Created at Arlington homeless hostel, sold at Tate Modern
18 Oct 2021
Magazine which gives homeless people a voice now available at world famous gallery.
‘EMMA’ magazine celebrates the creative skills and resilience of the people connected with Arlington, One Housing’s flagship mixed-used homeless hostel in Camden – the largest of its kind in the UK.
Residents living at the hostel meet up during the week to create the artwork – illustrations, articles and poems – featured in the magazine which explores life impacted by homelessness and compromised mental health. The workshops, delivered in a dedicated art studio at Arlington, offer a safe space for them to reflect on past events using art as an emotional outlet.
This publication – which has been printed since 2016 – has just boosted its readership since world-renowned contemporary art gallery Tate Modern included it in the list of titles available at its iconic bookstore, alongside international art magazines and books. Visitors can now buy a limited edition of EMMA, the proceeds being reinvested in the project.
‘EMMA’ is part of the “Creative Space”, a year-round programme of creative workshops – delivered in partnership with artist studio organisation SPACE – designed to encourage creativity, artistic expression and provide a gateway to employment, training and volunteering opportunities. Since 2010, over 200 people from Arlington and Camden Pathway hostels have come to the “Creative Space” workshops.
Artist and filmmaker Brian Baderman, who came up with the idea of producing a magazine to document the stories and experiences of Arlington’s residents, said: “This achievement is an enduring tribute to voices typically marginalised, and therefore unheard and forgotten. The project has been kindly supported by Park Communications who are responsible for the magazine’s beautiful quality, staff at ‘The Economist’, and graphic designer Dan Adams.
“Special thanks to the late Gillian Buttimer, a Tate curatorial staff member and dear friend who believed so wholeheartedly in the value of this project. Thanks go also to Jill Bryan and staff at Arlington-based Portugal Prints, part of Westminster Mind, for their active collaboration on this project.”
Martin D’Mello, One Housing’s Group Director of Health Care & Support, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what our customers at Arlington have achieved with the EMMA magazine. Promoting independence and wellbeing among our customers is a key area of our work; and we will continue to support innovative projects like this one which offer opportunities for people to develop new skills and build their confidence back”.
You can find EMMA on Instagram @emma.is.crying.