The past and present of the BCA at MOMA!
The Bullingdon Community Centre is one of many local community centres which feature as part of a new exhibition at Oxford's Museum of Modern Art
Celebrating local community spaces đź’›Bullingdon Community Centre
The Museum of Modern Art's summer programme, #BoundaryEncounters, celebrates the past, present and future of our local community spaces. Over the years, these welcoming spaces across the UK have offered many people opportunities for learning, social connection and community support. In this new series we’re excited to hear from five of our local community centres, who we’ve worked with as part of the exhibition.
First up is Oxford's Bullingdon Community Centre, which opened in the 1940s and was self-built by local residents. Bullingdon’s rich history of activities include bingo, old-time dancing, ladies’ nights and a youth club. In the late 60s @oxfordmencap (founded in 1961 by parents of children with learning disabilities) initiated the ongoing 7 o’clock Club, using the centre weekly for their lively social club. In 2016, The Bullingdon Community Association began a long campaign for the renovation of the building, which would see several wins and setbacks. In March 2020, plans were put on hold due to the pandemic, but the centre finally celebrated its new look in January of this year.
Two pictures which feature can be found below: one of a gathering celebrating the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the other from a fundraising event that took place in 2016 in order to help with the rebuilding of the centre.
Visit Boundary Encounters until 29 October to explore more local stories.
You can also our community spaces series throughout the summer on Instagram. #MyEncounter #CommunityCentres #Bullingdon #OxfordMemories #ModernArtOxford @oxfordcitycouncil @oxfordshirecc
