Working with local public and private bodies in Hayes to propose and develop projects in the town centre and surrounding area.
More about this project
In 2012 John McDonnell MP (Lab, Hayes and Harlington) invited The Cass Schools of Art, Architecture and Design to propose and establish public arts and architecture projects in Hayes:
“We want to explore the potential for launching over the next few years a series of public arts projects in Hayes that could create a focal point for community activity.”
As a response to this, The Cass Schools are developing the Made in Hayes programme, a series of public art, architecture and design projects initiated by Cass students that will take place in Hayes over the coming years. All projects will consider what great things have been, are being and will be made in Hayes, and generate ideas about how the town can continue to flourish.
So far projects include: Silversmithing and Jewellery students working with Hillingdon Play Association to produce designs and make ‘gifts’ as awards for Volunteer Play Ambassadors; MA Fine Art and Photography students working with the ex EMI factory site, Architecture Studio 3 working with Grow Heathrow and the Austin Estate to develop a community gardening initiative, and Spatial Planning and Urban Design producing a manifesto for Hayes about Hayes.
In December, MA Photography and MA Fine Art hosted an event at Hayes Bandstand, where they showed images of work they had captured at the ex EMI factory, and asked passers by ‘Do you remember your first record?’ John McDonnell MP brought along his record - Please Please Me by The Beatles, which was played on the Bandstand along with The Clash and Edith Piaf.
Architecture Studio 3 with Grow Heathrow and Hillingdon Play Association hosted a ‘Talking, Playing, Growing’ event at the Austin Estate where the students tested their ‘Conversation Kits’ to discuss Community Gardening. These had been developed through engagement with Abbey Gardens Community Garden in Stratford. Grow Heathrow provided teas grown on their gardens, and Hillingdon Play Association brought play equipment that included a slack line strung between trees on the Estate. This event started an engagement process with the Estate.
The projects have also recently negotiated the use of an empty shop on Hayes High Street, which we hope to be inhabiting soon. This will be used as a base for projects to host conversations, workshops, exhibitions, and other events. Watch that space!
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