Synopsis

A black-and-white handheld video of the E1 Festival 1976 Swimming Gala, 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 captures a Swimming gala, which begins ceremoniously with a marching band performance by the poolside. This is followed by a swimming competition consisting primarily of young adults and children. The second half of the video records the prize-giving ceremony.