Who are ya? an event in Tate Exchange at Tate Modern in London 6-11 August 2019

We worked with businesses, community groups and individuals affected by the plans discussed in our book 'Tottenham's Trojan Horse?' to create displays, a video installation, participatory activities and a conversation area for 'Who are ya?' at Tate Exchange. 'Who are ya?' reflected on football, identity and art with many other groups and individuals taking part (please see Tate Exchange for details). We were contacted by the organiser because of our book 'Tottenham's Trojan Horse?' which explores social issues related to the new Tottenham Hotspur football stadium.

See the video below for a walk through the Tottenham's Trojan Horse part of 'Who are ya?'. It was filmed during the set up of the event.

Martin Bates and Ilhan Parlayan of Martin Bates Design made a 2 metre high wooden Trojan horse for the event. Solmaz Ltd made the base for it. The horse had a postbox in its side for visitors to post their letters and drawings which were put on display during 'Who are ya?' and added to an online gallery.

A coloured-in horse from the Trojan horse postbox. 

There were displays of photos by Martin Ball, Simon Devine, Mark Panton, Love Lane residents and international reportage photographer, Steve Forrest.

Sam, Brittanic Automatic Transmission, Peacock Industrial Estate.
Brittanic is a family-run business established in 1977. Photo: Simon Devine

Faruk Tepeyurt, Solmaz Limited, Peacock Industrial Estate. Solmaz Limited is an award winning, building and refurbishment company offering a high-end service to Developers & Landlords, Architects and Consultants.
Photo: Simon Devine

Mark Panton worked with Simon Devine, a producer at Commercials Unlimited, to create a video about the businesses on Peacock Industrial Estate and the residents of the Love Lane estate. Two short clips from interviews with Tash Bonner and Faruk Tepeyurk are below. Scroll down to see the full video.

The full version is below. Go to Youtube to see more clips.

Guardian journalist, David Conn's, video was also shown at 'Who are ya?'.

There were speakers from the Tottenham community at 'Who are ya?' on 7 August.

Reverend Paul Nicolson discussed the impact of Haringey Council's plans to develop the area across the road from the new Tottenham Hotspur football stadium and its impact on social housing.

Martin Ball discussed the impact of the building of the new Tottenham Hotspur football stadium on the local community.

Martin Ball.

On 8 August Tottenham Community Press ran a workshop:

At Social Spider CIC we publish three community newspapers: Waltham Forest Echo, Tottenham Community Press and Enfield Dispatch. Our papers are all not for profit, and are written by and for local people. 

This means that we invite local people to write for us about the things that matter most to them. This can be anything from a local music project, to the effects of a housing development, to their love of their local library or football team. We also showcase local artistic talent; giving readers the opportunity to submit photography, poems and short stories to the paper. 

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the most famous football teams in the world. Their recent stadium development has inevitably affected their surrounding community. Many people have used our newspaper, Tottenham Community Press, as a platform to express their feelings about the club, good and bad, and to write about the role of football in the community. 

At ‘Who Are Ya’, we will be showcasing a series of articles published in Tottenham Community Press since we began printing in 2016, which explore local people’s views on football, identity and the community. 

We will also be running an activity for children, giving them the opportunity to write their own front page article discussing their memories of football and what they think about the sport, as well as drawing a front page image! 

We are excited to showcase the excellent journalism our community have contributed to Tottenham Community Press and to engage young people in the art of journalism!

Individuals and communities in the area around the new Tottenham Hotspur Football stadium discussed in 'Tottenham's Trojan Horse?' are continuing to protest and challenge regeneration plans that could require the demolition of their homes, shops and businesses. The images below were taken by Martin Ball at a protest on 14 July 2019

Information about our book 'Tottenham's Trojan Horse?' and what we do is in other posts on this blog. You can email us via the contact form or send Amanda Lillywhite a DM on Twitter.

Tottenham's Trojan Horse? by Mark Panton and Amanda Lillywhite. Available at Housmans Bookshop, Foyles and online at Big Cartel.

Celebrating North Tottenham - an event at Coombes Croft Library in 2018

Celebrating North Tottenham was on June 30, 2018. It was held at Coombes Croft Library in Tottenham, London N17. Below are some photos from the day:

There was some wonderful food! This was Ebi's stall.

You can see Holly Casio's zine making workshop behind the high table plus other stalls in the background.

It was great to see everyone chatting together.

Although it was very warm the talks were all well attended (see the original post further down for information about them).

At the end James Massam gave a powerful performance of his poetry.

