Camden New Journal - News: Build your own school

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Camden New Journal - by SIMON WROE
Published: 18th October 2007

Some of the school’s temporary flatpack furniture

Build your own school

THOSE lamenting the shortage of schools in Bloomsbury will take matters into their own hands this weekend – by building their own school from a flatpack.
It might be a while yet before Ikea stocks
educational facilities on its shelves, but artist Varisa Passakornnatee has created a prototype furniture school for the Bloomsbury Festival.
Festival goers will be invited to a school assembly with a difference in Coram’s Fields on Sunday, complete with a chemistry lab, music room and even a tuck shop.
Adults will only be allowed to enter if accompanied by a child.
Self Assembly is being produced with The
Holborn and St Pancras
Secondary School
Campaign, set up to highlight the need for a secondary school in the Bloomsbury area.
Ms Passakornnatee said: “The campaign gave the flat-pack project a real purpose. The process of building the school on the Festival weekend will be
symbolic of the desire of the local community to work together to provide a school for their young people.”
Much to many parents’ chagrin though, the school will be
disassembled at the end of the weekend.
For the second year running, the streets and buildings of Bloomsbury will buzz with more than 150 events. Aerial theatre
company Scarabeus return with a new
spectacular, the Horse Hospital artists stalk St George’s churchyard, and there are unique
collaborations between folk, dance, jazz and classical musicians.
The October Gallery, The Dickens Museum, The Art Worker’s Guild and the Great Ormond Street Hospital will all host open houses, while the Foundling Museum invites visitors to explore the space with an
ambient soundtrack from the Big Chill DJs.
Glyndebourne’s
composer-in-residence, Julian Philips, gives the world premiere
performance of new song cycle Life Lessens, and
children can explore a
traditional village fete populated by a weird and wonderful array of street entertainers.
Festival Director Roma Backhouse said: “Bloomsbury is an incredibly rich and diverse area. That deserves to be celebrated – and that’s what this festival is all about. Last year’s festival created many new partnerships between those living and working here that have endured.”

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