Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair builds community
Freya Buckler: Upside
Brocket Gallery has invited Future Cities Forum to run discussions on the cultural quarter theme at the three day Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, to be held this November at the Royal Arsenal in the London borough of Greenwich.
Famous names such as Tracy Emin and Grayson Perry as well as the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers are among the exhibitors taking part in this the third year of the art fair, which is the only event in London to deal solely in contemporary print making. The fair is a member of the Creative Industries Federation and a founding partner of the Woolwich Creative District (London)
Brocket Gallery, based in South London, which provides a platform for early to mid-career artists, contributed to our January RIBA forum on "Art, investment and cities" with Royal Academy Chief Executive, Charles Saumarez Smith and has since been awarded sponsorship which the organisers say has been a game changer.
Greenwich Council is building a creative quarter with a performing arts space in the Woolwich Arsenal to complement new residential developments and the Crossrail station, while connecting to the wider community. The site is a mix of new homes and historic buildings where in the 18th century military cadets were trained and weapons manufactured during the two world wars.
Since launching at RIBA in 2016, Future Cities Forum has looked at the growth of creative districts in London, UK regions and Europe, debating the social and economic impacts of these. Our November forum will ask the question about what makes for sustainability in this important place-making.