Antiscrap’s (Artists Against Cuts) fundraiser takes place this Wednesday 30 January, 7.45pm, The Plough Inn, 173 Wood Street, E17. The event is £5/3 on the door and raises funds to campaign against the cuts to culture happening in Waltham Forest. There’ll be music and poetry by:Ros KaneDiane MangalReckless ReedsMarion SpiroRuss ChandlerRoger HuddleGraham LarkbeyMakola MyambikaDavid, John & MargaretOther TheresaAll welcome!
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From The Standard’s London Diary page, 21 January
Death stalked Downing Street yesterday. Fortunately the security men managed to keep him away from Number 10. Death on this occasion was not an Al Qaeda terrorist but a 10ft high skeletal figure representing “The Death of Culture” which was accompanied by a group protesting against council cutbacks at the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow.
Waltham Forest council might not appreciate the talents of Morris, the poet, painter, wallpaper designer and self-confessed revolutionary communist. But the gallery, in Morris’s former home in Water House, has an international
reputation.
More surprisingly one of the petitioners had his William Morris mask temporarily confiscated by a policeman. “They are clearly worried about a socialist being seen in Downing Street,” said the protester.
Time Out, features a campaign update.
The BBC broadcast the petition hand in on yesterday’s news. Here’s the article online.
The petition was today handed in to Downing Street today, around 20 local people presented the petition. The BBC was there to cover the event which was broadcast on BBC London news today. Further press coverage to follow.
See February’s article in Period Living on Morris which highlights this campaign to keep the gallery open full time.
Launch of St James St Open-Air Library & National Year of ReadingSaturday 19 January 2008: The council doesn’t seem to have noticed that 2008 is the National Year of Reading but St James Street library campaign have! They are launching a monthly celebration and open-air library at St James Street, on Saturday 19 January!Every month, they’re going to hold a Book Swap, competitions and decorate the closed libraries windows - demonstrating the importance of reading and showing the council they have not given up. Bring as many books as you like to give in, and choose new ones from our stock.After 19 January, it will be held on the first Saturday of each month: 2 February, 2 March, 5 April and so on.
A printed and beautifully bound copy of the petition to keep the William Morris Museum (and Vestry House Museum) open full time will be presented to the Prime Minister on Monday 21 January 2008 at 10.30am.
The petition has over 11,000 signatures and messages of support from all over the world, including UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Serbia, Belgium, Holland, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Taiwan…
Come and join in the presentation - local residents are meeting at Walthamstow Central at 9.00am on Monday morning, to arrive at Downing Street for 10.00am. Many will be in fancy dress, with beards and Morris masks, come as you are or with beard!!!
The petition is still open and gathering signatures, keep them coming in. The presenations will continue over the coming months. We www.petitiononline.com/savewmg/
The petition was bound with the kind support of The Wyvern Bindery
William Morris Gallery campaigners turned up to support a free film festival, run by the McGuffin Society, to mark the 5th anniversary of the closure of Walthamstow Cinema. The building was bought by the UKCG church in 2005, they agreed in principle to sell the cinema, but persistent rumours that the council are building a new multiplex cinema on the land adjacent to the site has put buyers off. Read local photographer Katherine Green’s report on the BBC’s website.
The McGuffin Film Society have organised a free film festival on Saturday 5th January to celebrate Waltham Forest on Film including a rare film about the life William Morris at the Victoria Bar, next to the cinema, 186 Hoe Street, London E17.5.15pm: PHOTO CALL AT THE EMD CINEMAAn opportunity to show your continued support for reopening the EMD. 2008 is going to be a crucial time in deciding the fate of this much missed venue.The film program, from 5.30, admission free;‘A CINEMA NEAR YOU’ A short film by Claudia Firth about the closure of the EMD Cinema and the reaction of local people. The film also features a rare interview with controversial purchasers the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) and a look behind the scenes at their Finsbury Park headquarters.‘HOLLYWOOD E17′ A fascinating film examining the pivotal role of Waltham Forest in the development of the film industry. The documentary retraces the footsteps of the early film pioneers and identifies the many local sites associated with the formative days of motion pictures.‘WALTHAMSTOW MARKET: A PORTRAIT’ Featuring a vibrant collage of interviews with the sellers and buyers of Walthamstow Market, Dominic Stinton’s acclaimed film provides a fascinating insight into one of London’s most diverse and colourful shopping areas.‘THE COLLECTORS OF WOOD STREET’ Filmmaker Mark Windows shines a commendably quirky spotlight on the long suffering specialist traders of Wood Street Market and the bargain hunters, record collectors, DVD fanciers and jovial East End philosophers who frequent its dimly lit passageways.‘THE LAST DAYS OF THE EMD CINEMA’ A short documentary examining the illustrious history and tragic closure of the EMD Cinema, including highlights from the closing night Gala Show in 2003.‘ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S ‘NUMBER SEVENTEEN’ A rarely seen early Hitchcock thriller set amongst the shadows of a spooky derelict Victorian house where a gang of jewel thieves are hoping to evade detection from the law… with deliciously unexpected consequences!‘NEWS FROM NOWHERE’ A rare film about the life of William Morris. It tells the story of Morris’s eventful life through a series of flashbacks which take place as the artist travels along the Thames with his wife in 1880.‘IT WAS AN ACCIDENT’ A gritty urban black comedy from 2000, filmed almost entirely on location around Waltham Forest! The film will be introduced by local writer Jeremy Cameron.Further details at; http://www.mcguffin.info