Dr Sofia Greaves, Dr Anna Pagani, Prof. Paul Watt, Amanda Eatwell, and Marcel Baettig, founder & CEO of Bow Arts

This panel discussion held at the "Private View" of exhibition "(Un)Affordable Housing" will discuss findings from research investigating artists' experiences of affordable housing provided by Bow Arts Charity in Thamesmead, and the impact that artists have by living and working there. In Thamesmead, artists are housed by Bow Arts in end-of-life properties previously vacated by Peabody, at affordable rates. 

Our discussion will establish a context by introducing Thamesmead, Bow Arts and overviewing the regeneration project enacted by Peabody. We will then focus on two connected issues: artists’ rights to an affordable, dependable home, and the accusation of “Art washing”. Activists and residents have claimed that Peabody and Bow Arts are committing “Art washing”: when developers or housing associations use art, culture, and community events to hide or soften the violence of regeneration, displacement, and demolition. 

There will be time for questions, opinions and space for people to leave written comments in a suggestion box. After the panel, the exhibition will be open to the public for six weeks, for free. 

The exhibition seeks to map complex dynamics, to bring Thamesmead into dialogue with concurrent housing issues across South East London, and to open up a space for critical thinking and dialogue.