This summer The Showroom is hosting two projects supported by Create Church Street, a Westminster City Council fund which seeks to engage the local area with the arts.

The Feminist Library will present materials from their collection and a temporary space for meeting, discussion and creativity, alongside Expressions an exhibition of artworks by local young people who identify as female and a Person of Colour.

Expressions builds on two years of work and engagement by London- based artist Rebecca Buckman with young women of colour living and going to school in the Church Street Ward. Projects have included zine workshops with OOMK, and wellbeing and Sisterhood workshops with Dorcas Magbadelo / Dorcascreates and Georgia Dodsworth/World of Self Care. The resulting exhibition builds on relationships made and expands to include new work by local teenagers and youth projects.

The Feminist Library, originally founded in London in 1975 is still active today in its current space in Waterloo, led by a collective of volunteers, who will bring elements of the Library’s fascinating collection to The Showroom, along with their collaborative, DIY ethos, offering a programme of free events.

Minna Haukka, the Feminist Library’s artist in residence will create a new installation for the space, taking inspiration from the Library, particularly its vulnerability - after facing eviction in 2016, the Library’s volunteer collective has spent the past two years campaigning to save it and working to secure a new space.

Event programme

A variety of different workshops will run throughout the month. All workshops are free and are open to self-identified women and non-binary people, unless otherwise specified. Priority will be given to residents in the borough of Westminster.

Biodanza for women of colour
Saturday 21st July
3–4pm
Drop-in workshop

Biodanza, the dance of life, explores the connection between the body, emotions and spirituality through free body movements and self-exploration.

Women of Westminster
Saturday 21st, 28th July, 4th August
11am–2pm

A series of three workshops for local women to explore their experience in the area and its history and produce a collaborative book. Gain skills in research, writing, interviewing, drawing and photography.

Housing Discussion
Thursday 26th July
7.30–9pm
Drop-in Open to all

Open discussion on housing and gentrification.  Different campaigners will share ideas and give mutual support.

Young People’s Writing Workshop
Wednesday 1 August
12–3pm

Join artist Liv Wynter in a writing workshop on gender, self-expression and sexuality. Participants will create a collaborative zine and will be able to perform at the closing event. Open to young women and non-binary people aged 12 and up.

Liv Wynter (b 1992) is an artist, educator, activist and writer from South London. She graduated from BA Fine Art at Goldsmiths in 2015 and has since become a notable voice within the political art scene. She was Artist in Residence at Tate Britain and Tate Modern on the Education Programme for 2017-18, until she resigned to protest the invisible inequalities of the institution.

Creative Writing Workshops
Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th August
12–6pm

Join poet and psychologist Sina Sujatha Schwache to explore identity in multicultural societies through creative writing. You will produce your own piece of writing that you will be able to perform at the closing event.

Project ALCHEMY Film Screening
The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo
Friday 10 August
2–5pm
£3 donation for refreshments on the door.

A community social and private screening to coincide with the V&A exhibition, Frida Kahlo: Making Herself Up. There will be welcome refreshments from 2pm and the screening will start promptly at 3pm.

COMMUNITY PARTY
Saturday 11th August
2–6pm
Open to all

The programme finishes with a community party and celebration featuring music, food, performances and the first chance to see creative work produced during the workshops.

Open to everyone. Join us to celebrate!

PERFORMANCES 4–5pm: Readings by workshop participants and artist facilitator Liv Wynter.

FOOD: Church Street Legend Laila of Laila’s Creole Cuisine will be cooking up delicious and vegan-friendly food which will be FREE - get there early to grab a plate!

DRINKS: We will be mixing up feminist cocktails designed by our friends Tabú Podcast, yours for a modest donation.

ZINES and other feminist goodies from some of our favourites will be available in our mini zine market. Featuring: Rachael House,
Cuntry Living zine, Birdsong ethical fashion, Book Love multicultural children’s books and Burnt Roti.