OCCUPY MY TIME

In January 2006 OCCUPY MY TIME was established to continue the aim of bringing art straight into the heart of the community.

OCCUPY MY TIME is a non-profit making organisation. We seek temporary spaces/sites in which to hold exhibitions/events to attract a diverse audience. Our aim is to create a mutually supportive environment in which to debate art processes and practice.

OCCUPY MY TIME is committed to inclusive activitythrough the production of workshops and supportive projects within a wide range of the community to include difficult to reach groups. Our objective is to reach an audience from all communities regardless of gender, nationality, religion, age, disability, class, or educational background and to involve all areas of the community to include the local residents including schools, colleges, universities and community groups.

OCCUPY MY TIME is a Company LTD by Guarantee, Company Registration no: 5728250.

NEWS

Selected artists for POLICE AND THIEVES are:
Sue Cohen, Hannah Westwood, Mark Bell, Alexander Small and Jonathan Alibone, Raz Anton, Jenna Collins, Annabell Tilley, June Glass, Owen Bowden, Jessica Piddock, Ian Goncrarow, Alessando Columano and Vikrah Kansheell, Shona Davis and David Monaghan, Jon Howe, Des Kilfeather, Andy Wicks, Emma Macleod, Ben Westwood, Maya Ramsay, Greer MacKeogh, Janet Brown.

EXHIBITING OPPORTUNITIES

Please check back in the future for further exhibiting opportunities.

CURRENT SHOWS

4th-31st March 2010.
12.00-5.30pm Tuesday-Sunday.
Preview: 5th March 6.30-9.30pm.
Admission free.

Artist Talks: 13^th and 20^th March 2.30-4.30.

Music and DJ’s: 20^th March 7.00-10.30.

Mainline trains: New Cross.
Buses: 177,225,53,453.
DLR: Deptford Bridge.

Curated by Sue Cohen.
Part of Deptford Last Fridays.
Supported by Out Of Nowhere Design.

Featuring: Sue Cohen, Hannah Westwood, Mark Bell, Jon Howe, Alexander Small & Jonathan Alibone, Des Kilfeather, Razvan Anton, Jenna Collins, Annabel Tilley, June Glasson, Jessica Piddock, Ian Goncrarow, Alessando Columano & Vikram Kanshall, Janet Brown, Shona Davies & David Monaghan, Andy Wicks, Emma Macleod, Ben Westwood, Owen Bowden, Greer MacKeogh.

Police and Thieves will explore the dark side of existence, the experiences and actions that bestow the twists and turns of our human endurance. Work has been selected that presents images that explore the Law and its boundaries, the murky deeds of crime and its wider implications, the undercurrent of sinister events that run through all walks of life and social and personal histories that consider the difficulties that are present in the trials of everyday survival, culture and self expression.

The Old Police Station echoes with the events of the past, there are elements still in place, signs ,notices and instruments that tell its story. They encourage you to take your imagination on a dark shady voyage, walk up the steps of the building though the double doors into the secret world of the scandalous. There are signs around the building that inform the officers what to look for in unruly suspects while under the influence of drink or drugs. There are hooks imbedded in the walls of the interview room where the officers can secure the detainee while being questioned, before being taken to the cells a short walk away. There are rooms of the gym that are undefined in their purpose and conjure up images of surreptitious events.

But behind every crime there is a human story, Police and Thieves will try and explore the persona of the profligate in all its splendour. The show will present a wide range of artwork that ranges from installation, film painting, sculpture and photography. The work will be presented in this intriguing space reflecting the darkness of the environment that many of us would never normally enter.

Police and Thieves is about survival.

WORKSHOPS

OCCUPY MY TIME aims to work within the local community to provide workshops the explore media, techniques and themes that have been presented by the participating artists. It does so by:

• Providing a programme of exhibitions & workshops that reflects the cultural diversity of South East London & is accessible to all
• Providing opportunities to learn and train in a context that promotes cultural diversity
• Creating a context that enables people to learn through participation

Projects will provide the following outcomes:

• Providing young people with the opportunity to give voice to their experiences, enabling them to gain creative, personal and social confidence
• Increased skill, creativity and innovation through working with professional artists
• Broadening cultural horizons, and promoting education and training as a continuous process
• Helping young people from diverse cultural backgrounds to explore their history, culture and traditions
• Encouraging awareness of the facilities available to young people in London
• Encouraging group interaction through group exhibition

Workshop Dates:

• Jul to Sept 08 - Summer Arts College working with OCCUPY MY TIME. Lewisham Youth Offending Team funded by Youth Justice Board and the Arts Council. Docklands Museum.
• May 08 - YESS.
• Jun 08 - Workshops on the Green. Working with OCCUPY MY TIME for the Camberwell Arts Festival.
• May 07 - Part of Trigger, Greenwich Heritage Centre Saturday Club
• Dec 06 - May 07, Mural project RAP/YISP and YOT Teams for Lewisham Youth Offending Team.
• Oct 06 - Nov 06, Part of UNDERGROUND, Greenwich Foot Tunnel, with RAP Lewisham Youth Offending Team.
• Feb 05 - May 05, Headway East London, Headway Bexley and Lewisham Youth Offending Team working with URBANBODIES at 127 Brick Lane, London. Funded by the Arts Council England.

CONTACT

Tel: 07931536327
Email: suecohen@ntlworld.com