ARCCA stands as an independent magazine operating within the creative space. Above all they champion the work of community builders, facilitating a place to hold important conversations surrounding music, media, art, charity and all other creative facets – the essence of ARCCA lies in its ability to connect people. For their latest issue, ARCCA teamed up with UNCLE to bring their message to the streets of London with posters bearing the cover image of their latest issue.
The issue is titled “Build Together,” aims to forge connections between individuals who might not typically intersect, sharing transformative experiences and in the process allow the next generation of artists to flourish. This phrase encapsulates both the opportunity to have a voice and be present in the moment of creativity.
In an insightful conversation with Fleur and Danny, the founders of ARCCA, UNCLE explored the impact of their work on modern culture, emphasising the importance of authenticity in their growth and ongoing success. They shared their vision for ARCCA’s future and looked back at their beginnings, also highlighting how the city of London has driven the development of the publication.
TELL US ABOUT THE UPCOMING ISSUE?
ARCCA: Build Together celebrates creative community building, across various practices within community work, music, film, youth work, charities and art. The voices within the pages guide one another to understand themselves better; meet people where they are at; embrace the ever-shifting landscape we are all trying to find our feet on. This issue aims to connect the dots between people who may not otherwise cross paths, share moments to reflect on their life-changing work and to inspire and generate a new wave of community builders in the process.
HOW DID YOU LAND ON THE TITLE ‘BUILD TOGETHER’?
We noticed that almost every conversation led back to this call-to-action. Building together is about teaching, encouraging, supporting and skill-sharing. It is through togetherness that we can access a collective power to build from the ground up.
HOW AND WHY DID YOU START ARCCA? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT YOUR STORY.
Fleur started ARCCA ten years ago at fifteen years old as a space for young people to express themselves. In essence and without necessarily realising it, ARCCA originated as a youth project; a creative, community platform by and for young people. Danny joined two years ago and together they started to notice the necessity of carving out a creative platform for voices within community-oriented spaces. Through working on this print (our biggest project to date) we learnt that we want to use the power of our publication to instigate connection, celebration and change into youth and community environments. Through connecting our creative network to local communities and finding ways to establish meaningful reference points for people is the next step in our journey.
DESCRIBE ARCCA IN THREE WORDS?
Conversation, Connection, Response.
HOW DO YOU SELECT THE FEATURED ARTISTS IN EVERY ISSUE?
The artists and practitioners we feature in ARCCA act as a vessel for something much bigger. They dedicate their practice to facilitation – they open the door and create more space. They are creating projects, spaces and artworks that speak to something more, something that will outlast us all, something that can be passed on across generations. True art is creating something that can be held by as many people as possible and can be given new meanings by every hand that touches it.
WHY IS PRINT MEDIA IMPORTANT TO ARCCA?
Print is physical. Space is physical. Conversation and connection is physical. We need to be ensuring that the physical is not pushed aside and that we are investing time and energy into keeping it alive. ARCCA: Build Together is a physical archive exploring the oral histories of community building. The power of print allows for a sense of presence and immediacy, reading a magazine or book is a deeply personal yet highly connected experience. Print media allows for careful curation, an ongoing flow of learning page by page, and it enables boundaries to be pushed. We want to question the way publications are currently being used and consider new ways to document voices more thoughtfully and accurately.
HOW HAS LONDON SHAPED ARCCA?
London’s currents are strong, they can flow alongside and against you on so many levels. Most of the London-based voices in the print are working in response to the city. They are supporting people who don’t have space to be; they are elevating each other in self-built spaces in self-taught ways; they are working with the city’s uncertainty to establish feelings of familiarity and home. London is abundant, we just need to make sure we are channeling the right resources in the right directions.
WHAT ABOUT THE CULTURE OF THE CITY MOST RELATES TO THE MAGAZINE?
London’s culture is what makes it so magical. We have so many incredible perspectives living alongside each other, doing amazing things. If you have your eyes open, you can engage with the culture of the city in the most present, engaged and everyday way. It is the interactions we have with strangers at the bus stop, musicians on the Overground, market stalls full of intricate patterns, young people playing in the park, DIY rave flyers plastered on buildings, people sitting outside the caff soaking up the sun. It is all there right in front of us, and the more we appreciate that, the more we engage with it, the more we can connect.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR ARCCA?
Our next step is bringing the pages to life.
