Beacon Garden Launch Party

In 2017 collective practice They Are Here were commissioned by Create London to transform the former car park behind The White House into a community garden. The White House is a new public space for art and social activity that opened in 2016. It was formerly a derelict 18th century farmhouse on Dagenham’s Becontree Estate, converted by the architects Apparata.

They Are Here have used the site as a civic laboratory; organising beginners’ carpentry workshops, improvising sculpture from left-overs and working with The White House poetry group to create text works. These experiments have fed into the design, developed in dialogue with local residents and permaculturist Graham Burnett.

Tying in with the Summer Solstice, the garden will officially open on the 21 June. We will celebrate with a BBQ, drinks, music and screen a video work documenting the ‘behind the scenes’ process.

They Are Here (f.2006) is steered by Helen Walker & Harun Morrison. They are currently based in London and on the River Lea. often extending their collaboration to include those from all walks of life. Institutions they have presented work include: CCA Glasgow, Grand Union, Konsthall C, Southbank Centre, South London Gallery, Studio Voltaire and Tate Modern.