So what exactly was I doing at Parliament? A month after the event, people are still asking and I’m still delighted to recount the story!
I’ll start at the very beginning.
Many moons ago (around 4,300 moons, in fact) I was introduced to Katja Rosenberg, an art curator interested in exhibiting my poetry. For several years pre-pandemic Katja invited me to display selected poems in her wonderful exhibitions – usually in London, my favourite being in a hauntingly beautiful crypt in Euston, but also as far afield as Germany, in a disused chocolate factory. That was right up my street! Or should I say in meiner Straße!
About Katja
Katja moved home just as Covid reared its head, settling in Dagenham, one of London’s most deprived areas and an area definitely not synonymous with culture and creativity.
Anyway, lockdown hit and Katja was unable to do her thing – or so you’d think. On the contrary, she painted her new house bright blue, planted sunflowers and created a mini art gallery right there, in her front garden. Inviting neighbours to submit artworks – be they professional local artists or kids with a penchant for pencils, Katja engaged the whole community to join in. Some people baked cakes to thank her for motivating them during that strange and difficult time; many people came to quickly regard their new neighbour as a friend.
Katja’s garden became so well known that in 2023, the Dagenham Shopping Mall gave her two premises! The first is a small shop by the station, which Katja has painted bright pink and displays the work of local artists (professional or not), giving them the opportunity to showcase the art that makes them proud. “The Pink Tardis” has quickly become a much loved feature of Dagenham! She was also given My Heathway, a space to run community events such as creative workshops, art sessions and family film shows.
I decided Katja deserved recognition for the way she’d galvanised the community against all odds, and how she’d changed the face of culture in a disadvantaged area all on her own. So I entered her for a British Citizen Award – which she deservedly won!
About the Award
Being included in the British Citizen Award’s Roll of Honour, Katja was invited to take two guests to Parliament to witness the presentations of her medal and certificate – and that’s how come I was there that day, sipping champagne on the terrace in the House of Lords before greedily munching my way through a delicious afternoon tea.
27 Medallists were awarded for their work that day, in charity, volunteering, community and the arts, with two separate ceremonies: the afternoon one at the House of Lords, followed by an evening presentation at Church House, Westminster, with a lap of honour open top bus tour in between.
The occasion was hosted by Patrons Lord Dholakia and Dame Mary Perkins, Founder of Specsavers, and presented in the warmest and most attentive of ways by investigative TV presenter and musician Matt Allwright.
Other Patrons of the British Citizen Awards include TV personalities Nick Knowles and Bradley Walsh, with Partners: Specsavers, One Stop Stores Ltd, Objective HR, Places for People and DevWalk PR.
Katja’s closing words were, “Thanks to all in Dagenham and beyond who believe in art and creativity as a means to bring us together! Let’s rock on and keep the focus where it belongs.”
I’m proud to call Katja a friend, and look forward to being a part of many fun and exciting exhibitions in the future.
More…?
I’m privileged to have been to Parliament many times – mainly through my work with the Stroke Association and Soldiering On Awards, but also to support clients for whom I’ve written successful award nominations. Please drop me a note if you’d like to find out more about this. (To clarify, Katja is not my client – she’s a friend that I admire greatly.)
You can see info about Katja and all the other fine 2024 Medallists and their achievements here: https://www.britishcitizenawards.co.uk/honours-july-2024/
(Photo on the terrace includes another super 2024 Awards Winner – Darren Way – who by coincidence has worked with Katja on a previous project, and the one with the clotted cream scones includes Katja’s partner Metzi, a fabulous saxophonist.)
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