Kwesi Johnson from the Cultural Assembly was commissioned to deliver a project that creatively responded to Lavenham Guildhall in Suffolk, cared for by the National Trust.

For this commission, we were looking for a project that could connect the past, present and future of the Guildhall; one which recognised the significance of the building’s unique history, explored its current local relevance, and engaged communities to help articulate shared visions for the future.

Kwesi’s project, To Lavenham with Love was a multimedia love letter of thoughts and feelings from the community about how they feel and what they desire from such an iconic space. The project was designed to bridge the Guildhall’s storied past with the present day lives and future aspirations of Lavenham’s community. The creative foundation was the belief that heritage spaces become truly meaningful when local voices are empowered to interpret and reimagine historic sites into the present and future.

Kwesi and invited artists delivered creative workshops for participants of all ages and backgrounds, exploring what the Guildhall has represented across generations and what it could become. The artist then transformed responses into immersive digital experiences, one of which was a 360 degree tour of Lavenham Guildhall with content shaped and inspired by the community. By integrating traditional and digital arts, the project sought to generate a living archive of community perspectives, offering new ways for the National Trust to understand and engage both existing and new audiences.

More of the project’s digital assets, artwork and stories can be seen at beacons.ai/tlwl

Images from the workshops:

Quotes on appointment

“We’re absolutely delighted to have received the commission for Lavenham Guildhall from National Trust in partnership with Essex Cultural Diversity Project. This is an exciting opportunity for us to bring cutting edge augmented and virtual reality into a historic space, amplifying the Guildhall’s reach to make heritage more relevant and engaging for younger audiences. We will be blending digital innovation with community storytelling and aim to empower local people to shape how their history is experienced on-site and online to help drive increased footfall, discovery and pride in this extraordinary landmark” Kwesi Johnson, The Cultural Assembly

“We are really pleased to once again be working with the Essex Cultural Diversity Project on an artistic commission, this time at Lavenham Guildhall. To Lavenham with Love is a chance for us to explore how the past, present and future of the Guildhall can continue to be relevant to its local communities. We very much look forward to working with Kwesi and The Cultural Assembly over the coming months as this commission unfolds.” The Team at Lavenham Guildhall, National Trust

About the Cultural Assembly

Kwesi Johnson is a Creative Director and Co-Founder of The Cultural Assembly, an organization focused on revitalizing arts and culture through innovative, community-led experiences. He designs immersive experiences at the intersection of live performance and creative technology, with a mission to decentralize the arts and make them more equitable and sustainable.

The Cultural Assembly brings together artists who are passionate about the power of storytelling to disrupt, shift and move the world around us. Through their work, they reimagine how experiences are shared. They develop collaboration, rich creative ideas, and innovations into compelling projects with a citizen-led approach.

https://theculturalassembly.com | instagram.com/theculturalassembly

To Lavenham with Love is made possible through a co-commission from the National Trust, and Essex Cultural Diversity Project supported by Arts Council England.