In her two year preparation for this week’s opening of the new oh!art centre at Oxford House in Bethnal Green, Artistic Director, Pippa Bailey, had a mission: to reinvigorate community arts practice so as to give it general arts appeal. In the past, Bailey says, community arts has ‘always been associated with being really naff.’
Oxford House is the world’s first university settlement (or, Neighbourhood House, in North American speak). Established in 1884 as a centre for social education and religious work amongst the poor of East London, its first years of operation saw it establish local social clubs, charity groups and religious teaching classes. Today, Oxford House is a secular organisation that provides activities for all sections of the local community, works with refugees, and provides youth services. The opening of the £2 million oh!art centre, however, marks Oxford House’s first real exploration into the realm of the arts, and is something that the community felt was much needed.
