About Us

Bringing social history to life

Working with local communities to uncover and document social history through oral testimonies, research and re-presentation

About Us

Rendezvous Projects is an artist-run Community Interest Company that explores social and cultural histories of places and communities through creative and ambitious projects. Our work presents stories in new and inviting ways, to establish narratives that may have been forgotten, underrepresented or ignored.

Vision

We believe that creative practices can inspire people to value their own place in cultural heritage. Our vision is to engage people in celebrating their individual and collective stories, creating lasting legacies. We believe that bringing people together to share their experiences strengthens communities and enriches social history.

Mission

It is our mission to:

  • Present high-quality creative work in inspiring and innovative ways
  • Develop creative practices and encourage others to think and act creatively
  • Be a catalyst for greater connection with and valuing of local cultural heritage
  • Capture underrepresented social histories, presenting new and diverse perspectives
  • Generate opportunities for learning and engagement through social history

Rendezvous directors are: Rosa Ainleya writer and researcher on architecture, space and buildings who also works with architecture practices, arts organisations, and architecture/arts publishing companies and teaches at the Royal College of Art; Iain Aitch, a writer who managed a heritage project based on youth subcultures with Turner Contemporary in Margate, he is currently working on a social history of beauty queens; Katherine Green, a photographer and digital developer who has exhibited at National Portrait Gallery, Kettle's Yard and Open Eye Gallery; Lucy Harrison, an artist working on collaborative public projects, including projects commissioned by or working with Tate, UCL, Kings College and Waltham Forest Council; and Michael Needham, an artist who instigated and ran ‘Neighbourhood Watching’; a programme of events and commissions on a housing estate in Bethnal Green. We work collaboratively, pooling complementary skills and working to our individual strengths, which allows us to produce more diverse and wide-reaching outcomes.

We are currently working on a project exploring the history of Bentley's nightclub in Canning Town as part of Newham Heritage Month 2023.

Recent projects include Sweet Harmony, a project funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund which researched the influence of pirate radio and rave culture in Waltham Forest. Our major project Lightboxes and Lettering, a National Lottery funded project exploring the printing industry in east London, culminated in 2020 with an exhibition at the Nunnery Gallery in Bow and online, a publication and series of events.

Other recent projects include a National Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England funded project exploring the social history and community of the Warner Estate in Waltham Forestand Lea Bridge Links, funded by Waltham Forest Council.

If you would like to contact us about a project, please get in touch.

Company No: 9808961

Our projects have been supported by

"This is a fascinating insight into social history. We found it very interesting. Thank you all."
Exhibition visitor
WE: The Ex-Warner Estate in Waltham Forest