Peckham Levels - South London's new cultural hub opens on 8th December
A space for Peckham's creatives and the local London community, Peckham Levels will be the new innovative space to create, collaborate and celebrate
Peckham Levels will open its doors to the public for the very first time on Friday 8th December with a very special launch weekend. Transforming seven inner levels of Peckham's famous multi-story car park, the space will showcase the cultural talent at work in Peckham creating a much needed affordable workspace for artists and entrepreneurs, otherwise known as members. Not only for members to enjoy, the top two floors of the incredible space will be open to the public with an expansive food and drink offering ideal for those who are living and working around the Peckham and Southwark areas. Peckham Levels is also incredibly excited as today Southwark Council has revealed that it will significantly extend the leases for Peckham Levels, Bold Tendencies and the Peckhamplex Cinema. The move is set to ensure the former multi-storey car park remains a bustling, busy and sustainable part of the town centre and a London-wide cultural venue. For more information on Peckham Levels and its members please visit peckhamlevels.org
Peckham Levels will be a cultural hub for all those living and working in and around the Peckham, South London and beyond. Designed to connect talented local people with lasting opportunities and the community around them, Peckham Levels will house a breadth of talented members who will be taking up residency from December. The members include jewellery designers, fashion designers, illustrators, painters, musicians, embroiders, composers, writers and many more, shining a spotlight on the incredible cultural talent ever-present within the locality. THE STUDIOS The site's 50 affordable studio spaces have been allocated to local artists and entrepreneurs who work in design, fashion, crafts, film, architecture and social enterprise. 300 people applied, and 70 applications were offered a workspace within the carpark. The members based in Peckham Levels will be an eclectic mix from those in the creative industries and will highlight Peckham's extensive talent. Whether its fashion, artistry, film or more, they will all find inspiration from each other. All members will be encouraged to collaborate with each other on different projects as well as on the site itself to keep the culture of Peckham alive. Some of the incredible members include: Peckham Levels' latest local members include:
Ella Bull, bespoke jewellery maker
Charmaine Taylor, digital artist and fashion designer
Christina Burke, fashion designer
Etemi Otubu, handmade garments from repurposed materials
Playdate, graphics and architectural design for a new approach to creative learning
Pyramid Projects, music and production company
Brother Film Co., video production company
Turing Lab, programme to empower kids for the increasingly digitial future
I Need Therapy, counselling and psychotherapy practise for those with difficult issues
The Movement Factory, a dance workshop to train new generations of instructors and dancers
On being allocated a space at Peckham Levels, London-based, multidisciplinary artist Anastasya Martynova, who specialises in wood carving and gilding comments, "I believe Peckham Levels will ultimately be an open platform for self expression, and when we create, we connect with each other. In today's turbulent times, it's more relevant than ever to project our positivity and unity, and what better way than through art and music." Etemi Otubu who has a passion for sustainable fashion and will be joining Peckham Levels as one of its latest members also comments, "I moved to London almost 10 years ago and I have found home in Peckham. I imagine Peckham Levels as a place that is not just in the heart of Peckham geographically, but also the place where people are given the opportunity to work towards their dreams, to create, to connect, to learn and to discover new passions. " YOUNG ENTERPRISE This site will also house small businesses providing creative facilities to members and the wider local community, including Bright Rooms; who will offer a photography darkroom space, 3rd Rail Clothing; who deliver quality garment screen printing and customisation services and Visual Things; a design agency led by Rob Butler and Robin Powell who work across compelling culture brands and campaigns. Also, Terminal Studios will have a music rehearsal studio space for those who share a passion for music. THE FOOD & DRINK The space will be a public arts and entertainment venue, bringing the community together for a chance to relax, unwind and enjoy great food and drink housed on its upper two levels. Opening for breakfast, brunch and lunch, WILDFLOWER is an all day vegetarian cafe and canteen from the team at Parched London will be serving up highly crafted vegetarian and vegan food in a relaxed, communal atmosphere. At the forefront of each service will be head chef Joseph Ryan, who having risen up through the ranks of Hoi Polloi and Salon in Brixton Village, is currently heading up the kitchen at Peckham’s iconic summer rooftop spot Frank’s Bar. Pickywops will be a vegan pizzeria with superfood and healthy bases plus delectable cocktails at Near and Far by the team behind The Magic Roundabout. Also Lords of Poké who will serve Californian style poke bowls. These join the previously announced Drum & Flats known for the best of Caribbean chicken wings, WEST who will bring a little corner of California to Peckham Levels with an all-day natural wine bar and conscious kitchen, Camberwell’s Kurdish restaurant Nandine, Chinese street food from Hao Hao Chi and classic french cuisine served in a street food style from Canard. Kwabena Amponsa Peckham Levels' Community Manager comments, "Peckham has always be home to a lot of creativity excellence. Be it art, music or drama, these and the wider culture have flourished often under some challenging circumstances. As it stands, Peckham has built a huge reputation for a place where incredible ground level/unorthodox activities are nurtured and grow. It’s home to some of the most important creative colleges and cultural institutions in London and the cultural impact of the area needs to continue to grow and be recognised while celebrating the many facets of the community that are contributing to what is making Peckham one of the best creative places in the world right now. Inspite of all these positive steps forward, it’s getting harder and harder for small businesses and artists who aren’t yet established to find the space and support they need. That’s where we hope Peckham Levels can assist, while contributing to positive changes in the community, in a way that is down to earth, progressive and beneficial for all of Peckham and as a result South East London.” Speaking about the commitment to the grassroots creativity movement and its members, Peckham Levels' Site Manger Lodewijk Van Den Belt comments, "Over the last few decades Peckham has developed a huge reputation as a place where grassroots art, music and culture have flourished. It’s home to some of the most important creative colleges and cultural institutions in London and its cultural impact of the area is celebrated across the country. So that’s what we wanted to focus on. We wanted to try and ensure that there are still opportunities for the area’s emerging talent and its early-stage innovators. It’s getting harder and harder for small businesses and artists who aren’t yet established to find the space and support they need. That’s where we hope Peckham Levels can step in." Peckham's famous multi-storey car park, is set to continue as a creative and cultural centre for the long term, as Southwark Council has worked with local groups to agree its future, which will allow Peckham Levels to further extend its commitment to supporting the local community. The site had been highlighted in the council’s New Southwark Plan, a blueprint for potential development in the borough, as an area to be re-developed for new mixed use development. However the most recent draft of the Plan, which is due to go to Cabinet for approval on Tuesday 31 October, has had the site removed. Peckham Levels will open its doors for the very first time on Friday 8th December with a very special opening weekend programme that will see all seven levels spring to life showcasing the incredible talents that the borough has become famous for. The space will provide a new platform to support and showcase Peckham’s grassroots talent and unique creative spirit. For more information and a full list of the members visit: http://peckhamlevels.org
