Old Diorama Arts Centre

Along wth Fitzrovia Youth in Action, Camden's Detached Youth Team and The Euston Partnership, we lead an informal and often-expanding social action grouping that goes by Regent's Park Together. We came together to start a Community Kitchen, and as one of it's several legacy projects we're hosting our third multi-faith-and-none Community Iftar in a couple of weeks Old Diorama Arts Centre. Space is limited, and it absolutely will be more than full, so sign up if you want to join us.

And we're in the early stages of adopting Most Significant Change evaluation methods too!

"We’re also proud to welcome a wide range of new clients to our roster: the campaigning Museum of the Home; Old Diorama Arts Centre, a locally rooted arts hub pushing participatory art in bold new directions; and the impressively low-tech, environmental architects of Feilden Fowles" Old Diorama Arts Centre is delighted to be working with culture for social impact specialist PR company Sabine Zetteler, Tori D. and Chris Hayes at Zetteler to ensure we amplify the impact that the Regent's Park Story Trail makes in the world. Here's more info about Zetteler and what they do: https://lnkd.in/g8zhCAtA

The One Roof Festival returned to ODAC this month—our third year running it as a two-week-long creation festival. With over 30 workshops and nearly 90 participants, it brought together artists with experience of homelessness to collaborate, learn, and create. This year’s One Roof Festival felt different. Everything felt ramped up a notch—the workshops longer, and the laughs louder. This year featured a spectacular team of creative producers and facilitators, as well as some faces from One Roofs-past, now working as members of the production team, catering staff, or facilitating their own workshops, alongside the International Arts and Homelessness Summit. Read more here: odac.uk/one-roof-2025 And if you fancy coming along, the launch event for our exhibition is this Friday at ODAC, 7-9PM.

Way back in 2022, ODAC launched an open call for exploratory projects that brought together creative communities, under the question of 'What conditions do you need to thrive as a creative?'. It was actually the first opportunity we'd offered since beginning to rebuild the organisation. ODAC commissioned development of Rachael Clerke's Work Party For Cheats as one of these projects. It was hit back then, and we're delighted to bring it back, on a monthly basis, as a useful regular space to meet new creatives and get stuff done! Work Party for Cheats is a communal space for getting the stuff done that you just can’t get done. First one next Wednesday! More info and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e2Byfadw

Way back in 2022, ODAC launched an open call for exploratory projects that brought together creative communities, under the question of 'What conditions do you need to thrive as a creative?'. It was actually the first opportunity we'd offered since beginning to rebuild the organisation. ODAC commissioned development of Rachael Clerke's Work Party For Cheats as one of these projects. It was hit back then, and we're delighted to bring it back, on a monthly basis, as a useful regular space to meet new creatives and get stuff done! Work Party for Cheats is a communal space for getting the stuff done that you just can’t get done. First one next Wednesday! More info and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e2Byfadw

Last Thursday, our Individual Giving action research group met at the Albany to continue their discussions on individual giving opportunities in an arts centres context. An interesting and useful workshop saw members presenting their individual giving plans for the year, and bringing a question, or challenge, to share with the group to gain insight and learn from their colleagues' experiences. Initiatives and ideas discussed included membership/friends programmes, patrons, sponsor a seat, crowdfunders, Big Give, post-show buckets, volunteer support, and more. Thanks again to Alnwick Playhouse, Barnsley Civic - Barnsley Civic Enterprise LTD, Chapter Arts Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts, EASTERN ANGLES THEATRE COMPANY , Kings Place , Old Diorama Arts Centre, RivelinCo, the Albany, and The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre for taking part. Watch this space for future updates from the group!

I'm at the closing event of Old Diorama Arts Centre's two-week One Roof Festival by and for artists with lived experience of homelessness, which is also the closing of Arts & Homelessness International's third international Summit which we have hosted over the last three days. We've had at least 78 participants (plus Summit guests) this week, for peer-to-peer led painting, poetry, theatre, puppetry, music, craft, lunch, community and warmth. I still find it hard to explain the impact that this programme makes, and I need to work on that. But that's okay because the artist participants tell us themselves how much it changes their lives, and how exceptional the welcome and community that has been built here is. Amazing caring leadership from Programme Manager Claire Rivers, with co-producers Nell Hardy, Lisa Ogun' and Lainie. It's been built on a shoestring, but it's now got the support of The Linbury Trust, Arts Council England and more. I can't wait to see what we can achieve in the next few years.

Counterculture Associate Matt Peacock MBE is the Co-Director of Arts & Homelessness International and is currently hosting their 3rd International Arts and Homelessness Summit. This runs from 22-24 January online and in London at the Old Diorama Arts Centre. The 3 days of panel discussions have been co-created with the international community and include how cultural spaces can respond to homelessness, academic research, climate change, trauma, funding and artist training. Over 50% or panellists are or have been homeless themselves and come together from 5 continents - all linked by the belief that arts is a ‘need to have’ not a ‘nice to have’ in the homeless sector and that homeless people should be more central to decision-making and the circles of power in our sector. Tickets available here: 3rd International Arts and Homelessness Summit https://lnkd.in/ejwDr6VA

We have just ten days (!) to go until the deadline for our 2025 Residencies programme: New Narratives! We are looking to give 2-4 consecutive weeks of free rehearsal space at ODAC to five or six groups during 2025. Productions we’re looking to support will explore new narratives, whether through original themes, innovative storytelling methods, amplifying underrepresented voices, or exploring untold stories. For more details, including how to apply, visit: odac.uk/news/residencies We’ve aimed to make the application process as straightforward and inclusive as possible - please don’t hesitate to get in touch on artists@olddiorama.com if you have any questions.