Synopsis

A black-and-white handheld video recording of a community meeting for the planning of the E1 Festival in the mid-1970s, filmed by the Basement Project. The E1 Festival was a community run event that took place throughout the 1970s on vacant land in Stepney, East London. Originally set up to raise money for the Junior Football League, it was a weekend long event of music, performing arts, stalls, and activities for people of all ages.

The video shows around 15 white members who are predominantly men, sat in a circle around a wooden table at a local community hall. Throughout the meeting, they discuss the publicity strategy for the festival and the possibility of establishing a local community paper. They also consider the festival’s upcoming programme with members suggesting new activities such as a ‘Long Distance Pipe-Smoking Competition’ or a ‘Balloon Race’. They also discuss how to involve children more, as one member suggests that the festival should show filmed recordings of the local school plays.