TACO! is an non for profit artist-led organisation supporting research, production, and exchange in Thamesmead and SE London.  We understand artistic practice to be a social tool for making the world anew.  We aim to foster artists and art practices as valued, vital and useful to creative communities, civil society, and the realisation of shared equitable futures.

TACO! is conceived as an ongoing artistic enquiry that is embedded, socially engaged, and explores what art can be and do. We centre artists and the creative agency of communities in the way we develop and grow.  Our activities are experimental and collaborative, supporting learning and exchange between artists, audiences, community and place.

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HOW WE WORK

TACO! invites artists to lead an enquiry by researching, developing and realising projects over a dedicated period of time. Projects initiated by artists vary in duration, with an open timeframe and no set expectations on outcomes, but with a focus on ‘making practice public’.

This artist research informs a diverse public programme that includes exhibitions, events, discussions, workshops, broadcasts, screenings, publishing, and co-authored participatory projects with communities, groups, children and young people.

Our collaborative and engaged participatory projects address or explore social concerns that are important to communities and people’s lived experience.
 

TACO! can be accessed across two sites in Thamesmead, SE London. These sites include a gallery, event space, cafe-bar, and broadcast studio at our public venue in Cygnet Square, and a production and workshop space, with publishing & print facilities at Poplar Place.   

Both of these sites support opportunities for artists, communities and groups, to make, present, and distribute their work to a public.  
 
2 Cygnet Sq
Thamesmead, London
SE2 9FA
020 3904 6637
Thurs- Sun / 10-6

30 Poplar Place
Thamesmead, London
SE28 8BB
by appointment 
 

info@taco.org.uk 
join mailing list 
@tracey_aint_coming_out

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RTM

rtm.fm is an arts based community radio station that is volunteer-run, presenting a broadcast schedule of live-to-air performance events, experimental music, art, and contemporary audio cultures. The rtm studio provides artists, communities and groups with access to audio recording, editing and broadcasting. rtm is open to ︎proposals for regular and one off broadcast shows that fit the broadcasting programme.

@rtm.fm

THE tACO! YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMME (YAP!)

TACO!s Young Artist Projects reflect the wider ethos of our programming, we centre children and young people as artists and creative producers.

Projects are collaborative - allowing artists, children and young people to work together and lead on not only the direction of outcomes, but also new and radical ways of working.

Current YAP programme include

Bang Splat Whoosh, an experimental creative studio for early years children aged 1-5yrs, with artists working within Children Centres. 

The Hundred Club an experimental creative space that uses arts and play for children to explore social justice issues. Free and open to 5-12yr olds and their siblings, parents and carers. 

@taco_yap_yippeeee

BOOKSHOP

 
The TACO! bookshop provides a platform for independent publications, zines, vinyl and artist materials produced by publishers, small presses, groups, galleries, communities, and artist practitioners.The bookshop is open four days a week  and available online. 

We are open to submissions and proposals to the shop. Please read our guidelines ︎before submitting your titles for consideration using our online form.

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PRINT STUDIO 

TACO! undertakes a range of text-based and publishing projects with artists working with print, writing and distributed forms of production.

The TACO! Print Studio is a risographic print and publishing facility with workshop space and resource library that can be accessed and used by artists, groups and communities. It provides print and binding services, skills workshops, and facilities for creative production and research.

To indepdently access the studio you must have completed an Introduction to Riso Workshop OR have prior experience using Riso. 

We run a Studio Associate Scheme that offers discounted studio access and materials.  

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NON FOR PROFIT

TACO! is a non-for profit arts organisation and registered charity ( Thamesmead Arts and Culture Office # 1196316). 100% of the money we fundraise or earn through the sales of items in our shop goes towards furthering the work we do with artists and audiences. We're entirely dependent on the generosity of the people we meet and the partners we work with. 

WHO WE ARE

TACO! is led and run by artists Mat Jenner, Natasha Bird and Gina Prat Lilly.

With assistance and support from e v, Cillian Finnerty, Martha McKeller, Denny Kaulbach, Arnold Chukwu, and Aravind Kokkranikal 

As a charity TACO! is steered by a board of trustees and advisors.  This fine group of people help shape TACO!  and support it in the realisation of its work. Current members of the board include:

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WE VALUE…

TRUST

Trust in the imagination and creative agency of others, and ourselves. We embrace creative risk and the messy process of how to work together. Art is not made in isolation.

CARE

Give consideration to the needs, feelings and perspectives of others. Understand our own privileges and try to do no harm. Through care, solidarity and creativity we nurture relationships and realise community. We don’t make art for a ‘community’, we make art to create one.

EXCHANGE

Make open accessible space for an exchange of perspectives and knowledge, one that is inclusive, critical, thoughtful, at times awkward, but productive.  We are multiple, and learn and grow through being challenged and porous.

QUALITY

Value things done well and the value they give to others. Be ambitious, make things the best they can be, and share them with others.  Respect and value the unique qualities of people and things.

DIVERSITY

Celebrate and respect diversity of peoples and voices, forms and content. We want to swim in the waters of human diversity and be with others different to ourselves. Come in, the water is lovely!