Building on several years of working closely with our community partners, our starting point was 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 worked 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 or working on Rye Lane.
This programme identified, recorded, preserved and shared 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 informed learning, family and community activities, artist commissions, talks and events.
Memories for the Future was 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 ran from June 2024 through to March 2026.
