Studio Practice: OUGD503 - Responsive - YCN: Greenall's Gin - Further Research

A street party is a party in which many members of a single community come together to observe an important event, in celebration of a significant event or simply for mutual enjoyment.

As a form of activism, street parties are festive and/or artistic efforts made to reclaim roadways as public space. They were made known in Western Europe and North America by the actions of 'Reclaim the Streets' - a widespread 'dis-organization' dedicated to reclaiming public space from automobiles and consumerism.

The British tradition is said to have originated after World War I as residents' own 'peace teas' to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and to treat children after much experienced hardship. It was the first time street parties were organised by residents on a mass basis.

A children's tea party in an East End Street in London, to celebrate the Treaty of Versailles at the end of the First World War (1919).

Street parties are a great part of British culture and provide opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate national occasions. Thousands of street parties took place for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and in June 2015 over 7 million people got together for The Big Lunch.

Historically, street parties in the UK have been held to commemorate momentous events, such as VE Day (Victory in Europe) or the Queen's jubilees. An estimated 10 million people took part in street parties in 1977 for the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

A street party to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee (1977).

The tradition was hugely prevalent for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April 2011, with around 1 million people joining in street parties. For the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June 2012 around 2 million people took part in street parties. After then this uniquely British tradition truly established itself within British culture, prominently in England and Wales, as residents continued to organise them on all major national days of celebration.

Today – Street parties are being held at any time of the year, for all ages, and for the sake of building community spirit within neighbourhoods.

Street parties evolved out of earlier traditions such as parades, tea parties and banquets in villages or towns. Before 1919, there had been a long held history of residents dressing streets for national occasions, using flags, garlanded material, and later bunting - the staple decoration of street parties usually made of strings of triangular pennants.

Street Parties Through the Years.