About Hanging Out

Full Spectrum Productions was awarded in October 2010 the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of just over £150,000 for the educational project, Hanging Out - Youth Culture Then and Now.

The Hanging Out project, which focuses on the cultural diversity of 1950’s and 1960’s youth culture in Camden, Brent, Lambeth and the City of London - aims to bring this period to life through an exploration of the fashions, music, sport, film and entertainment. Young volunteers will be involved in the projects’ vision is to inspire and enable young people from diverse backgrounds to appreciate and access heritage that is relevant to them and comparable to issues faced by young people today.

Full Spectrum Productions will work with a range of exciting partners across the capital to deliver the project:  the V&A, The London Metropolitan Archives, Museum of London, Imperial War Museum and the BFI.

The volunteers, from schools, colleges, and unemployment centres will explore this period of immense change in the social and political culture of Britain by taking part in a range of activities as diverse as learning how to research and collate material, to conducting oral history research with people who lived through these experiences; along with photographic, music and film archiving and even 50's garment construction.

Sue Bowers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in London, said: “This wonderful project will give many young people the opportunity to explore their past. The youth culture of the 50's and 60's will be brought to life through people’s memories and experiences of the time. From 'flower power' fashions to anti-war protests, the project will make history accessible, relevant and fun to today’s communities.”

Commenting on the significance of the project, Lorna Holder, Managing Director of Full Spectrum Productions said – “This project is providing a ‘fresh’ and innovative approach particularly through research, volunteer training and use of new media, in capturing valuable information for heritage archives and beyond the duration of the project”.

The work of the young people will form the basis for events and exhibitions planned over the next two years, including a 12 week exhibition at the V&A in late 2011, incorporating a one hour documentary and special edition book, authentic 1950's and 1960's memorabilia, photographs, music album covers, garments, and a mural of a 1950's café. Further events organised in partnership with London venues will be announced at a later date.

Meet our partners:

                                              


The following educational institutions have collaborated with the Hanging Out Project:

Alperton Community College
Preston Manor High School
Haverstock School
City of London Community Education Centre
City University
London Metropolitan University
Haverstock School
Highgate Wood School
LaSwap Consortium
C of L Academy - Hackney
C of L Academy - Islington
C of L Acedemy - Southwark
City of London School (Boys)
City of London School for Girls
Archbishop Tenison's School
Bishop Thomas Grants School
Elm Green School
Evelyn Grace Academy
Lambeth Academy
Kensington & Chelsea College
London College of Fashion
West King College