Finborough Theatre & Poplar Union seeking submissions for new digital arts festival running in May 2021

A new digital arts festival has been announced by the Finborough Theatre and the Poplar Union. The festival, entitled Poplarism! marks the centenary of the Poplar Rates Rebellion in 1921 and will promote a cross-London partnership by seeking submissions from artists and creatives in both the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Borough of Tower Hamlets where the two venues are based.

The Poplar Rates Rebellion of 1921 was a milestone in local London history. Members of local government challenged central government to do more for the underprivileged and poorest members of society. They demanded that the Borough of Poplar (now the London Borough of Tower Hamlets) receive the same financial help as other, more affluent, boroughs in London. 

The rebellion was led by George Lansbury, former Mayor of Poplar, and future leader of the Labour Party. Lansbury is also the Grandfather of theatre legend Dame Angela Lansbury who is thrilled to be Patron of the Poplarism! Festival. She said “I am honoured that the work and achievements of 100 years ago by so many, including my father and grandfather, are still being celebrated today. I do hope as many people as possible will be inspired to enter and participate in the festival.” Lansbury’s father, Edgar, was also imprisoned for his part in the rebellion. 

The festival’s organisers are looking for any response that can be presented in a digital form: “Applicants should respond to the theme as naturally and instinctively as possible, though the work should be in some way a response to the events, personalities and issues of 1921”. 

If you are a resident of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets or the Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, you can submit a proposal outlining your creative response to the events of 1921. Residents of Tower Hamlets can do so by filling in a form and emailing it to info@poplarunion.com with the subject ‘Poplarism Community Commission’ and residents of Kensington and Chelsea must email the form to admin@finboroughtheatre.co.uk with the same subject. All applications must be received by 1 March 2021 at 5pm and all applicants will receive a response on 31 March 2021. 

You can find out more about the festival here.