East London charity to play a leading role at the Lord Mayor’s Show 2011
East-London charity the Bromley by Bow Centre has received a grant of £15,000 from the City of London Corporation to take part in the prestigious Lord Mayor’s Show this year. On Saturday 12 November, the 684th Lord Mayor of London will follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and embark on a procession from Mansion House to the Royal Courts of Justice via St Paul’s Cathedral, and this year, the local Tower Hamlets charity is creating one of the leading floats.
The Centre’s contribution to this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show parade will be a ‘ghost ship’ themed float, called the HMS London. The team is constructing a decorative ship-wreck which will carry sea and river creatures with glowing eyes and sparkling scales, pirates, and all kinds of real and imaginary life. On-board and on foot will be musicians, traditional and modern, and colourful, costumed characters from London’s history.
The float is being made by the Bromley by Bow Centre’s “Arteast” group, which works with men and women with learning disabilities, to create high-quality, arts-based products through commercial commissions. The group’s work has been exhibited in Trafalgar Square, Canary Wharf and the National Portrait Gallery. For the float, Arteast is partnering with local organisations the Bubble Club and Phoenix School.
Jane Lack, associate artist, Arteast, said: “I am looking forward to the show. I’m excited about being on TV. I loved drawing pictures for the float and making the octopus. I’m looking forward to my family seeing me at the event.”
Rob Trimble, Chief Executive, Bromley by Bow Centre, said: “It’s fantastic that the City of London Corporation is giving local communities the chance to be part of the parade. Arteast’s work is hugely creative – it’s always surprising the ideas the members have. I’m really pleased that the Bromley by Bow Centre’s involved and am looking forward to seeing our float. I really hope local people will come to the City of London and support the group and cheer their hard work on 12 November.”
The Bromley by Bow Centre’s mission is to transform the lives of people living in one of the most deprived areas of the United Kingdom – and ultimately, to remove the label ‘deprived’ from the community. The Centre works with local people of all ages, focusing on those in greatest need – people who are isolated or struggle to play a full part in the community as a result of disability, old age, language barriers, or physical or mental ill-health. Many of the Centre’s projects use the arts to build people’s confidence and skills, to help them think creatively, make new friends and for some, find employment. The Centre is being enabled to participate through the City of London Corporation’s Community Involvement Scheme, which supports three community groups to create a float for the parade.
