August 2016 News for our supporters

Dear Adrian

It’s The Mill’s fifth birthday this year

We kicked off the celebrations with a Birthday Party on 9 July and were delighted to welcome lots of new and old friends and supporters on the day. The theme was ‘South Seas’ and fortunately the weather was kind and matched the theme so the ‘dress code’ of shirts, shorts, sandals and sunglasses was quite appropriate.

We’ll be continuing the celebrations, and will keep you updated with information about all forthcoming events, meanwhile, later in this newsletter there is advance information of two in particular.

But first ...

Love your Borough Awards

The Mill was a winner!

We were honoured to receive the Waltham Forest Love your Borough Arts, Culture and Heritage Award for 2016. What a great birthday present ...

A group of Mill volunteers, staff and trustees attended the Awards Ceremony at the Assembly Hall on 22 July 2016. There wasn’t room on the stage for all the people who have made The Mill a success! We want to say a huge thank you and congratulations to all our staff and volunteers whose hard work, enthusiasm, skill and dedication have helped make The Mill a place where things happen in Walthamstow.

We’re also delighted that Nat Di Maggio was awarded the Citizen of the Year Award, for his work supporting The Mill and the Eat or Heat foodbank. Well done Nat and thank you for everything you’ve done for The Mill!

You’ll wish you were there!

The postcard raffle returns...

The Greatest Little Art Show and Raffle in E17 is returning for a second year. One hundred postcard-sized artworks have been created by established artists, local luminaries, and schoolchildren with special needs. The artworks will be displayed, anonymously, at The Mill and raffled. All proceeds will go to The Mill and Forest Night Shelter. As it’s The Mill’s fifth birthday this year, we’re hoping to meet a target which will cover five months’ rent and overheads, plus up to 50 places at the night shelter. Here are dates for your diary:

Weds 17 August – sale of raffle tickets starts, at The Mill and online
Thurs 8 September, 6.30pm-8.30pm – launch party for first day of exhibition of artworks at The Mill
Sat 1 October – Gala Day and Grand Draw, at The Mill.

We’ll be sending out more information as the great day approaches so you don't miss your chance to be involved!

Foreign coin collection

Are you just back from your holiday abroad with a pocket full of coins? We collect foreign coins that are still in circulation to help raise funds to support our work. Just hand them into Reception.

Art Works on Film

To highlight the important role The Mill has in bringing arts to its local and expanded community, researcher Carla Cruz has produced a wonderful video about The Mill’s community arts programme Art Works.

Between February and June 2016, Carla worked as a Research Associate for Goldsmiths University of London, based at The Mill. The placement was possible by the AHRC Cultural Engagement Fund. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av17UykvrZA

Join us at the next Ideas Kitchen dinner

Join us at the next Ideas Kitchen community dinner on the 3 September 2016, 7pm, at Gnome House.

The dinner gives local artists and residents a platform to pitch their for creative community projects, and gives you opportunity to vote for the one you like best. Projects pitched could be anything from running poetry sessions, crafts workshops or dance lessons.

You’ll be asked for a suggested donation of £5 at the door, in exchange for a hot meal from Sham’s Kitchen and the chance to cast your vote. All the money donated will go towards funding the chosen project, meaning the more donations collected, the more funding it will receive. So why not come along, enjoy a meal and support the arts in Waltham Forest.

Book your tickets here.

An afternoon of celebrating all things apple! This is a well-loved fixture in The Mill’s annual calendar will be taking place on 24 September, 1.30pm - 4.30pm, so save the date!

Take a turn on the apple press, join in with apple bobbing, making an apple bird feeder, decorating your own straw head garland and enjoy delicious apple cakes and pastries made by Mill Bakers. Small donations requested for juice, cakes and some activities. All proceeds to The Mill.