Telling the story of the One Kilburn Community Fund Projects was an artist commission to document and tell stories of five One Kilburn Community Fund projects, funded by Camden Council. Using a method of participatory observation I took part in many of the activities that the project leads organised in Kilburn. I worked flexibly in collaboration with the facilitators in order to tell the stories through short interview-based documentary films, photography, writing workshops and a curated exhibition across two Kilburn venues: Kiln Theatre and Kilburn Library.
Below are short documentary films about each of the creative community projects that were carried out in the Kilburn. The films were made in August 2024 - March 2025. My interview based short documentary film, Funding Local Ideas - Interviews with Residents behind the One Kilburn Fund is a record and celebration of the active residents’ achievement in designing the One Kilburn Fund. The shorter edit (below) was screened at the One Kilburn Celebration Event in the Kiln Theatre Cinema on 24th March 2025.
Sociable Seats
Project lead: Lucy Orme (Patina People)
Sociable Seats was a weekly art and improvisational theatre group set up to celebrate the creative voices of older people. Following a series of weekly sessions at Netherwood Youth and Family Hub the group gave three public performances by street benches on Kilburn High Road.
For the Sociable Seats project Lucy Orme, founder of Patina People theatre company, formed an interdisciplinary group of collaborators consisting of an artists and student volunteers. In each drop-in session the participants and the team engaged in drama and art activities and co-devised an outdoor theatre performance. The street bench takeovers happened on three Thursdays at different locations on Kilburn High Road. For the duration of each takeover the street bench was given a distinct identity with a stage set design made by the participants.
Lucy sees the creative potential of people over the age of 55, and celebrates it with public performance, something she believes is often overlooked in the activities that are usually made available to older adults. She is inspired to create spaces where creativity is understood to last throughout our lifetimes. The idea for Sociable Seats came through discussions while she was volunteering at Age UK. Lucy learned that the lack or invisibility of street benches as free points to sit, rest or connect, was often a barrier for older adults wanting to extend and diversify their daily walks.
Kilburn In Motion
Project leads: Brenda Aherne and Helen Delany (Electronic Sheep)
Kilburn in Motion is an art film. It tells a story of immigration through two semi-autobiographical characters, Ludwina and Bridie who travel from Dublin to London in the 1990’s hoping to make a living there. Artists Brenda Aherne and Helen Delany of Electronic Sheep were the winners of the initial One Kilburn Community Fund Award. The winning proposal built on the artists’ former work focusing on Kilburn’s history, architecture, art and music, and the benefits of immigration to the whole community.
As part of the film-making project Electronic Sheep organised a series of cultural events at different Kilburn venues. Those events were included as scenes and translated to be part of the film.
Electronic Sheep made their work with an ever-changing film crew of people who responded to their open calls to be a part of the film. Their main collaborator, Nancy Singh played a major part in filming and editing the story. In the film, Brenda and Helen take the form of cartoon foxes, while the character of the wolf is inspired by the people and the generosity of spirit that Helen and Brenda have experienced since immigrating to London. The friendships and professional bonds that formed through this art project are unique – as people get to work creatively together, they start to focus on shared experiences and support each other.
Healing Choir
Project leads: Sharon Gal & Ada Hao (Paprika Collective)
Healing Choir was an invitation for anyone to join weekly communal singing sessions at the iconic Tin Tabernacle in Kilburn. Over eleven Sunday morning gatherings people could take part in breathing and gentle movement exercises followed by collective sound improvisation. Previous singing experience was not required as the group developed their own choral pieces based on playful experimentation.
The facilitator duo Sharon Gal and Ada Hao’s focus in the project was to test and develop an art-based approach to singing that would improve the wellbeing of choir members. They believe that gathering around a creative activity and using your voice in playful ways increases self-confidence and enables people to find ways to heal or ground themselves. Over time, things that can’t easily be communicated can be shared through the sounding and singing activity.
Up to forty people took part each time and many returned week after week. One of the group’s favourite exercises was a sound bath, where half of the group sat down to listen while the other half sang to them. Towards the end of each session refreshments were offered and people were able to spend time socialising.
“It was great when people understood that the Healing Choir was a space for them to make it what they wanted it to be.” Sharon Gal
Young Photographers
Project leads: Different Gravy (Alex Picasso-Messer & Louie Stewart)
Young Photographers was a free analogue photography course for the young people of Alexandra & Ainsworth Estate and the wider Kilburn area. Over eight weekly drop-in sessions the participants learned technical skills about operating different cameras, including medium format cameras, 35 mm cameras and Super 8 cameras. In addition to providing equipment and sharing technical skills, Different Gravy wanted to support the participants to document their lives in their own ways.
In the Young Photographers sessions analogue cameras were taken to different parts of the estate. The young people filmed and photographed each other engaging in summer holiday fun. Football skills, drone flying, chalk art and everyday activities of the local ARC Youth Club were all recorded. After each session, project leads Alex and Louie developed the films and shared photo prints with participants.
The course was a real success. Collaboration with the youth club and leafleting every single household in the estate about the opportunity got the word out, and young residents interested in learning photography skills came along. To celebrate the impressive work made during the course Different Gravy organised a photography exhibition, A Summer in a Town, at the TRA Hall at Alexandra & Ainsworth Estate on 2-3 November 2024. The exhibition attracted a large audience and culminated in the annual firework display on the estate.
Kilburn Oasis
Project lead: Josie Warshaw
The aim of Kilburn Oasis was to envision a part of Priory Park Road as a green area. Josie Warshaw wanted to draw attention to poor air quality and extensive traffic in the area outside Kilburn Grange Primary School. Collaborating with residents and the school community, Josie used different ways to highlight her vision for a new permanent green space.
As part of the project Josie set up an online survey to gather ideas on how the area might be improved and what the new green oasis should be like.
Coinciding with the international car free day, Josie organised a street party on Priory Park Road on the 20th of September 2024. Local musicians entertained a huge crowd of people. Volunteers laid down temporary turf on the road and people of all ages took over the space with creative activities, games and stalls. The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
On three Friday afternoons Josie organised Play Street events - temporary road closures for play. Kilburn Oasis demonstrated the potential for the area to become a green space, and the strength of local support for the idea. It also stimulated conversation around road safety and air quality. Crucially, it demonstrated that safer traffic arrangements, clean air and spaces to gather to play and socialise were high priorities for people living and working locally.
