Communities in East London

Community-Led Storytelling, Powered by Partnership

Future Hackney is a grassroots, community-led project rooted in the creativity, resilience, and cultural richness of Dalston and wider Hackney. Through storytelling, photography, memory clubs, workshops, and free public exhibitions, we work with local people to honour everyday life, celebrate identity, and strengthen neighbourhood pride. Our projects create lasting connections and give communities the tools to shape how their stories are seen and shared. We collaborate informally with a wide network of local organisations—such as Rise 365, Young Hackney, Mediorite, Hackney Circle, Sistah Space, Kaffa Coffee, Queertopia, Ridley Road Market traders, Dalston Superstore, the British Red Cross Dalston, St Jude’s food programme, Zoom Bike Project and Dalston Roundtable—to ensure our work is grounded in local knowledge and support. 

In 2025, we will continue researching and/or developing partnerships with key venues that have shaped Dalston’s community, cultural and activism scene, including: The Four Aces Club (1966–1997), Obalende Suya (1990s), Passion, Blushes and Visions, Passing Clouds (2006–2016), Vogue Fabrics, The Rio Cinema, Dalston Superstore, The Shacklewell Arms, The Vortex, Dalston Jazz Bar, and The Divine. These venues have been crucial spaces for Black, queer, and working-class communities with some continuing to influence the area's vibrant culture.

Central to our approach is deep, ongoing community engagement. We create spaces where people feel welcome and heard—whether through street meets, open workshops, memory clubs, or informal gatherings in cafés, barbershops, and trusted community venues. By meeting people where they are and listening first, we ensure that every project reflects local voices and lived experience. We also work with cultural and heritage partners such as Hackney Museum, the Museum of Youth Culture, the National Trust (Sutton House), Hackney Council’s Culture Team, and Hackney CVS—while continuing to grow new partnerships with organisations like the Museum of London, Black Cultural Archives, and London Metropolitan Archives across East London’s heritage and youth sectors.

Our hands-on training in oral history, digital and film photography, and digital storytelling helps participants develop creative skills, confidence, and the tools to share their own narratives. Whether working with young people from the borough or collaborating with elders on cultural memory projects, our approach is always collaborative and responsive to local voices.

We share these stories through free public exhibitions and street galleries across East London. Our current show—The Strip: A Love Letter to Our Neighbourhood—places large-format portraits and community histories in public view, turning spaces usually reserved for advertising into platforms for local pride. These exhibitions create moments of connection and visibility that bring people together.

Local people know us by our street presence. They’ve seen us documenting real lives, challenging stereotypes, and amplifying voices often left out of mainstream narratives. Our work has been covered in the local and national press and continues to spark conversation, joy, and a sense of belonging across the borough.

We believe in the power of co-creation and the long-term importance of community history, imagery and archiving. By working with residents to document their stories, we’re building a living, local archive that reflects the depth and diversity of inner-city life. The archives preserve London’s history and give people agency over how their neighbourhoods are remembered and represented, now and for future generations.

Future Hackney also supports civic participation and leadership. In 2023–24, 90% of participants reported feeling more connected to their neighbourhood, and 75% took part in community or civic activity for the first time. We provide the tools, platforms, and encouragement for people to organise, advocate, and lead.

Behind this work lies a deeper context. Hackney is a hub of culture and creativity, but it also has sharp inequalities. Dalston remains one of the most deprived areas in London. Long-standing residents—particularly from Black, working-class, queer and migrant communities—continue to face rising rents, disappearing services, and underrepresentation in local decision-making. Many are left without access to creative spaces or the opportunity to shape decisions about their neighbourhoods. Through co-creation and community engagement, we can shape the story of neighbourhoods in Innercity London. 

To get involved, volunteer or access a workshop, exhibition, or collaboration, contact donnatravis@futurehackney.com

We are supported with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Hackney Parochial Charity, Foundation for Future London, Shaftesbury Young People, National Lottery Good Causes, and the TNL Community Fund, Hackney Council and Hackney Black History.