Made in Hayes at the Austin Estate - Talk Play Grow News from the School of Art, Architecture and Design

The Cass, Grow Heathrow and Hillingdon Play Association will be growing, playing and talking with residents at the Austin Estate about a proposed initiative to ‘Green’ the estate.

Date: 13 February 2013

Made in Hayes at the Austin Road Estate 12-2pm Saturday, 9 February 2013.

Staff and students from The Cass (The Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design) have been working with the office of John McDonnell MP to develop a growing project on the Austin Estate.

On Saturday, 9 February an event will be held to develop this initiative to ‘green’ the estate. Residents will consulted through talking, playing and growing with The Cass Architecture students, Grow Heathrow and Hillingdon Play Association. Events will encourage community gardening, playing and growing on the estate.

Activities on the day include:

• Presentations and discussions about community gardening with Grow Heathrow
• Hillingdon Play Association will bring play equipment: slack lines, skipping, chalk
• Cass Architecture students will bring ‘conversation kits’ about community gardening
• Bike maintenance and tea by Grow Heathrow
• Cake from The Cass Architecture

This is the second event in the Made in Hayes programme, a series of public art, architecture and design projects initiated by The Cass students that will take place in Hayes over the coming years. All projects will consider what great things have been, are being and will be made in Hayes, and generate ideas about how the town can continue to flourish.

Local MP John McDonnell said “I am delighted that The Cass School responded to my request to get involved in a series of public art projects. The students and staff from the London Metropolitan University have thrown themselves in and have used their creativity in developing ideas that will inspire residents and that could create a focal point for community activity.”

The Made in Hayes project has also recently agreed the loan of a high profile shop at Station Road High Street, so soon Art, Architecture and Design students will be inhabiting the premises to turn it into a café/library/workshop/gallery/forum. We ask you, literally, to watch that space!

The projects co-ordinated by Cass Projects at The Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design are a response to a request made by John McDonnell MP. Projects will include: Silversmithing and Jewellery students making gifts for Hillingdon Play Association Ambassadors, Fine Art producing a ‘Record Player Orchestra’ at the ex EMI site, and artists, architects and designers hosting stalls in Hayes town in March.