‘Super heroes’ get Artskicker awards for using art to tackle east London’s ‘poverty divide’

Schoolchildren who turned their playground bike shed in Hackney into an art gallery are among ‘super community heroes’ recognised by famous faces in east London’s first Artskickers awards.

The awards promote arts that tackle east London’s “poverty divide” which were held on Wednesday at The Stage development in Shoreditch, on the site of Shakespeare’s original Curtain Theatre.

‘Future Artists’ awards went to pupils at Gayhurst Primary for their bike shed scheme at their school in Gayhurst Road, by London Fields, to create an arts gallery.

Another ‘Future Artists’ award went to secondary school members of Twist Theatre company graduating from Hackney Empire’s Artist Development programme.

‘Smartist’ title went to Hoxton Street Monster Supplies and the Ministry of Stories for business creativity, while ‘People’s Choice’ went to Marie and Brian at Dalston’s Eastern Curve Garden.

‘Community Superhero’ organisation was named as Core Arts collective in Homerton for helping adults with mental health issues connect to artistic potential.

Artskickers awards were set up by Angie Gough, a mother-of-three from Hackney, using the arts to give deprived youngsters “a leg up” in life and a way out of urban poverty.

Other awards included ‘Community Superhero’ which went to Kenneth Greenway who turned Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park in Mile End into a community hub, the ‘Kickstarter’ award to Ruff Sqwad Arts Foundation in Bow for helping emerging artists into careers in the arts, ‘Chief Artskicker’ title to Turner Prize nominee Yinka Shonibare as “an artistic inspirer” and ‘Teacher’ award to Studio 3 Arts’ choreographer Sharlene Carter for “going the extra mile” to inspire here students.