our history
A.P.P.L.E was established in 1996 by local parents. We came together as parents with young children at our local, council-run Play Centre, a visionary, government-funded scheme that provided buildings and playgrounds in deprived areas. It was in this environment that we learnt how to organise activities, how to support each other, how to work out what we needed. And we had to do it all ourselves, so we put on barbeques, organised trips out, summer fetes, football competitions and all manner of events.
And then we started A.P.P.L.E.
Our first event was a small carnival procession (using bin bags and tissue paper!) around the local estate with about 40 children and their parents. We formed a steering committee, wrote a constitution (with the help of our local Voluntary Council Service) and applied for funding from the wonderful, original Awards 4 All grant. We were successful and our second event was an ‘It’s a Knockout’ day. A.P.P.L.E was up and running.
We were cuckoos in our early days, running our one-off projects with the blessing of the London Borough of Ealing’s Play Service, and the use of their building. Five years on we needed our own building. We acquired the lease of the disused public toilet block in 2003 from the local authority. With the help of several funders we set about making the building usable. We transformed the derelict building into a thriving centre, which we named The ART BLOCK.
We opened on May 3rd 2003. and started building A.P.P.L.E. into what it is today: trying and testing our projects, joining them together, solidifying our practice and ethos . We have made more improvements since, including a new kitchen in 2009 and our amazing pizza oven which we all love.
Our latest improvement – a new outdoor seating area and path was made during the summer 2016 .
Then to now
Some of our highlights over the years...
2018
Crowdfunding for The Kitchen and Garden Project
We raised funds to
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re-landscape and refurbish our outdoor area to make it suitable for growing our own veg and fruit,
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decorate and re-equip our kitchen to make it more practical to cook and eat together
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fund the growing, cooking and eating together sessions with children and young people encouraging healthy food, cooking skills and family eating.
2015
ART BLOCK Make Over
We decided to liven up the ART BLOCK entrances and with help from the children and young people created a vibrant, fun doorway into the centre.
2014
The Lord Mayor's Show
We were invited by John Lyons Charitable Trust to take part in the Lord Mayor's Show. We made an carried banners along the route of the procession.
2013
Meeting HRH Princess Anne and the Cranfield Trust
We were invited by The Cranfield Trust to give a presentation about A.P.P.L.E. in the presence of HRH Princess Anne and 150 invited guests.
Youth Panel Arts Award Project at Gunnersbury Park
During August 2013 Gunnersbury Park Museum collaborated with Acton-based arts organisation, A.P.P.L.E., to run a Trinity Bronze Arts Award project funded by Arts Council England for 14 young people aged 14 – 21. The young people worked behind the scenes at the museum, exploring the collections and gaining valuable transferable work skills and experience whilst working alongside museum staff.
2012
Cultural Olympics - Take Me to Tate
We make a documentary film in partnership with Chocolate Films about a visit to Tate Modern. In Take Me to Tate our young people interview members of the public to see how there visit has been influenced by The Olympics.
2010
Horsenden Primary School Centre
A.P.P.L.E worked with all 700 children in the school to create art work for their new family centre. The younger children made fabric square that when put together made colourful banners . The older children made individual drawings on perspex of small creatures to create a specimen wall.
2009
The Tree Trail
The project began in 2008 to create an art trail based around the distinctive trees in Acton Park. Some of the work was ephemeral lasting only a few days or weeks or even moments and other pieces have been made to last for years. Click on the link to The Tree Trail to see what we created.
2006
Thames Festival 2006
A.P.P.L.E. took part in the Thames Festival Night Procession for many years. One of our most spectacular processions was the year of the Ogre.
2003
The Art Block opens
We transformed a derelict public toilet in Acton Park into a thriving community centre, which we named The ART BLOCK. A.P.P.L.E. acquired the lease from the London Borough of Ealing in 2003, 6 years after A.P.P.L.E. started.
1996
A.P.P.L.E. is formed
Go back to our about us page to find out more about A.P.P.L.E.
