South-east London dwellers get ready, as things in Lewisham are about to get a whole lot more creative…

Photo: We Are Lewisham

Kicking off its tenure as London Borough of Culture, We Are Lewisham launches this Friday with a host of creative events running throughout the whole day.

Friday, January 28, or ‘Day One’ will set the tone for the year, drawing on Lewisham’s history of activism and creating opportunities for communities to come together and for positive change.

The We Are Lewisham initiative also prioritises the borough’s stories and history, as well as issues such as the climate emergency.

On Day One, Lewisham residents are invited to to get involved with the many pop-up performances and events taking place around the borough, on the street, in schools, and in venues.

Friday’s events includes the We Are Lewisham film (screening 6pm-9pm) which will be screened across the borough and at Piccadilly circus. Through photos and clips of Lewisham’s artists and community members, the film waves together the borough’s identity. Familiar faces to watch out for are spoken word artist Kae Tempest and poet Inua Ellams.

The day will also see the UK premiere of Identity Tapestry by American artist Mary Corey March at Lewisham Shopping Centre.

The project invites people to ‘map’ their identity by using hand-dyed yarn to mark a list of statements on the installation that apply to them. Statements range from the everyday (‘I love to travel’), to the profound (‘I have lived in fear for my life’).

Topics cover family, culture, nature, place, work, friends, tech, beliefs, romance, work and our relationship to our bodies, and together these statements create both a portrait of each individual participant and the borough as a whole.

In the morning (9am-10am) ‘commuter commotions’ will take place around Lewisham DLR, Hither Green, Catford, Blackheath, Deptford and Bellingham stations.

Definitely one to brighten up your morning, these commuter commotions will see Lewisham music makers do their thing in pop-up performances.

For more information visit wearelewisham.com