I made a Trojan Horse for the event, it will stay in the library for a couple more weeks.

Some of the messages written on the horse during the event. Many people wrote of their love for the area and its people.

It was a lovely surprise to find some zines from Holly Casio's workshop posted into the horse.

I found some messages inside the horse as well. Coombes Croft Library plus many of the nearby shops, homes and businesses may be demolished to make way for a fans' walkway from White Hart Lane Station to the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium - part of a Haringey Council development known as High Road West. If the demolitions go ahead it is likely that many local people, who can't afford the new rents or property prices, will be forced out of the area.

The original post about the event

Celebrating North Tottenham will be taking place at Coombes Croft library (opposite the new Tottenham Hotspur Football Stadium) on June 30, 12-4pm. Click here for a link to a Google map.

Information about the event is regularly updated and new items are being added.

Activities for Children

• Story time and songs with Eleni.
• Reading Corner.
• Art table.

Activities for all ages: Children, Teenagers and Adults

• A free drop-in zine workshop led by Holly Casio. An introduction to the world of zines, looking at some examples of zines and finding ways to tell stories about our lives, homes, and communities. Participants in the workshop will create mini 8 page zines using collage, drawings, and writing. There will also be a chance to look at and buy some of Holly's zines.
• What do you love about north Tottenham? Write or draw on the Trojan horse or post a letter or a drawing into it. Letters and drawings will be displayed the library and online. (See the end of this post for a drawing of the Trojan horse that's being made for the event.)

Performance poetry by James Massam

Food and Drink

• Baklava.
• Rum cake and sorrel drink on Breadline's stall.
• Vegan/vegetarian and Caribbean food on Ebi's stall:
  a selection of patties, suya plantain, kale salad, sweet potato and daal curry, Quinoa or brown rice, avocado salad, puff puff, banana cake and summer time juices (infused water is free)
  About Ebi (Earth Based Ingredients): we provide home cooked vegan and vegetarian fusion foods with a twist. Our menu offers Gluten, egg, and dairy free options. Seasoned to perfection. We can also offer meat versions for the reluctant tastebuds. Click here for more information.

Talks in the Meeting Room
All talks are free and unticketed but be on time to get a seat - the room is quite small.

• At 12.15: Haringey Welcome will talk about their campaign for refugees and migrants.
• At 1.00: Tottenham Community Press will talk about their role in the local area and the broader subject of community media more generally. They will also offer those attending an opportunity to suggest story ideas for future issues and they will feedback on previous issues they have published.
• At 1.45: Mark Panton, author of "Tottenham's Trojan Horse?", will be in conversation with Faruk Tepeyurt, member of Peacock Industrial Estate Small Business Community, to discuss
• At 2.30: Margaret Burr will talk about Priscilla Wakefield - a Tottenham Quaker, feminist economist and writer who died in 1832.
• At 3.15: Breadline London help families to develop a more manageable and sustainable lifestyle. They will talk about their taster sessions.

Things to Buy

• Breadline London's handmade cards.
• Holly Casio's zines.
• "Tottenham Trojan Horse?" book.
• Plants from Wards Corner Community Coalition.

Information Stalls (and free giveaways)

Antwerp Arms Community Pub with Cook Up.

Birkbeck, University of London - prospectuses, leaflets and giveaway merchandise will be available.

Breadline London (a small community group who support families to raise themselves out of the cycle of hardship and poverty through education and the creation of small businesses). Breadline are on Facebook and Twitter.

Discovering Tottenham - chat with the editor and sign up for the newsletter. You can also pick up free copies of issue 1 and 2 of the printed magazine. Supplies of issue 1 are limited so drop by early if you want one!

Haringey Advice Partnership (provides free information, advice and guidance on a range of issues affecting people living in Haringey)

Haringey Welcome (a refugee and migrant campaign)

One You Haringey (a public health project that aims to support Haringey residents) - will give Carbon Monoxide Tests. People who smoke can get information about cessation services that they offer. They will also test people who don't smoke as this can identify any person who may be inhaling carbon monoxide released from faulty boilers.

Our Tottenham network of individuals and community groups.

Tottenham Community Press.

Tottenham Trees (Part of a global movement to protect our natural heritage) will have free postcards available on the Our Tottenham table.

Please come back for new information about the event.

Come along and write or draw on the Trojan Horse or post your letters or drawings into it.

"Tottenham's Trojan Horse?" can be bought online at Big Green Bookshop and crazypanda.bigcartel.com. Click here for more information about the book.