The Music Market with pedal power supplied by the Magnificent Revolution crew. Photography by Mark Ovenden.
Robots outside Field at Techvill. Photography by Mark Ovenden.
Anna Martinou and Kalia Maliali at Universal Sound & Style. Photography by Mark Ovenden.
Kamala Katbamna, the market songstress. Photography by Mark Ovenden.
Kamala leading the market in song at Universal Sound & Style. Photography by Mark Ovenden.
Audio guys at Techvill. Photography by Mark Ovenden.
The first night market curated by the Gloomfest guys. Photography by Mark Ovenden.
Andrew Cooper and This Happy Band on May Day. Photography by Mark Ovenden.
The talented Ana Bon Bon on May Day. Photography by Mark Ovenden.
The Queens English at the night market curated by the School of Everything. Photography by Mark Ovenden.
Brixton Village aka Granville Arcade is a 1930s covered market. Towards the end of 2009 many of the shop spaces were left empty until Space Makers Agency stepped in to change all of that. With a rolling programme of community driven creative works, test trades and pop up shops, this amazing space has now been brought back to life.
To compliment the new businesses and projects that are now in place, there are all sorts of activities that happen at the market every Saturday and Thursday night. These have ranged from pop- up jewellery making to performance festivals, sweet- making workshops, a carnival parade, bicycle- powered cabaret and community opera. The art deco arcades have welcomed all kinds of playful, hands- on, DIY fun, and it’s all been done on a shoestring and a huge amount of good will.
So far Brixton Village has been a real success story. The Times called the project “the largest example yet of a growing nationwide trend” for the creative reuse of underused space. The online magazine, Treehugger, commented on the “very special atmosphere… bursting with energy, atmosphere and a true sense of community” calling it “an important social experiment.”
Don’t miss the special pop-up art events and enjoy the delicious food available in the market.
Opening times are:
Monday - Saturday 10am- 6pm, with Thursday night market until 10pm
One of the temporary participants is the Communist Gallery, where ‘all hated work will be shared out so that in small doses it becomes non toxic’. The Communist Gallery is an opportunity to explore alternative values that grow from the individuals that partake in a wall less gallery and shape it through questioning a new communist vision. This isn't allied to any political party- it is a chance to re-explore the tradition of emancipation and alternative vision going back to Winstanley, Blake, Rosa Luxemburg, Dessalines and Sparticus.
For further information about Space Makers Agency and Brixton Village see:
http://spacemakers.org.uk/brixton/
http://www.facebook.com/brixvill?ref=search
Flora Gordon