Thamesmead Arts And Culture Office

Throughout 2024/25 TACO! continued to deliver against its mission to foster artists and art practices as valued, vital and useful to creative communities, civil society, and the realisation of shared equitable futures. This was realised direct support for the production of contemporary art, artistic practitioners and creative communities and groups in Thamesmead, and more widely across SE London. TACO!’s artistic and public programmes over this period included:- Support for on going artist research projects embedded within TACO! by artists Holly Graham for her project ACTION! - a project researching and celebrating anti-racist community led action in Thamesmead in the early 1990’s and the development of a public artwork; the Alternative School of Economics and their projects Tree Time and All for Each, Each for All - a project exploring the history and legacy of the Co-Op Bostall Estate; and artist Lucy Parker for their project Goodbyes, which explores the care and empathy within institutional social care. All these project continued to work with diverse individuals, communities and groups. Support for 3 short artist residency projects with the Shortwave Collective, a feminist sound artist group who delivered a series of workshops with different groups accessing TACO! Including children and families, artist Chole Langlois who presented a number of performance and broadcast events as part of the development or her project - Hot Snakes, and Mohammad Namazi who undertook a number of public events exploring regeneration as part of TACO!’s ongoing research into the spatial politics of Thamesmead. Exhibiting artists supported to make solo presentations of new artworks in the year included Hannah Lees with their exhibition of ‘something where there was nothing’, Gusty Ferro with their installation ‘Hello Neighbours’, and Sian New-Love Drew with their installation ‘Cygnus’. TACO! Presented a public programme of 20 free events including screenings, talks, and performances. Highlights included a screening of a new film by Charlotte Ginsborg, a reading by Hesse K of a new commissioned text, and performances by Aliaskar Abarkas, Elliot Buchanan, Rory Salter, and Tam Lim. TACO! Was key delivery partner in the national alternative artist education programme Syllabus, supporting a cohort of 15 artists nationally with partners Wysing Arts Centre, Eastside Projects, PS2, Studio Voltaire, and the New Art Exchange. TACO! Continued to develop pioneering and innovative work with Children and Young People. This was led through the Hundred Club, a child led creative space for art and play that supports children aged 5-12yrs old to explore social justice issues that matter to them. The Hundred Club delivered over 56 free workshops, made and distributed 3 newspapers, worked with 358 children their parents, carers or siblings, and 31 artists. The Hundred Club is funded through VCS funding via LB of Greenwich. TACO! Also secured in 2024 over £100K over 3 years towards work with early years children and artists in Children Centres, commencing in 2025/26. TACO! Initiated and developed a new project - Blurt - supporting artistic development for artists working with art writing, performance and broadcast. The first two iterations supported 9 artists including Zara Joan Miller, Evelyn Whe-ll & Hugo Hagger, Flo Ray, Alan Fielden, and Sophie Paul. Statement on public benefit The directors have considered the Charity Commision's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.