The project - which will focus on the cultural diversity of 1950s and 1960s youth culture in Camden, Brent, Lambeth and the City of London - aims to bring this period to life through an exploration of the fashions, music, sport, film and entertainment of the time. Expected to last 18 months and involving up to 86 young volunteers, the projects’ vision is to inspire and enable young people from diverse backgrounds to appreciate and access heritage that is relevant to them and comparable to issues faced by young people today.

Full Spectrum Productions will work with a range of exciting partners across the capital to deliver the project. The London Metropolitan Archives, Museum of London, Imperial War Museum, BFI, V&A, and the Photographers Gallery will all be involved in the research and development phase, and participate in culminating events and exhibitions for ‘Hanging Out’, over the next two years.

The volunteers, from schools, colleges, and unemployment centres in the four Boroughs, will explore this period of immense change in the social and political culture of Britain by taking part in a range of activities as diverse as learning how to research and collate material, to conducting oral history research with people who lived through these experiences; along with photographic, music and film archiving and even 50's garment construction.

Sue Bowers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in London, said: “This wonderful project will give many young people the opportunity to explore their past. The youth culture of the 50's and 60's will be brought to life through people’s memories and experiences of the time. From 'flower power' fashions to anti-war protests, the project will make history accessible, relevant and fun to today’s communities.”

Commenting on the significance of the project, Lorna Holder, Managing Director of Full Spectrum Productions, said: “This project is providing a ‘fresh’ and innovative approach particularly through research, volunteer training and use of new media, in capturing valuable information for heritage archives and beyond the duration of the project”.

The work of the young people will form the basis for events and exhibitions planned over the next two years, including a 12 week exhibition at the V&A in late 2011, incorporating a one hour documentary and special edition book, authentic 1950's and 1960's memorabilia, photographs, music album covers, garments, and a mural of a 1950's café. Further events organised in partnership with London venues will be announced at a later date.

Notes to editors

The HLF grant to the project Hanging Out is for £152,500 (58% of project costs) and is a second-round pass, which means it is a confirmed award.

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported 33,900 projects, allocating £4.4billion across the UK, including £865million to projects in London alone.

To date, the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded just over £84million to 275 projects in LB Camden.

Full Spectrum Productions, formed in 2004, is a BME not-for-profit production company. The main purpose is to design, develop and deliver interactive community educational projects to inform, enable learning and participation. Our activities include research, volunteer training, theatre/film productions, publications and events relating to the varied social issues, past and present that are topical in diverse Britain.

To date HLF has funded four Your Heritage (under £50,000) projects run by Full Spectrum Productions:

Living under One Roof (2004—2009):- stage play, exhibition, learning pack - Caribbean migrants arriving in Britain for the first time during Windrush era and the tensions and celebrations of communal living.

Moving Out (2007) – stage play - the contributions that Caribbean people made to industries in Nottingham during the 50/60s.  

The Ones We Left Behind (2008) – stage play, exhibition - the decisions Caribbean and other communities made in leaving their homelands and the impact on loved ones left behind.

Building Bridges (2008) – documentary - the experiences of the host community in seeing large groups of Caribbean people arriving in Britain after the 2nd World War.

Further information

Alison Brockway, for ‘Hanging Out’ - Talent PR on 01462 482 095 or alison@talentpr.co.uk.

Vicky Wilford, HLF Press Office on 020 7591 6046 / 07973 401937 or vickyw@hlf.org.uk.