Barbara Steveni introduces the methodology behind the radical Southwark Education Research Project (SERP)(1989-95). Find out why the concept of the ‘open brief’ and its role in artist placement in schools was so critical. This video includes oral history testimonies from SERP participants including Rita Keegan, Carlyle Reedy, John McTernan, Lloyd Trott and Adrian Chappell.
Artists
Barby Asante
Barby Asante is a London based artist, curator and occasional DJ. Her work is concerned with the politics of place, space memory and the histories and legacies of slavery and colonialism.
Activity
Southwark Education Research Project Reactivated
2018
Between 1989 and 1995 the Southwark Education Research Project (SERP) engaged over 1,500 children and teachers by placing artists in fifteen schools across the London borough of Southwark.
Southwark Education Research Project (SERP) Reactivated
2018
Originally active between 1989 and 1995, SERP engaged over 1,500 children and teachers across 15 schools in Southwark. Its impact was felt nationally and internationally, serving as a model for educational innovation, including influencing the landmark DCMS Creative Partnerships programme.
Article: Emily Druiff, Reactivating the archive
Emily Druiff, Trustee and Founder of Peckham Platform discusses Southwark Education Resource Project (SERP) Reactivated and the significance of archives in the spring 2018 issue of The National Society for Education in Art & Design's AD magazine.
2025/2026 Impact report
Between July 2025 – August 2026 we worked with 31 artists, designers and creatives, with 1,474 participants. We reached a physical audience of 23,900 and a digital audience of 61,000.
Pass(Portal)
Pass(Portal) is a free print and digital activity pack to facilitate creative conversations on the meaning of diaspora on a micro level, exploring home, culture, and travel.
Resource: A Journey Through Time and Culture
A Journey Through Time and Culture is a free activity pack to facilitate creative conversations on the meaning of diaspora. Though it was designed with a classroom setting in mind for KS3 and KS4, it is open and appropriate for use in a variety of settings for all ages.