Big Blue Fence Project

Details

The Big Blue Fence Project explores the rich heritage and shared heritage of our Olympic boroughs over the last 60 years - from the London Olympics in 1948 to London 2012.

The Big Blue Fence Project has worked with communities in the areas of Hackney, Waltham Forest and Newham which border the 2012 London Olympic site - an area that is in the process of massive and long-lasting change.

The project gives people living next to the Olympic site the opportunity to record stories, develop creative ideas and express their views about living in the area and the changes that have taken place.

The Big Blue Fence Interactive Installation

The Big Blue Fence Interactive Installation is a scale model based on a section of the original 2012 Olympic site fence and showcases the work of the Big Blue Fence Project. Changes that have taken place over the last 60 years are captured in stories, pictures and memorabilia. Within the installation, boxes can be opened to reveal fascinating insights into the past.

The Installation is now on display at Stratford Library in Newham after successful residencies in Hackney Museum and Walthamstow Library where schools and communities worked with archivists, experts and artists to create exciting new work about the heritage of their boroughs.

In Newham, we have creatively explored local stories reflecting historical changes and current aspirations relating to in employment, school life and family relationships. In doing so we have worked with the following groups :

Year 6 pupils from Upton Cross Primary School; The Swift Youth Club; Plaistow and West Ham New Deal for Communities History Group; Year 7 & 8 pupils from Eastlea Community School; E13 Learning Community; Anchor House Hostel Homeless Group, Community Links contacts, Age Concern contacts

In Waltham Forest, we worked with Tiger Class (Year 4) pupils from George Mitchell Primary School in Leyton.

The Trees Are Still Standing is a short film we created exploring the urban and rural landscapes of Waltham Forest seen through the eyes of young people - it follows the pupils on a visit to Epping Forest and features poetry written in response to their trip.

Throughout January 2010, the film appeared daily on the BBC Big Screen in the heart of Walthamstow.

If you weren't able to catch it on the Big Screen, watch the video below!