RAW Rainbow installation, Newham.

RAW Rainbow is a community-driven public art installation transforming a footbridge at Royal Albert Wharf into a giant rainbow, a symbolic landmark of hope in Newham, East London, during this uncertain period.

The project was led by local resident and architect Andrew Morris from Studio Curiosity with support from Bow Arts Trust and Notting Hill Genesis. Residents were invited to collect ‘takeaway packs’ to help cut almost 5,000 metres of ribbon in 3 days across the May Day Bank Holiday. R

AW Labs studio space (Bow Arts’ creative arts hub located at Royal Albert Wharf) was also transformed into a hub of activity, with a number of socially distanced workstations set up easily allowing residents to participate in this community project.

The final stage saw residents come together in single household groups to install the ribbon on the central footbridge, working in socially-distanced areas across two weekends.

ZC: During the pandemic, we've seen a lot of mutual aid groups and community groups occupying online and digital spaces. With that in mind, why do you think it's important to still use public space in this way? 

AM: The pandemic has made us reflect on our values and called to action our attributes to help, care and support one another in our local communities. It is great that technology has facilitated a quick response to the pandemic across digital platforms and it has the potential to reach a bigger audience in a safe and effective manner. However the pandemic has reminded us that not all members of our communities have equal access to technology and that there is inequality in access to private outdoor space within our dwellings. This has emphasised the role and value of our public spaces as being democratic and accessible to all members of society. Therefore it is important that we continue to use public space to reinforce the values of inclusivity, interaction and connectivity to encourage participation from all members of the community.

Furthermore it is important to consider the role of public space and its value on our physical and mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. Online platforms have increased connectivity however these are often accessed from the confines of our homes. The digital world lacks the physical connection that appeals to our sociable human instincts. The use of public space allows the opportunity to safely provide this interaction and to promote the benefits of outdoor activity and connection to our natural environment during these times.

ZC: Why do you think installations like this are so important? And how do you think that has changed in the pandemic?

AM: We believe the creative industries continue to have a significant role to play in the contribution to society and promoting a positive message during these uncertain times. Albeit new and alternative means of production and activities need to be implemented to ensure these can be undertaken safely, whilst adhering to Government Guidelines. 

In response to the pandemic it is understandable that many art and design festivals have been cancelled, rescheduled or adapted to digital platforms. These are often catering to a large international audience where current restrictions on travel, congregations and social distancing now makes them unviable. The current situation affords the opportunity to think at a scale where proximity and locality is of greater importance and can bring value to our communities.  

It is important to consider how we may continue to create installations during the current situation. There is a beauty in their ability to be undertaken quickly, economically and efficiently and to react to the current condition. It is very difficult to represent the inherent physical experience of an installation within a digital environment. This physical engagement and interaction with the work has value, both in the production and realisation of the installation. During these times projects like RAW Rainbow demonstrate that the participation in a creative process, or activity, is often of more value than the outcome. 

ZC: Successfully engaging a community is something many professionals want to achieve, but it can be done to varying success. In your experience and particularly in this project, why is it important? And what works? 

AM: We had a desire to bring people together and reinforce the value of interaction, connectivity and the community during these uncertain times. Fundamental to our approach was community participation, both in the production and installation of the project. RAW Rainbow was completed in 7 days in collaboration with over 50 local residents of all ages. 

From our experience to engage a community successfully it is essential to be inclusive and accessible. This should take into consideration the type of engagement activities and how these are going to be undertaken. It is important to consider your target audience and to tailor the conversations and activities accordingly. What might work with one community may not be transferable to another. Generally keeping it simple and familiar often encourages a greater number of participants. 

One of the most important skills of the engagement process is the ability to listen and to be empathetic. The individuals have voluntarily chosen to participate and to invest their time and energy. Therefore it is important that their contributions are genuinely valued and that this is clearly communicated. Acknowledging that each participant is unique and brings their own individual characteristics means that you can design-in and allow for uncertainty and improvisation. We have found giving the community a sense of ownership and responsibility fosters longer term engagement and relationships. 

ZC: This started with your own balcony - how important do you think it is to have a connection/relationship with the place you want to work? 

AM: RAW Rainbow was a self-initiated project and it started by undertaking a prototype on our balcony to test the feasibility of the proposal. Balconies have become a poignant interface between the public and the private during the pandemic. The prototype demonstrated that the approach was viable and that the design and methodology could be used on a larger scale installation. We approached two organisations who are part of the Royal Albert Wharf (RAW) development, Bow Arts Trust and Notting Hill Genesis, to support the project.

In this instance a connection to place was important to foster the connections and support for the project from the local organisations and community. This allowed the project to be realised quickly and to materialise within the context of the ‘lockdown’. Having a direct connection to a place means that you may act on a more personal, and emotional, level and that you may be more acutely aware of the local situation. This can be both beneficial and prohibitive. Sometimes having distance from the context allows you to observe the situation as an outsider and bring alternative viewpoints. This may lead to different discussions and new responses. 

Therefore we believe it is more important to be aware of the type of connection or relationship you may have with the particular place that you want to work. This will allow you to assess the skills and approaches that you can bring to the situation that offer the most value to that context.   

Thank you Yuki Sumner for the introduction, and thank you to Andrew and his considered answers. Have a look at #RAWrainbow on social media, if you want to visit it in person, stay safe and socially distance!