The Barbican is inviting residents of Waltham Forest to get involved in a community arts project having been inspired by a global arts initiative born in Detroit.

For two weeks from today (Monday, May 9) you can submit an idea for an arts project that will benefit the whole community and be featured at this year’s Walthamstow Garden Party.

In-keeping with SOUP, the American practise, The Ideas Kitchen will select four submissions to pitch their ideas at a community dinner held at Gnome House on Saturday, June 18.

The Ideas Kitchen is overseen by a Community Board is made up of the Barbican Centre, The Mill, Gnome House and X7eaven.

Everybody in the community can attend, only needing to pay a small donation at the door for which they will receive a hot meal and a vote.

The applicant with the most votes will walk away with the money raised on the door, which is also match funded by the Barbican for up to £400, and the opportunity to develop their project to be featured at the Walthamstow Garden Party.

The Detroit SOUP kitchen has been a great success and spread across America, benefitting communities across the country.

London’s version of the project is in association with The Mill, Gnome House and Slap Haddock Theatre Company, to help fund creative ideas with, and for, the community.

Louise Jeffreys, director of the arts at the Barbican, says: “The Barbican is thrilled to continue its work with Create and Waltham Forest Council to offer audiences another spectacular weekend of world-class performances, workshops and entertainment.

“The Barbican continues to build on its long history of working with communities and organisations from across East London to bring the best international and local artists to new audiences.”

In the build up to this year’s garden party the Barbican and Waltham Forest Council are running community masterclasses, such as How to Crowdfund and Reporting to Funders.

These are free workshops for local residents involved in creative projects who are interested in building their confidence and developing fundraising skills.

The internationally-renowned arts centre is also recruiting community ambassadors and team leader ambassadors, both paid positions starting at London living wage. They hope these ambassadors will play a key role in engaging diverse east London communities and encouraging them to come along to events like the Walthamstow Garden Party.

For this year’s event Asian Dub Foundation will perform their live score for Mathieu Kassovitz’s seminal film La Haine. On the Saturday (July 16) they will be joined by Sao Paulo’s MC Emicida, one of the biggest names on the Brazilian hiphop scene; Fanfare Ciocarlia, the 12-piece Romani pioneers of Balkan brass and beats; and, blending Caribbean reggae and American soul, Mo’Kalamity and The Wizards.

On the Sunday (July 17) they will be joined by Angolan-Portuguese producer Batida, who combines traditional Angolan rhythms with modern electro-beats in an audio-visual production; the French-Chilean rapper Ana Tijoux, who is internationally known for socially conscious lyrics; and, at the forefront of the independent music scene in the Arab world, Alif.

As well as its music offering there will be theatre, dance and circus performances and workshops.

To find out more about The Ideas Kitchen arts project, community masterclasses or ambassador roles visit their website here.