Miranda with shop workers Yasmin Wall, Diana Ngonyama, Latifa Rahman, Natasha Hodes and Abhayanandi, 31 August 2017. Photograph: Hugo Glendinning © Artangel
Shop manager Diana Ngonyama and Miranda July adjust a wall display. Photograph: Matthew Andrews / Artangel
Bric-a-brac for sale. Photograph: Matthew Andrews / Artangel
A customer receives their purchase in the shop's bag, modeled after the iconic yellow Selfridges shopping bag. Photograph: Hugo Glendinning © Artangel
There are more than 10,000 charity shops in the UK and now there is a unique addition with the launch of artist, writer and filmmaker Miranda July ’s major commission for Artangel, an interfaith charity shop open to the public from 31 August – 22 October 2017 on the third floor of Selfridges.
The UK’s first interfaith charity shop is run and staffed jointly by four religious charities chosen by Miranda July: Islamic Relief, Jewish charity Norwood, London Buddhist Centre and Spitalfields Crypt Trust. The proceeds will be shared equally between the four partners, all of who run their own charity shops. Items for sale are typical of those traditionally sold in charity shops – second – hand clothes, books, games, DVD’s, kitchen ware, toys ornaments and bric – a – brac. Prices are the same as in any charity shop.
Net sales are divided equally between the four participating charity shops. Each is donating 2.5% of their share to another charity of their choice: Islamic Relief is donating to The Bike Project; Norwood to Carers in Hertfordshire; London Buddhist Centre to Praxis Community Project; and Spitalfields Crypt Trust to Providence Row.
Miranda July is known for artworks that depend upon the public’s participation — be they apps, performances or sculptures. Her interfaith charity shop at Selfridges will present customers with an unexpected retail experience that will resonate with founder Harry Gordon Selfridge’s famous pronouncement in 1909 that his store was created as an open house, where “everyone is welcome.”
Miranda July said: “For many years I’ve wanted to make a store as artwork; utilizing the inherently participatory conventions of commerce. When I first came to London, in my twenties, the sheer number of charity shops giddily amazed me, but it’s only in creating this store with Artangel that I understand what a radically unique economic model they are. The nuances of this come from my faith – based charity shop partners and from the site; Selfridges.”
Michael Morris & James Lingwood, Co – Directors of Artangel, said: “Artists continually lead Artangel into uncharted territory so we are delighted to be collaborating with Miranda July in joining forces with four faith – based charities on the third floor of Selfridges. Our shop within a shop, like London itself, is proudly open to the world.”
10/19/2017 Miranda July in conversation with Jeremy Deller
INFO ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS
Artangel view website
Artangel produces and presents extraordinary art in unexpected places in London, the UK and beyond. For over 30 years Artangel has generated some of the most talked – about art of recent times, including projects with Clio Barnard, Jeremy Deller, Roger Hiorns, Michael Landy, Steve McQueen, Rachel Whiteread, an d more recently Ryoji Ikeda, PJ Harvey and Jorge Otero – Pailos’s The Ethics of Dust at Westminster Hall, Houses of Parliament. Appearing anywhere from vacant apartments stores to subterranean vaults and London’s night sky, Artangel produces art that surprises, inspires and wouldn’t be possible within the confines of a gallery.
Selfridges view website
The business was founded by American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1909 and was widely regarded as the first and best example of a modern department store. Harry Gordon Selfridge ran the store himself until he retired in 1940. After several ownerships the company was de – merged from the Sears Group in 1998 and floated on the London Stock Exchange. In 2003 W. Galen Weston purchased Selfridges and under his ownership Selfridges has become an extraordinary global destination for fashion, luxury and retail theatre. In June 2010 Selfridges was named Best Department Store in the World for the first time by the IGDS (Intercontinental Group of Department Store s). The title, which Selfridges held until June 2012, is the industry’s highest accolade. Selfridges won the title again in June 2012, and again in 2014 for an unprecedented three times consecutively. In May 2016, Selfridges won the inaugural award for World’s Best Sustainability Campaign at the IGDS world summit. Selfridges has four stores in London, Birmingham and Manchester (Trafford Centre, Exchange Square) and our international website now delivers within the UK and to over 130 countries, trading in eight currencies. Selfridges today, continues Harry Gordon Selfridge’s legacy – a shopping experience that promises to surprise, amaze and amuse its customers by delivering extraordinary customer experiences.
Islamic Relief view website
Islamic Relief is an international aid and d development charity that aims to alleviate the suffering of the world’s poorest people in more than 30 countries, mainly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities – regardless of race, religion or gender. In its 33 – year history, Islamic Relief has helped more than 110m people across the world. Islamic Relief is one of the 13 UK charities that form the DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee).
Islamic Relief is rated 20th in the Top 500 Non – Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the world by the Swiss – based independent media organization NGO Adviser.
Norwood view website
Norwood is the largest Jewish charity in the UK supporting thousands of vulnerable children and their families, children with special educational needs and people with learning disabilities and autism.
Founded in 1795, Norwood is one of the UK’s oldest charities and the only Jewish charity to enjoy the Patronage of Her Majesty The Queen. It helps children and adults to maximize their potential at home, at school and throughout their lives, through personalized services designed to enable choice.
Each year Norwood needs £35m to keep its services running, £12m of which comes through voluntary donations. These services include a total of 55 residential, supported living and family centers across London and the South East.
Norwood currently runs eight charity shops across North and East London thanks to the support of 150 dedicated volunteers.
London Buddhist Centre view website
The London Buddhist Centre (LBC) in the heart of the East End teaches meditation, mindfulness, and yoga through daily classes, courses and retreats. Our aim is to help people from all walks of life lead more fulfilling lives, reach their highest potential and alleviate suffering in the world. Buddhists practice non – violence and believe our minds determine how we respond to our experience. We provide practical tools so that people can change their minds and develop greater wisdom and compassion for responding creatively to the world. The Centre offers an oasis of calm in the midst of busy urban life and is very much part of the local, diverse landscape in Tower Hamlets. Through its innovative mindfulness program, the LBC reaches out to people living with stress, pain, depression, and addiction. We also run events for families, carers, schools, and professionals as well as arts happenings. Many of our activities are by donation and teachers give their time and skills voluntarily for the benefit of others.
Spitalfields Crypt Trust view website
Spitalfields Crypt Trust (SCT) is an East London charity providing practical help for people recovering from complex drug and alcohol addictions. They provide homes, therapy, productive activity and a supportive community to help people to avoid relapses and lead healthier, happier lives.
They run:
- A drop – in providing food and shelter for homeless people in Shoreditch
- Shared homes in London for people to start and continue their recovery
- A personal development center providing free life skills courses in literacy, computing and math, alongside creative classes in art, woodwork and gardening
- Social enterprises to help people get work experience and gain from a more positive way of life
- Social events to help build supportive relationships in the local recovery community
Their support isn’t a ‘one – size – fi ts – all’ approach but is personalized to fit each person’s individual needs and hopes. Their approach combines Christian values with best practice and innovation. They help people of all faiths and none.
