delighted with the number and standard of entries for its latest ‘A Postcard from Eltham’ competition, which challenged locals to design a postcard showing the town as an attractive and creative place to live, work or visit.

Two rigorous rounds of judging were carried out and on 23 April, the competition culminated in an awards ceremony at the Eltham Centre Library, where prizes were awarded in various categories:

WINNERS

Adult winners

First prize

Emily Tyrrell – If you go down to the woods…

First prize

Himani Weir – Where shall we go today?

Second prize

David Kelly – Eltham Hostelries

Second prize

Peter Roper – Eltham Views

Second prize

Sylvia Currey – Tudor Barn Reflexions

Third prize

Pauline Cahill – The Eltham Crossword

12 – 18 age group winners

First prize

Gemma Pellegrinetti – All Aboard the Eltham Bus

Second prize

Natalia Drake-Perello – Memories from Eltham

Third prize

Prize Siobhan Samuel

7-11 age group winners

First prize

Cameron Wren – The Eltham Centre

First prize

Annie Gadd – My Castle

Second prize

Oliver Jackson – Greetings from Eltham

Third prize

Ayesha Faquiri – Eltham

Under 7 age group winners

First prize

Seth Jayawardhena – Severndroog Castle

Second prize

Jay Kumar – Arts in my school

Third prize

Lola Weir – A Windy Day at Severndroog

Commenting on the competition, Gaynor Wingham, chair of Eltham Arts, said: “We were delighted with the response from adults and children to the challenge to design a Postcard from Eltham. The entries were really diverse celebrating Eltham today but showing a love of our fantastic Eltham heritage. With well over 300 entries the judges had quite a task and this is reflected in how many awards were given. Eltham now has some great postcards. We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in making this competition and community event such a success.”

The postcards will very soon be exhibited and on sale locally to showcase the local talent and creativity.

Eltham Arts has so far run a series of initiatives to celebrate the creativity in Eltham, including short story contest ‘Tales of Eltham’ and ‘Eltham in Verse’, which challenged locals to write poetry. Visit www.elthamarts.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for details on these initiatives and more.

Eltham Postcard – Awards Event 23rd April

April 4, 2015UncategorizedEltham Arts, Eltham SE9, postcardsEltham Arts

We had marvellous postcards entered for our Postcard from Eltham competition. The postcards have now been judged and selected for awards. Everyone is welcome to come to Eltham Centre library, 2 Archery Road . Eltham SE9 1HA at 6pm to congratulate the winners and see the postcards. This is part of the World Book Night celebrations at the library and it will be followed by a Meet the Author event. Join in with this community event ! Love Eltham!

Our story for Remembrance Day

This short story was one of our award winners in our Tales of Eltham competition. The author said it was inspired by the Eltham War Memorial, St John’s Church , Eltham High Street. It is a moving story.

REMEMBER
by Ann Tolladay

When he and his brothers finished at Roper Street school, he felt such pride when he was taken on as an under gardener at Eltham Palace. Bill was working in the post office in Passey Place and Eddy worked in the bank at the cross roads.

On a Friday they would meet up for a pint or two at the Greyhound pub. One night it was so crowded they went round the corner to The Rising Sun and there she was, fate had put the love of his life in front of him, all blond hair and blue eyes. They got talking and to his surprise she agreed to met him the next afternoon.

The Tarn could not have looked better, sun lush greens and flowers. Their feelings for each other blossomed too, they married at St. Johns Church and a year later the twins were born. They lived very contently in a two up two down in Sun Yard. Money was short, but his wife and children gave him a life full of love.

Now he lay here in the mud soaking wet cold and yes angry. The anger welled up in him, the destruction and carnage they were causing must be stopped. It was for the love of what he had left behind, for little families like his that he was prepared to do this terrible thing. The whistle sounded then the movement of men going over the top like a great unstoppable wave. At that moment he knew that what ever his fate, in one part of London what he had planted would continue to grow and even in a hundred years time people would remember and be proud of the sacrifice they were making .

Our Tales of Eltham book is launched!

With a hundred people attending the book launch at Eltham library on Saturday it was standing room only ! What great support for our community short story book Tales of Eltham, with over 90 short stories on subjects as diverse as love, loss, pantomime horses, ghosts and funerals for goldfish . Such a range of stories based on the theme of ‘An Eltham Experience’ has created a lovely book written by children and adults who live in the area or know Eltham well. With many authors being prepared to read their stories at the launch we were moved by some stories and laughed at others. What a great creative community we have in Eltham!

If you would like a copy of the book Tales of Eltham , copies are available at Eltham Library or email elthamarts@aol.co.uk

Five Big Ideas !

The Creative Eltham conference on 18th October was a great success. Fantastic networking and enthusiasm for developing the arts in Eltham.The five workshops were asked to come up with ideas on their ‘themes’ and then to select a BIG IDEA. These are the Five Big Ideas. People went away with lots of ideas that they were going to implement themselves. We will write a longer report of the conference , as we do not want to lose sight of the discussion and other good ideas . However, now we need everyone (Royal Greenwich Council, local arts groups, individual artists, events organisers, businesses ,venues and the community) to show their commitment , look at the Five Big Ideas and think about the future. Together we now need to see how we can take them forward.

PUBLICITY AND MARKETING
Publicity in Passey Place that promotes the arts and events in Eltham, which is able to be used by any local organisation. This should ideally be managed by the council and could be a digital board. Also an opportunity for a piece of local art to be displayed, similar to the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.

BUSINESS AND REGENERATION
A four-week Eltham Arts Festival, perhaps as part of the Greenwich and Docklands Festival. An attractively-produced programme for the month, funded by adverts for local businesses, and incorporating as many events and venues as possible over Eltham. This would encourage performances and exhibitions in public and open spaces. This would also encourage businesses to be part of the Festival both by having events in their premises (e.g. open mics in pubs) and by bringing their produce (e.g. pie and mash/curry) onto the street alongside arts displays and performances.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Making the arts more ‘portable’, like the university theatre project and also marketing arts as a health benefit to both health professionals and potential users. Maybe a GP surgery (or new community hospital) could pilot promoting local arts groups and activities and forge closer links with a local group. Arts on prescription?

FUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT
Building a structure around Eltham Arts. The big question being whether Eltham Arts wants to remain a community group which continues to respond to local artistic development and opportunities or, if it wants to be a bigger player which can attract larger funding pots.

ARTS FOR ALL
A ‘pop-up’ tour of Eltham, with art displays and performing arts along the way e.g. drama in Passey Place; music in the parks; art in cafes and restaurants or a photo exhibition. Artists could be invited to add to a display, which could then be auctioned. Pop-up shop where artists can sell their products.