On 21 June, the #DisruptYourEveryday challenge will give employees from businesses across the City of Westminster and beyond the chance to show off their artistic talents at their workplace, breaking up and bringing joy to the longest day of the year.
Whether people want to read a poem, sing, play the guitar, share photos or pictures, dance, show off their flower arranging skills, or anything else that captures their imagination, they are invited to reveal their secret skills and bring the arts into their everyday life.
The one-day event is part of the Soho Poly Summer Festival running between 16-24 June. The Festival pays homage to the original spirit of the historic Soho Poly which has stood for democratising access to the arts for all, and which is now set to relaunch over the summer.
The iconic venue is located in the basement of the University’s Riding House Street building. After opening in 1972, the venue - the first permanent home of the Soho Theatre company - became known for its alternative theatre, often giving a voice to underrepresented writers. With creativity and inclusivity at its heart, the Soho Poly helped launch the careers of a variety of actors, writers and directors, such as Hanif Kureishi, Simon Callow, Bob Hoskins, Caryl Churchill and Timberlake Wertenbaker. The Soho Poly was an important feeder of new talent to BBC producers at the time.
Abandoned in 1990, it was not until 2012 when the space secured a new lease of life, as rediscovered by the University’s Dr Matthew Morrison. With the help of Professor Guy Osborn and the University of Westminster, they launched a campaign to revive the venue, and started the Disrupting the Everyday project.
The redeveloped Soho Poly is now set to reopen this summer, following generous donations from Westminster City Council, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Derwent London Community Fund, John Coates Charitable Trust, Shaftesbury PLC, The Behrens Foundation, The Prandem Charitable Trust and The Span Trust. It also secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the development of outreach activities and collection of oral histories.
Dr Matthew Morrison, playwright and Head of Creative Writing at the University, said: “Creatively disrupting daily life with art and culture was at the heart of the original Soho Poly. We’re excited to be finding new and innovative ways to do that today.”
If you are a business, worker or University colleague who is interested in the challenge, register at the Disrupt Your Everyday registration page, and document your artistic endeavours on Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok on the day, using the hashtag #DisruptYourEveryday.
For further information, email Dr Matthew Morrison.
Find out more about restoring the Soho Poly.
Watch the video and learn more about the Disrupt Your Everyday Challenge.
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