During July 2017 Heart n Soul took over our local neighbourhood, Deptford, with seven installations giving everyone the opportunity to explore the unique Big 30 Archive all around them.

The Big 30 Archive is the first of its kind. It celebrates 30 years of Heart n Soul and those who have had a significant impact on our development. 30 people and groups made up of artists, musicians, actors, participants and volunteers with and without learning disabilities from Heart n Soul have been recorded talking about their lives, creating a unique archive of learning disability culture. The archive will permanently live at the London Metropolitan Archives so that everyone can learn more about this rich and diverse culture.

Part of the Big 30 installation will be taken to Lewisham Library, Monday 18 September - Friday 29 September, for the public to enjoy. Come and discover previously hidden stories that are now part of history.

What happened at each Deptford installation in July?

Deptford Lounge

Beautiful portraits and recordings of people from Heart n Soul talking about the last 30 years of learning disability culture in South East London.

The Albany

Our home, The Albany, where we have been performing and creating for the past 30 years was draped in Heart n Soul art and quotations from The Big 30 Archive. This acted as a backdrop for weekly, free lunchtime performances from Heart n Soul artists.

The old HSBC building

Heart n Soul had the kind permission of a local business owner to take over the facade of an old bank on Deptford High Street for the month of July. We covered it in Heart n Soul art, old Heart n Soul posters and painted it in bright beautiful colours!

Buster Mantis

Comics created by our artists in collaboration with Ben Connors looking at a wide range of themes from Autism and mental health to alternative universes and superheroes.

Could Be Good

A unique art installation featuring art created by Heart n Soul’s young participants from Do Your Own Thing. This is an ongoing residency. Check out all the new work in an exhibition at Could be Good on Friday 25 August!

Call & Response

This was a chance to have a deep listening experience of the interviews from The Big 30 Archive, while The Big 30 portraits glowed from screens above you.

Deptford Market Yard

The history of Heart n Soul through a collection of memorable images across its 30 years.