Written by Ronnie Chou, MA Narrative Environments at Central Saint Martins
UAL has made available some funds to assist postgraduate students in organising academic events, projects and cultural interventions; which work to bring together different disciplines within both Postgraduate Taught and Research student bodies at UAL.
Through the Postgraduate Community – Project Fund, students are invited to work collaboratively with students from different colleges and disciplines, on projects which sit under one of the four research themes: We are delighted to announce Ronnie Chou’s project focuses on Communities of Resilience – A project that uses art and design to support communities in understanding how to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to the issues they face, through co-design, co-creation, socially responsive practices and social entrepreneurship.
Café ODYSSEY is a critical intervention that takes the form of a pop-up coffee shop. This is a café with a difference. The coffee is free, however, coffee drinkers get a specially designed receipt, a map, which shows different trails, shops and organisations that all, in one way or another, contribute to the contested narrative of gentrification in the neighbourhoods in Southwark. The project is selected to be part of the London Festival of Architecture 2018.
The goal of the project is to highlight local identity and celebrate its rich diversity. People who take the trail can discover hidden gems, local places, people, businesses and organisations which shape the areas’ cultural identities. The project aims to promote social cohesion and place attachment to counteract the alienating effects of gentrification. There are different points along the trails where participants can encounter and build relationships with the local communities, social enterprises, galleries, artists and residents.
This intervention is a collaboration with a Peckham-based initiative, Pempeople.
Café ODYSSEY offers a very different experience from TripAdvisor. Please feel free to join us to celebrate the local diverse cultures by grabbing a free coffee at Café ODYSSEY from 12 – 3 pm on 29, 30 June and start your bespoke journey in Southwark co-designed among trusted locals.
Café ODYSSEY presents (Brain)Storm in A Coffee Cup, 29 June 2018
Venue: TenPoint5ive Gallery, Floor 5, Peckham Levels 95A Rye Ln Peckham SE15 4TG
Time: 12:00 – 18:00
We welcome all to celebrate Southwark’s diverse cultural identity in the exhibition space at TenPoint5ive Gallery, Peckham Levels. A series of debates will also be held at the exhibition to highlight different perspectives on the complex and contested issues of regeneration in the area. The event is part of the socially engaged and collaborative design project Café ODYSSEY, and the two programmes come together to highlight the local identities and promote social cohesion in the area.
The exhibition will feature artworks of local artists coming from diverse cultural backgrounds and disciplines, who work collaboratively to celebrate the rich diversity in Southwark. Local initiatives and organisations such as Pempeople, Peckham Vision, The Peckham Society, Peckham Levels and Peckham Festival will be invited to participate in the series of debates during 4 – 5 pm on 29 June 2018.
Café ODYSSEY presents (Brain)Storm in A Coffee Cup, 30 June 2018
Venue: Tate Exchange, Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Time: 12:00 – 17:00
On 30 June 2018, the intervention will join the event SOUTHWARK UNTOLD WITH PEMPEOPLE at Tate Exchange, to showcase local places, people, businesses and organisations which shape the unique cultural identity in London Borough of Southwark. Café ODYSSEY will also join the project Recovery Roast, by artist John D. Freyer, which together use coffee to introduce the recovery communities and create dialogues about addiction and recovery.
The event is part of the socially engaged and collaborative design project Café ODYSSEY, and the two programmes come together to promote social cohesion and place attachment to counteract the alienating effects of gentrification. We welcome all to join us in the conversations, exchange ideas and build connections with the local communities, social enterprises, galleries, artists and residents in the event!