Date
Summer + Autumn 2026
Image Credits
This community archiving project will make it possible for 50+ socially excluded young people to illuminate spaces across the borough that exist in the shadows, amplifying their stories of safety and belonging. Art Against Knives will reveal the stories hidden in the darkest corners of the borough, spark imagination for change and stitch young people into the cultural fabric of our community - reducing their experience of isolation.
Art Against Knives will co-create an art installation with over fifty young people on the wall of their community space, blowing up a map of Barnet and inviting young people to shine a light on stories and uncover shared experiences and connections to places. The participants will learn about community archiving and psycho-geography.
The organisation will co-produce a collection of audio outputs with 15-20 young people, such as recordings of their memories, reflections, feelings, external sounds and their own music. They will learn how to stitch these together offering a rich, multi-layered perspective on their past experiences and vision for change. Young people will be trained in aural history and community archiving, and gain new skills in audio engineering and sound design and be supported into further education, training and employment.
Art Against Knives will host an event from our space during the Light + Flight celebratory finale showcasing their participatory art installation and the audio artworks played through their community sound system.They will produce a printed map with the audio outputs linked via QR codes to a digital archive on their website, offering long-term legacy.
"Our community archiving project will make it possible for socially excluded young people to illuminate spaces across the borough that exist in the shadows, amplifying their stories of safety and belonging."
About Art Against Knives
AAK embeds creative spaces in Barnet's most isolated communities, co-designed with young people, that build on their strengths and create opportunity. In these spaces a team of creative, highly skilled professionals provide creative skills training, mentoring and specialist support to keep young people safe and make it possible for them to thrive. They've established themselves as one of London's pioneering youth organisation's. Renowned for their ability to consistently support London's most marginalised young people through co-produced, creative programmes and amplifying young people's voices to drive systemic change.
Light + Flight is presented by Art in Barnet. It is supported by a Cultural Impact Award, part of the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture programme. It is made possible with additional support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.