The People’s Pavilion, which will be unveiled later this year, will serve as a hub for workshops, talks, community events, and creative play
Young people are being given the opportunity to co-design and construct a public pavilion at the William Morris Gallery in 2025, as the Walthamstow art institution celebrates its 75th year.
The People’s Pavilion will serve as a hub for workshops, talks, community events, and creative play.
The project, led by creative agency Beyond the Box, will give 16 to 18-year-olds from Waltham Forest and across London, to design the pavilion under the mentorship of leading architects and creatives including talent from Zaha Hadid Architects.
Now in its third iteration, this marks the second time Waltham Forest has hosted the initiative, following the successful 2023 collaboration with Lea Bridge Library.
The 2023 effort culminated in the People’s Pavilion Festival, that saw an eclectic line up of experimental poetry, virtual reality and artificial intelligence workshops, films on gentrification and displacement and a DJ set all held within the pavilion.
Hadrian Garrard, director of the William Morris Gallery said: “I can’t think of a better place for the People’s Pavilion than the former home of William Morris. His advocacy for community and craftsmanship aligns perfectly with the ethos of this programme.”
Meanwhile, Neil Onions, founding director of Beyond the Box said: “The People’s Pavilion is a testament to the power of young voices shaping the spaces around them. 2025 marks another step in redefining who gets to design, build, and imagine the future of our cities.
“We are especially excited to be collaborating with the William Morris Gallery, whose values of craft, community, and social justice align deeply with our mission. This is more than an event—it’s a movement proving that creativity, culture, and design belong to everyone.”
Rosalind Doré, Waltham Forest cabinet lead for libraries, culture and sports and leisure said: “We’re delighted to see the People’s Pavilion return to Waltham Forest in 2025. This initiative truly reflects the borough’s commitment to creativity and collaboration, offering young people a unique opportunity to influence and shape their surroundings.”
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