The internationally acclaimed World Press Photo Exhibition has just opened at Here East, bringing the most powerful and thought-provoking photojournalism and documentary photography in the world right to our doorsteps.

In 2024, the exhibition reached around 4 million visitors across 89 locations worldwide, so it’s exciting that this year’s show can be seen in the neighbourhood, especially with the much anticipated opening this weekend of the V&A Storehouse next door (see below).

“After a seven-year absence from the country, this exhibition’s successful reintroduction in 2024 reaffirmed its status as a must-see cultural event,” says London Exhibition Director Woody Anderson, who joined us at a recent CIG meeting (see below) to explain more about the show.

“We are excited to continue building its legacy as an essential highlight in the UK’s cultural calendar.”

The exhibition features the entries into the prestigious World Press Photo Contest, celebrating the most impactful visual storytelling from across the globe. Running to 25th Aug.

It’s been one of the most eagerly anticipated new openings proposed for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and now the V&A East Storehouse will finally be accessible to the public from this weekend.

Its arrival is set to revolutionise access to 250,000 objects, 350,000 books and thousands of archives from the world-leading collections of fashion, textiles, furniture, stage performance, metalwork, ceramics, glass, sculpture, architecture, paintings and product design.

Visitors get an unprecedented look at the collection and the processes behind it via the online Order an Object service, while the inside-out design of the storage means everyone can enjoy things previously locked away out of sight.

Highlights include Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s office for Edgar J Kaufmann Jr., a unique and complete 20th-century plywood interior (pictured above) and a 15th-century marquetry ceiling from the now destroyed Altamira Palace near Toledo, Spain.

The first chance to see inside the Storehouse, plus take in the World Photo Exhibition and some food/drinks at Canalside takes place on Sat 31st May with A Day of Discovery, a special event aimed at the local community.

Look out for pop-up displays, workshops, performances and screenings, in the weeks and months ahead, too.

🎨 A group of 17 international collage artists have taken up residency at Fish Island’s Indra Gallery for The London Collage Project all this week. The group will be creating new works strictly created using materials found or sourced from London, culminating in a one day pop-up exhibition on Sat 31st May. The week has been organised by Les Jones, the founder of Contemporary Collage Magazine and renowned American artist, Cecil Touchon.

🙆🏼 The next artist in residence at Two More Years, Stella Gere is a photographer who captures raw, human moments from her surroundings, focusing on the body's fragility and strength as the primary site of reality. She uses both digital and 120 film cameras to explore themes of combat (like Muay Thai boxing), vulnerability (through intimate portraits), and resilience. Until 18th June.

🌏 You and I Are Earth at UCL Marshgate and the One Pool St Cinema is the Degree Show by students from UCL’s BA Media programme, with films, games, installations, and podcasts that examine our evolving relationship with each other and the planet. Until Sun 1st June. Also at the Pool St cinema tonight, Wed 28th May, The School for the Creative and Cultural Industries presents a free screening of A Year in a Field, the story of a Cornish field told over one year, followed by a Q&A with director Christopher Morris.

🎤 Vocal soul, jazz and R&B powerhouse Avery Sunshine returns to Stratford for a four night residency this weekend, running Thurs 31st - Sun 1st Jun at Soul Mama.

🔊 Detroit’s Bootybass and Ghettotech kingpin, DJ Assault, makes his Colour Factory debut this Fri 30th May playing a tasty extended set.

🎛️ Busted Music take over the revamped Vittoria Wharf gallery venue with a special guest joining the likes of Harry Jacobs, Jude Lenihan, Mr T this Sat 31st May.

PRIZE DRAW

🎶 Last chance to win festival wristbands!

The Wick is a proud media partner of the inaugural edition of the SXSW London festival, taking place across 28 East London venues from June 2nd - 7th. It sees a world class tech and creative conference by day, with dedicated festival of film and music held by night.

A full week-long music festival wristband (worth £99 each) gets you access to 500+ gigs featuring artists, including Miraa May, Sienna Spiro, Mabel, Alice Glass, Lila Iké, Carleen Anderson and more, every night.

For a chance to win one of 5 pairs of the wristbands, share this newsletter with a friend using your unique referral link: https://thisisthewick.beehiiv.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER The more of your friends who subscribe to our free weekly updates, the more chances you both have being at SXSW London’s gigs for free. You can also reply to this newsletter with the subject line ‘SXSW London wristbands’ to enter, too.
We’ll draw and announce the winners at random on Thurs 29th May. Over 18s only please. Prize value is not transferrable.

🏛️ 2026 sees 200 years since UCL’s establishment as the first University in London and the start of a year of activity and celebration. An exciting programme of public art is in development, with a call now live for the UCL200 Artist in Residence programme. Three artists will be invited to be embedded in a distinct area of UCL life across the bicentenary year - UCL Bloomsbury, UCL East and the student community - and create work that responds to these areas in relation to the institution’s history, culture, and future ambitions. There’s a drop-in session on Thurs 5th June, details via the link above.

🌍 Climate Change All Change is a charity that takes designers into primary schools to explore the causes and consequences of climate change through design. They are looking for designers interested in sustainability from various disciplines to undertake a six week, climate-focused educational workshop programme, the Young Designers Award 2025, with a £5,000 bursary. Appy before 8th June. 

🎓 The Inspiring Success Scholarship at Loughborough University London covers 100% of tuition fees on a masters programme, including career guidance and support, to unemployed or under-employed graduates from East London at their London campus at Here East. Residents of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, or Waltham Forest who are willing to actively contribute to the local community are invited to apply for the programme by 31st July.

🌍 Apply now for the QEOP-based British Council’s Connections Through Culture (CTC) Grants 2025, which support artistic collaboration between the UK and select countries in Asia, Europe and Australasia’. Grants of up to £5k or £10k depending on region will be awarded across a wide range of creative disciplines from architecture to theatre. Deadline 23rd June.

🤝 There’s an opportunity to join local charity Foundation for Future London as their new Corporate Partnerships Manager, helping in their ongoing mission to connect communities, creativity and regeneration in East London and beyond. They're looking for a brilliant relationship builder to launch and lead their new corporate partnerships programme, focusing on exciting sectors including property, regeneration and culture. Apply by Mon 16th June.

🦵🏽 Local fitness studio Strong + Bendy have just opened their brand new dedicated reformer Pilates studio in the building formerly known as Akasa and Open House Hackney. They are currently looking for experienced local reformer teachers to join the team: [email protected] for more info.