Secret gig! Declan McKenna returns to Wormley Community Centre
Last Friday 12th May 2023, Declan McKenna was at Wormley Community Centre, 5 years on from his previous gig when the centre was under threat of redevelopment. Now in 2023, with the centre thriving as a sort after local venue for hire – and under the new management of the charity Broxbourne Big Local – Declan was back supporting a new community mapping project aiming to develop a digital interactive map that supports Broxbourne’s arts, cultural and community spaces.
Locals, friends and family were treated to a ‘word of mouth’, secret style invitation which, in the last 2 days, also went out via Wormley Community Centre socials and Declan’s secret messages to fans online. They knew to release tickets any other way would make the experience less local and less about the aims of the project.
The night was arranged by Rosanna McKenna Community Artist and Declan McKenna himself having just finished rehearsals for his up-coming US tour. It was organised in under 2 weeks as the siblings hashed out a plan with Wormley Community Centre, in the middle of Rosanna moving back to Broxbourne to continue her work, and Declan having 1 week in between finishing rehearsals and going out on tour.
Rosanna who co-founded Grow Cheshunt and a previous Partnership Member of Wormley & Turnford Big local, instigated Mapping Broxbourne after 7 years being involved in the community and voluntary sector. Rosanna said ‘Mapping Broxbourne is fundraising at an exciting time in the borough, as the council is due to release an Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy later this year and when Sunset Studios is already in development. The map offers a space to give a voice to community and make visible the arts & cultural landscape already existing across our 7 towns. It will providing a tool for collaboration to connect creatives, communities and projects to the spaces and places available, in the hope to heighten conversations around arts & cultural development here.’
If you’re interested in finding out more information about Mapping Broxbourne and their fundraiser go to:mappingbroxbourne.com or email Rosanna mappingbroxbourne@gmail.com
