CUSTOM HOUSE
PROJECT LAUNCH - 15 JUNE 2024
PROJECT LAUNCH - 15 JUNE 2024
15 June 2024
PROJECT LAUNCH
11am-1pm, Custom House Bookshop
We have received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant for an exciting heritage project, Custom House, Our House, in Newham, east London. Made possible by money raised from National Lottery players, the project will record intergenerational voices on the impact of community-led regeneration in Custom House.
Come to our project launch to find out how you can get involved in creating Custom House heritage for future generations. Drop in, everyone welcome!
17 June 2024
YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER COMMISSION
Rosetta Arts
We are seeking to commission a Newham-based young photographer to produce photographic portraits of up to 12 oral history interviewees for public exhibition and publication. This is a paid professional practice opportunity, managed by Rosetta Arts, and part of Custom House, Our House heritage project that will take place in 2024–2025, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Find out more about eligibility, selection criteria and how to apply - we look forward to receiving your application by 17 June 2024!
28 September 2024
VOLUNTEER / PARTICIPATE!
Custom House Bookshop
Thanks to National Lottery players, between now and September we are recruiting up to 12 volunteers and 12 participants! This is the day you sign up and commit to the heritage project. There are two options: become a volunteer interviewer by receiving oral history training and then recording another person’s story; or become a participant interviewee by sharing your lived experience and/or expertise in community-led regeneration. There are other ways to get involved in the project later, too.
We especially welcome interest from people who identify as working class, Black and Global Majority individuals, young people (aged 16-30) and elders (aged 50+) living, working or studying in Custom House. Expenses (such as food, drink and travel) will be offered to volunteers and participants.
“BRING A FRIEND/NEIGHBOUR/FAMILY MEMBER” WORKSHOP
Custom House Bookshop
5 October 2024
Today, during this half-day workshop, people who have committed to becoming a volunteer interviewer or a participant interviewee are invited to bring a friend/family member/neighbour to the workshop who might wish to take part in the project too, as interviewee or interviewer. As interviewee, they agree to having their story audio recorded – talking about their lived experience of regeneration in Custom House and/or participation in community-led regeneration in the area. As interviewer, they agree to receive training in oral history interviewing and then audio record an interview with a Custom House community member. Attendees will be reminded about the aims of the project, have a chance to get to know each other, and explore interview topics relating to regeneration.
We especially welcome interest from people who identify as working class, Black and Global Majority individuals, young people (aged 16-30) and elders (aged 50+) living, working or studying in Custom House.
12 October 2024
ORAL HISTORY TRAINING
Custom House Bookshop
Once volunteers have signed up to the heritage project, they take part in Oral History Training led by Dr. Toby Butler (Reader, Department of Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London). Volunteers will have learned interview techniques and put their new knowledge into practice by recording an oral history interview from a community member in Custom House.
Autumn Half Term 2024
NEWHAM ARCHIVES VISIT
Newham Heritage Service
Heritage project volunteers, participants and staff team visit Newham Archives to learn more about Custom House heritage, who archives and who gets archived, and see where our heritage project outputs will be deposited.
Until December 2024
ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS
Various Venues
Heritage project volunteers gather oral history interviews from heritage project participants.
January - March 2025
CO-DESIGN WORKSHOPS
Royal College of Art
Heritage project volunteers, participants and staff team visit RCA to co-design the project outputs which take the form of publications and exhibitions. How do we want the oral history interviews and photographic portraits to be shared publicly, for whom and what purpose?
PRODUCTION
Various Venues
April - May 2025
Production of heritage project outputs - ready to be shared publicly with Newham audiences during summer 2025.
June 2025
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
The Humble Gallery
A photography exhibition of oral history interviewees by a Newham-based young photographer and Custom House heritage by established photographer Chris Dorley-Brown is open to publics at Rosetta Art’s gallery.
June - September 2025
TOURING EXHIBITION
Newham Libraries
A full-project touring exhibition across six Newham libraries, with a public programme of talks and workshops, is intended to engage diverse local publics in Custom House heritage.
Autumn 2025
NEWHAM ARCHIVES
Newham Heritage Service
Heritage project outputs are deposited in Newham Archives for future generations, supporting Newham Heritage Service to grow its collections to be more representative of Newham’s diverse communities and heritage.
December 2025
PROJECT END
Various Venues
A heritage project evaluation report is shared with Newham Council and relevant stake holders.
This list of events isn’t exhaustive. Please check back here for additional events that may be added as the project develops.
28 September: Information Day!
Information Day: Volunteer interviewer
Interested in community-led regeneration and heritage in Custom House?
Want to receive oral history training to record an oral history interview from a Custom House community member (between October and December 2024)?
Want to help design how the project outputs will be shared publicly in exhibition and book formats (two workshops between January and April 2025)?
Excited to help at our public programme of events in summer 2025 so others learn about Custom House, Our House and community heritage?
Become a volunteer interviewer
Information Day: Participant Interviewee
Do you have lived experience of regeneration in Custom House or are you participating in community-led regeneration in the area?
Want to share your experiences by having your oral history interview recorded by a community member and your photographic portrait made with a commissioned photographer, between October and December 2024?
Excited to experience the audio-recorded interviews and photographic portraits shared publicly in exhibition and book formats during summer 2025?
Become a participant interviewee