Voices from the Garden: Rainbow Garden in 2040
Written by Sam Ikhuoria
Voices from the Garden is an audio series created by The Rainbow Community Garden as part of the Newham Festival of Stories. Culture Within Newham then micro-commissioned The Rainbow Community Garden to create an in-person audio trail for all to enjoy. Each audio piece is also available to listen to as a ‘Blog’ on the Culture Within Newham website, or at the garden.
New episodes will be released weekly. Enjoy the first one, below!
Culture, Creativity and Connection
Dream with us… It’s the year 2040 and the Rainbow Community Garden is celebrating its 20th birthday: two decades of colour, connection and community. Once an urban green space, it has blossomed into a vibrant hub where nature, art and people work together.
As you step into the garden, the air feels alive with the scent of fresh earth, and roasted coffee from the café.
These days, the Rainbow Garden is more than a place to grab a drink; it’s the beating heart of the community.
The Rainbow Garden plays an important cultural role now, regularly hosting performing arts events and ballet classes, which give local residents and visitors the chance to experience creativity up close. There’s an onsite museum documenting the history of Newham, connecting the area’s past with its present.
Creative learning is a cornerstone of the garden. The arts and crafts building provides space for community classes for sewing, design and painting. It’s a place where people of all ages can share skills, collaborate on projects and learn from one another. That’s what we imagine in 2040.
Learn more about Voices from the Garden on their dedicated Project page.
About Rainbow Community Garden
The Rainbow Community Garden started in 2020, and is now run by a committee of local residents who run activities and events, and planning the development of the garden space for the whole community to enjoy. Follow them on Instagram for updates.
Visit Rainbow Community Garden and listen to the whole audio trail at:
Brampton Park,
Lonsdale Avenue,
E6 3LA
What are Micro-Commissions for Newham?
In December 2024 Culture Within Newham launched a new micro-commissioning scheme for grants of up to £1,000. The first round offered commissions to artists and organisations in the Green Street, East Ham, Manor Park, and Little Ilford areas. The second round of commissions was for Custom House, Beckton, and Royal Albert/North Woolwich.
The micro-commissions aim to support new ideas, providing an opportunity to build experience in delivering artistic or creative projects. Meet the rest of the Micro-Commissions on their dedicated project page.