HOPE IN NINE ELMS

Since May of this year when we launched the new ‘online’ version of #HopeinNineElms – hope squares have flooded in from across the community from schools children, residents and professional artists – we have even had them from as far afield as New Zealand!!

The squares have expressed people’s own hopes and messages of hope to encourage others as we all adapt the changes and challenges that 2020 has brought.

In the summer, artists from Nine Elms Arts Ministry collaborated with the Battersea Power Station Community Choir, St George’s CofE Primary School in Battersea, and songwriter and producer Dan Swana to write and record an anthem of hope for our challenging times, inspired by the Hope Squares.

The writing workshops and rehearsals were all conducted via Zoom and participants recorded their parts on their smart phones. The result was an upbeat pop ballad called ‘Hope is to Heal’.

This Autumn, Nine Elms-based film company, Chocolate Films, created an animated music video to go with the song. The film celebrates the Nine Elms area, animates the lyrics of the song and showcases many of the Hope Squares.

As we move into winter and navigate a second lockdown we have released the video and song to bring hope and the call to unity across the local community and beyond.

Watch the video and listen to the song here: