Hackney Council has been leading a ground-breaking initiative aimed at integrating artists and communities in library spaces. Join us for the launch of a toolkit which has come from this work and hear from an amazing range of speakers and artists who were involved in the project. The aim of this event will be to share learnings from the project, to imagine ways in which artists can work in your contexts and to spark ideas based on our experience. The toolkit will be shared afterwards with those who attended the event.

Art at Heart was developed in response to feedback from around 8,500 Hackney residents expressing one of their top desires for libraries to become dynamic centres for creativity. This summer, the project has seen the training of early-career artists through paid residencies in libraries across Hackney, collaborating closely with local community groups to develop concepts for integrating public art. 

The initiative, led by Hackney Council in collaboration with Art School Plus, and funded by Arts Council England, has seen award-winning artists including Ingrid Pollard and Olivia Plender, lend their expertise to help the artists integrate their work and residencies into library spaces. The training week was facilitated by artist, feminist and co-founder of the Glasgow Women's Library Dr Adele Patrick. Other partners included MFA Curating course at Goldsmiths, University of London and disability-led arts organisation SHAPE Arts.

The programme will consist of:

Opening remarks/welcome

• Petra Roberts, Assistant Director for Culture, Libraries and Heritage, Hackney
• Ella Snell, Director of Art School Plus

Toolkit highlights

• Dr Stella Toonen, Associate of Art School Plus and toolkit researcher and author 

 Provocations 

• Jay Price and Kat Hudson, artists

• Dr. Adele Patrick, Co-founder and co-director of Glasgow Women’s Library
• Catherine De Abaitua, Libraries, Venues and Events Manager, Hackney

Panel discussion on learnings + Q&A, Chaired by Ella Snell 

• Petra Roberts, Assistant Director for Culture, Libraries and Heritage, Hackney
• Maria Than, artist
• Dr Anna Colin, Curator Educator and Gardener

Closing remarks

• Luke Burton, Director, Libraries at Arts Council England