Memories for the Future

PROJECT

Memories for the Future is a hyperlocal community-led programme that researches and responds to the intangible heritage of the people who shaped Peckham’s iconic Rye Lane.

Details

Peckham Rye Lane

June 2024 - October 2025  

Building on several years of working closely with our community partners, our starting point is Rye Lane’s iconic “Aunties”, the women business leaders who exemplify the realities of migration into Britain and the experience of rebuilding lives as part of a diaspora. Memories for the Future works to cherish and learn from these at-risk histories which illuminate Britain’s complex relationships with the rest of the world, and the foundational influence of these women on the communities living/working on Rye Lane.

This programme identifies, records, preserves and shares oral histories of Peckham aunties in conversation with younger generations in their families and communities to tell a multi-dimensional story of post-colonial commonwealth migration, British community responses, diaspora experience, and how Peckham became the mini-metropolis it is today. The outcomes of these conversations informs learning, family and community activities, artist commissions, talks and events.

Memories for the Future is made possible with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, United St Saviours and the London Borough of Southwark’s Culture Together, Neighbourhoods and Cultural Celebrations funds and generous support from Arts Council England. Memories for the Future runs from June 2024 through to October 2025.  

More Projects

Projects

Rye Lane Reconnected

2023-2024

Rye Lane Reconnected, a community-led initiative, collaborated with social artists, residents, and community groups to commission artworks for Peckham’s Rye Lane.

Koby Martin x Southwark Youth Justice Service

2023

Artist Koby Martin collaborated with Southwark Youth Justice Service, empowering young voices through painting and music.

Waum Fi Dem?

October 2021 - June 2022

This project celebrates the distinct dialogues of a multi-generational group of participants and mediums of ‘insistent archiving’ that preserve the wealth and variance of these narratives.

Artists

Meet the socially engaged artists working with our communities in Peckham

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