Ahead of the General Election on 7 May, South London Gallery (SLG) presents Show of Hands, a weekend of free talks, performances, screenings and workshops for young people to come together and voice their opinions about politics today.
Taking place from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 May, Show of Hands has been programmed by young people, with contributions from artists, politicians, musicians, poets and writers. The weekend aims to encourage young people to engage with the General Election while exploring alternatives to the current political system.
Show of Hands offers participants a platform to debate current issues relevant to them and explore their political concerns and ideas for social change. It seeks to question a range of issues such as the current political process, young people’s place in politics today, what is at stake for future generations, the internet’s influence on political activism, and ways in which young voices can be heard.
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FRIDAY 1 MAY
The Apathy Myth – Young People, Art and Direct Action (2pm, CGP London)
Curator Matthew McQuillan leads tour and discussion about the group exhibition
Bottom Natures. In partnership with the Bosco Centre, a place for young people.
The Independent State of Peckham Square (4-5pm, Peckham Square)
Camberwell College of Arts BA Graphic Design & Illustration students launch a project imagining the possibility of establishing an independent state in south London.
POLITICÆL PÆRTY with The A & The E (7-9pm, South London Gallery, Free, Booking Essential)
Poets Jemima Foxtrot, Adam Kammerling, James Massiah, Slam The Poet and Allan Struthers, perform new work that responds tothe political issues affecting young people in the lead up to the General Election. Organised in collaboration with The A & The E, a spoken word platform for the discussion of culture.
For the People, By the People (From 2pm)
Artists DashNDem and the Art Assassins, the South London Gallery’s youth forum, direct a David Cameron look-alike around Peckham as they film the final instalment of their independent political broadcast. Follow #showofhands15 to find DashNDem on location in real time.
Art, Politics and Practice: Artists Talk and Film Screening (5pm, Arcadia Missa)
Artists Jacob Joyce, Evan Ifekoya and Raisa Kabir present a curated programme of film excerpts and discuss politics in relation to their work.
SUNDAY 2 MAY
Vote of Confidence: Panel Discussion (2-4pm, South London Gallery, Free, Booking Essential)
A discussion chaired by the South London Gallery and Black Cultural Archives’ Youth Boards to explore young people’s relationship to politics. Speakers include Seyi Akiwowo, Newham Labour Councillor; Bite the Ballot, a party-neutral movement to empower young voters; artists DashNDem; Katie Ghose, Chief Executive, Electoral Reform Society; and Morgan Quaintance, writer, musician, broadcaster and curator.
EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND
Fairness Party: A Fairer Future for Everyone (1-3 May, Hannah Barry and locations across south London)
Artist Matthew Holroyd presents a series of Top Trumpsinspired posters, depicting the front bench of a new political party.
VOTE ART! Bob & Roberta Smith, Jeremy Deller, Janette Parris, Fatima Begum and the UK electorate (1 May, 6-9pm, 2-3 May, 10-5pm, Peckham Platform)
Create your own political slogans and screen-print or paint them onto placards at Peckham Platform.
Show of Hands is initiated by the South London Gallery’s young people’s programme in collaboration with Arcadia Missa, Black Cultural Archives, CGP London, Camberwell College of Arts, Hannah Barry Gallery and Peckham Platform.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here