Sweet Harmony: Radio, Rave & Waltham Forest, 1989–1994

Led and curated for Rendezvous Projects

A research-led exhibition programme documenting Waltham Forest’s contribution to pirate radio and UK dance music culture between 1989 and 1994, combining oral histories and archival material with live activation to bring an under-documented local scene into public view.

The programme brought together oral histories, pirate radio recordings, flyers, photographs and rare period material, presented both inside the museum and in locations connected to the culture. Alongside exhibitions, it included off-site audio/video interventions and youth workshops focused on sampling and mixing. A limited-edition booklet and fold-out map/poster supported the programme’s documentary approach.

Outcomes

  • Major free-entry exhibition in a local authority museum
  • Pop-up warehouse activation reconnecting archive and dancefloor
  • Youth engagement programme linked to historical material
  • Expanded museum collecting into electronic music heritage
  • National critical recognition
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"As both local history and an index of subcultural heat, Sweet Harmony succeeds brilliantly." — Derek Walmsley