project-blake-logo

Launched in November 2007 Project Blake is a collaborative multi-disciplinary year long project between Futures Theatre Company, Southbank Mosaics and Southbank Sinfonia. The aim is to create a lasting legacy celebrating the life and work of William Blake in the London Borough of Lambeth.

William Blake is one of Britain's greatest visual and literary artists. Currently there is a lone plaque to remind passers-by that he lived in Lambeth. Blake wrote of his time in Lambeth, "from Lambeth we began our foundations; lovely Lambeth."

The project will bring communities together inviting them to participate in the creation of 24 mosaics and ceramic plaques that will be mounted at the Centaur Street Tunnel which leads to the site of Blake's home in Lambeth where he lived from 1790 to 1800 creating a permanent public art piece. These will be interspersed with poems mounted on the wall of the viaducts and accompanied by a sound installation of readings of Blake's poetry. Through the creation of this work local communities will learn about William Blake and his life and actively participate in their heritage.

Futures Theatre Company and Southbank Sinfonia will additionally run a training programme working with local schools. The school pupils will learn about the life and work of William Blake and what influenced him both in the UK and abroad. This will be achieved using drama and music techniques.

The project will culminate with a festival on or around the 28th November 2008 to coincide with the birth of William Blake. Futures will be touring a production inspired by the life and work of William Blake in 2009.