Opening event of The Platinum Garden a new queer garden at Sutton House & Breaker’s Yard, Homerton, London
social material is an interdisciplinary studio, led by Daniel Baker-Wells with co-directors Kitty Anderson and Karen Raingold, whom have a wide range of experience across art therapy, learning, nature, ecology and mental health.
we also work regularly with an amazing team of community connectors and producers, artists, ecologists, nature guides, physical and wellbeing coaches, and mindfulness practitioners, including Charlene Sandy, Mel Whitechurch, Sixto Juan-Zavala, LiLi K.Bright, Jazmeen Isa Qureshi, P. Eldridge, Roy Vickery, Edward Luke Thrush, Nat Mady, and Connor Butler.
recent projects include:
Queer Nature Club South West: accessible events, workshops & walks by & for the LGBTQIA+ community in Somerset & Devon: exploring ideas of queer nature, ecological diversity & the importance of centring queerness & access within environmental action; in partnership with National Trust, South Devon National Landscape, Natural England, and local LGTBQIA partners across the region. Supported by The John Lewis Partnership Foundation: Nature Fund.
The State of Now Studio an arts & nature school in a high support needs mental health facility in Hackney, London with Peabody Housing, Hackney Council and Arts Council England. Projects include Green Spaces for Grief & Change a walking group for adults with high support needs, led by wellbeing guides to explore local green spaces and nature; Green Futures & Community Connections in Mental Health a collaborative film-making project imagining green / ecological futures for the whole community; and The Creative Challenge, a 12-month programme with a specific focus on supporting transitions to independence. For several of our projects we are grateful to the support of National Lottery Awards for All England.
The Platinum Garden, a new queer garden at Sutton House and Breakers Yard, Homerton London, developed and produced by and with the local LGBTQIA+ community & adults experiencing mental health challenges; supported by Arts Council England.
Queer Ecologies Open Access Learning Programme, a national queer-led public programme of learning and events exploring ideas of queer nature and queer ecology by and with the LGBTQIA+ community, supported by Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund and in partnership with National Trust, Natural England and a range of wonderful regional partners.
The Blue House: a collective, self-directed collaborative process for commissioning and producing performances, site-specific installations & a limited edition vinyl with queer & BIPOC artists; with Sutton House and Breakers Yard and Cafe Oto, London.
Groups Gathering, a research-led programme of work exploring cultures of dance amongst older people across London, with Science Museum: Media Space; and Arts Council England, presented at Tate Modern through Future Citizen Forum
Public engagement strategy and workshops for the London Museum: the newly re-imagined Museum of London
Stories from the Sea: a series of workshops and discussions bringing together individuals with Pacific heritage, indigenous experts, ethnographers to inform the curatorial development of the new Pacific Encounters Gallery at the National Maritime Museum, London
curation, programming, strategy, fundraising & organisational development for Cubitt Gallery and Studios: supporting the organisation through a process of transformation into a centre of social practice, education, community engagement and localised public programming
