Visual Stories, Part of the ACE Y-Our Story project

Y-Our Story: Visual Stories of Acton Arts Council funded year-long celebration of community storytelling and creative collaboration continues with the Your Stories of Acton Fiesta at Acton Library (W3 6NE) on the afternoon of Saturday 28^th March (1 - 4 pm).

Co-created by Ealing Libraries & Community Centres and ARTification, since launching in May 2025, the project continues to deliver literary, illustrative and creative activities. We are pleased to be transforming Acton Library into a vibrant space for performance, exhibition, and shared expression.  Join us and be a part of Acton’s story, told by its people.

We are proud to include contributions from a wide range of Acton’s finest.  Poets, storytellers, writers, musicians, including wordsmiths such as Mervyn Weir, Akuba, WAPPY young authors, Dalal Chwayyed, Ras Obi, Anthony Smith, Amir Darwish, Anna Matyjiw, Alice Thompson; plus, musical elements from ‘Wing & a Prayer’, 3iahmusic and Acton’s Japanese cultural group.  The programme represents the voices of Actons diverse communities, young and older, African, Caribbean, English, Irish, Ukranian, Iraqi, Syrian, Japanese & more. These offerings capture something of the creative cultural melting-pot of Acton.

The event is also an opportunity to pay homage to the Huntleys, and Bogle L’Ouverture bookshop & publishers. Both Jessica and Eric Huntley have been pioneers, leading so many cultural, community, educational, activist and literary activities in Acton & beyond.   

Our event contributors:

• Mervyn Weir: an award-winning writer, director and filmmaker. With a proud Caribbean heritage, Mervyn is passionate about celebrating black and brown accomplishments through poetry, performance, and visual arts.
• Dr Amir Darwish is a British Syrian poet & writer of Kurdish origin with two collections of poetry:  Dear Refugee, Don’t Forget the Couscous & a recently completed PhD.
• Akuba, Author, Editor, Performance Artiste, Facilitator, Tutor, Director of Writing Acting & Publishing Project for Youngsters (WAPPY), https://www.instagram.com/akubaquansah/?hl=en
• WAPPY young people will share their poetry and published works.
• Anthony Smith is a London explorer, who has recently published 'Stopping Places' and 'Remembering' collections of poetry and travel writing, and hosts open mics (poetry and spoken word) at the W3 Gallery.
• Ras Obi is an Acton-based Storyteller, known for his soulful insight and culturally rooted reflections, he brings a compassionate voice to healing, resilience, and spiritual care. His writing weaves lived experience, professional depth, and ancestral wisdom — all infused with the lyrical rhythm of a musical soul.
• Dalal Chwayyed is an Acton Iraqi poet and writer who brings a rich literary voice shaped by her academic, journalistic, and creative background.  Her literary work shares her journey as a poet whose words bridge Iraq and the UK, memory and estrangement, belonging and exile.
• Alice Thompson, Acton poet, storyteller, educator.  Her work includes depictions of Acton council estate life and community, womens stories and more.
• Anna Matyjiw writes of many things including the impact and memories of her Ukranian fathers life and work in Acton.
• Wing & a Prayer are an Acton-based vintage folk rock and Irish band playing amongst others, Streets of Acton.
• 3iahmusic: Musician, songwriter, writer telling stories from the soul.
• Japanese cultural group are musicians, artists and active performing and partaking in cultural events including with ARTification & Ealing Libraries.

Telling Tales is a Fiesta of Stories. The culmination of Y-Our Story, a community-driven visual storytelling project that brings narratives to life through images, objects, and illustrations. Running over a year across Acton, with the refurbished library as its center. The project is enhancing the cultural fabric of Acton, fostering expression and connection among its diverse residents. Aims include:

• Library Engagement: Positioning Acton Library as a dynamic community space.
• Pride and Identity: Showcasing diverse voices through exhibitions and performances.
• Employability: Building storytelling, digital, and creative skills.
• Social Connection: Engaging isolated groups through accessible workshops.