A loved public resource House of Annetta has been open to the public since its first exhibition launching the SAVE BRICK LANE campaign in December 2020. Since that day, lockdowns permitting, we have been using the house for an incredible mix of activities with a huge range of people.
The Heritage Lottery Fund supported us to hold a sequence of public workshops exploring different aspects of Annetta’s archive, a processs that culminated in an exhibition and event series throughout the groundfloor and garden. With the support from Arts Council England Assemble has been working in residence at the house to support artistic commissions, productions and events to inhabit, mend and improve the house. Some of these commissions are craft based furniture and infrastructure to improve the space, others draw on Annetta’s written and publishing work exploring her ideas in conversation with neighbours and the wider community.
We have offered free space to those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to undertake training, artistic or educational activities with groups from marginalised communities. We facilitate skills development through the creation of a free public program supporting artistic practice, personal empowerment, education and research. This includes events and activities on land justice, racial justice, housing, women’s rights, social art, cybernetics, cooking and craft.
The house has become a place of sanctuary and resource for people needing access to space and equipment. This year we launched a Summer residency programme with artists, writers and researchers all developing work in the house. This led to a number of exhibitions and events, films and sound pieces exploring systems and Annetta’s work in tandem.We rent out space to charities and small organisations who are working on issues related to spatial justiceand community organising. We have also rented the space out for commercial purposes such as fashion shoots.Space at the house has facilitated the formalisation of different groups through free access to space, for example: SIS (Sistas In Strength) a local Women Empowerment Group, ab__an international research network and cor creative a youth-led mutual mentoring collective.The community of users and caretakers connected to the house has grown to include local neighbours and partner organisations, as well as visitors from across the country and supporters overseas. Thousands of people have spent time in and engaged with activities at the house, being inspired by both Annetta’s story and the aims of the project.
