Open House Harriett’s Press invites you inside their laundrette to take part in a creative activity!
Saj printing Harriett’s Press merch
Hi Harriett’s Press,
We’re delighted that you’re taking part in the Winter Artists Open Houses. Can you tell us a bit about it and how you came into being?
We are an arts charity called Quiet Down There and we offer people routes to expressing and developing their own creativity – outside of the traditional structures of the arts. Harriett’s Press is a creative laundry project that we run from our studio on the balcony at Brighton Open Market. We started Harriett’s Press after working with artists in laundrettes during COVID and realising what a vital space they are and how they provide more than just clean clothes. We’d also been talking to the local school about the need to support families to access affordable laundry facilities and tackle hygiene poverty. We raised money for 2 washers and 2 dryers and we offer a free wash and dry of a laundry load, a hot drink and a chance to do a creative activity while waiting for your laundry.
Entrance to Harriett’s Press
Harriett’s Press is named after Harriett Cowley, who was married to Harry Cowley; and they started the Brighton Open Market together in 1926. They were working class activists; she was a laundress and he was a chimney sweep. You might have heard of Harry but no one’s ever heard of Harriett. So we really wanted to highlight Harriett’s story. The ‘Press’ part of the name is a nod to the idea that laundrettes historically have been a hotbed of grassroots activism, particularly for women and the women’s movement, sharing information through leaflets and zines folded in with the laundry.
Photos of Harriett Cowley, provided by her grand-daughter
Would you like to tell us about your creative programme and how it works?
As an arts organisation, everything we do is led by creativity. Originally, it was a methodology to get people in to do some art, come and do a wash and then stay for the art and that has really worked, we are now open Monday, Wednesday and Friday and we are very busy. We have an in-house artist Saj Fareed who designs the creative programme, every half term we have a different theme and Saj plans a different creative activity every other week inspired by the theme and looking at other things that are taking place in the City or connecting with the season or festivals. We’re interested in this idea of the formation of a creative identity, and what that can do to support somebody who is living precariously. Once people get into the rhythm of it, they often know what they’d like to do before they come in. We have a big shelving unit full of creative materials and so people can use the time to work on a personal project or if they are not sure about the activity that’s set out, they can choose another one.
Harriett’s Press customer – gelli prints
You have a bimonthly specific theme – can you tell us about the theme that will be running during the Open House weekends?
During the Open House weekends our theme is ‘Light’. As the winter draws in, we’ll explore light as our shared inspiration and look at how festivals across the world celebrate the power of light to bring wealth, joy and connection.
Are Open House visitors welcome to join service users taking part in the creative workshops?
Yes, any Open House visitors are welcome to pop in and hear more about what we do but also stay and take part in the creative activity. We are making origami suns and foil art decorations.
Harriett’s Press – foil art decoration
What benefits do you feel creativity brings to your clients and to society in general?
We believe that anybody can be creative, you don’t need a lot of resources, you just need a bit of time in the right space. Every day in Harriett’s Press we see how art and creativity has a positive effect on people’s wellbeing. A recent report by local researchers Magnetic Ideals found that, ‘The 1:1 arts practice embedded within Harriett’s Press provides therapeutic benefits, including increased self-confidence, stress relief, and a sense of accomplishment.
Participants frequently describe the service as “transformative,” citing its role in improving mood, reducing anxiety, and re-establishing positive self-regard.’
Harriett’s Press – stitching moon phases
Saj, you describe yourself as a ‘slow’ artist and educator – can you explain what this means?
Life in general can often feel busy and fast paced. I started to think about how I could address this for me personally and how I could make time to pause and be more present for my wellbeing. Selfcare was key but something I hadn’t really considered. Being creative was my outlet for selfcare and something I wanted to promote; I would call this ‘creative selfcare’.
I also came across a book In Praise Of Slow by Carl Honoré which resonated with me and made me think about the impact of the Slow Movement and how some aspects were already embedded in my creative practice. I realised that I was, in fact, a slow artist as it perfectly described my ethos and practise.
Through my creative practice, I take inspiration from a desire to live a slower pace in life and the importance of creative selfcare for our wellbeing.
The process of making art and my socially engaged work are very much led by a mindful based approach, to help us learn to pause from our everyday lives. Being present and enjoying the ‘state of flow’, rather than stressing about the end result or the idea of being perfect is what I am keen to promote. Participants in my work have valued this approach and something that they are willing to try for themselves.
Saj creating in the laundry
What are you most hoping for from the experience of taking part in the Open Houses?
We are looking forward to opening the doors to Harriett’s Press to invite people in to hear more about what we do, to take part in a creative activity, buy some merch and check out some of the creative work made by our talented laundry customers. All the money we raise from the Open House sessions will go back into the laundry project.
Visit: Harriett’s Press, Wash and Create
Brighton Open Market Balcony, Marshalls Row, Brighton, BN1 4JU