History

The history of Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) spans almost three decades. We began in 1996 as a grassroots arts residency based out of a cupboard at the back of a community health Centre in Knowle West! Back then, our focus was on photography, enabling people – with cameras in their hands – to tell their story on their terms and help create the change they wanted to see in the world.

Today, our mission remains the same: bringing people together to make social, cultural and ecological change happen through arts and co-creation, but the tools have expanded including everything from data and coding to geo-sensing and digital fabrication. Our impact too has grown beyond Knowle West to the wider Bristol area, the nation and across the world. Explore projects in our blogs page. Below is a timeline highlighting key moments of KWMC growing as an organisation.

1996

A photography project by Carolyn Hassan at Knowle West Health Association evolves into KWMC.

2002

KWMC is formally constituted as an independent charity under the name Knowle West Media Project.

2006

White Design Associates plus a group of young people form The Archimedia group, who are consulted on ideas for a new Media Centre building. Through this, young people gain hands-on experience in construction processes, local architecture, and civic engagement.

2008

The KWMC building officially opens with a visit from Chancellor the Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling.

2012

KWMC becomes an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.

2013

KWMC becomes an active member of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), supporting diverse communities in addressing social challenges through innovation. 

2014

Pop-Up Furniture Factory opens at Eagle House, providing training and producing furniture for Filwood Green Business Park.

2015

The Furniture Factory moves to Filwood Green Business Park and is renamed KWMC The Factory, receiving the Alfred Telling Award for its contributions to training and manufacturing in Bristol.

2016

KWMC celebrates 20 years of the Knowle West photography project with a year-long programme, culminating in a community birthday party and exhibition reflecting two decades of change.

2017

Shaping the Future from Knowle West

  • WeCanMake Housing – A community-led housing initiative, which began life as a KWMC arts residency, launches its prototype home on the site of Filwood Community Centre. 
  • KWMC is recognised as one of the Intelligent Community Forum’s (ICF) Smart21 Communities of 2017, highlighting Knowle West’s innovative use of digital tools to strengthen local economies and societies. 

2018

National Recognition and International Representation 

  • KWMC is named in Creative England’s CE50 list for driving local community innovation.
  • Director Carolyn Hassan appointed one of Bristol’s first International Ambassadors by Mayor Marvin Rees. 
  • The WeCanMake housing initiative is recognised as one of NESTA and the Observer New Review’s ‘New Radicals’ for tackling major societal challenges with creativity. 

2019

KWMC co-founds the Knowle West Alliance, alongside Re:work, Knowle West Health Park, Filwood Community Centre and The Park. The Alliance brings together residents, businesses, and organisations to create positive action in the area.

2020

Creative Collaboration and Community Building

  • WeCanMake submits plans for its first two affordable homes in Knowle West, co-designed with local families and architects Studio Bark and Agile Designs.
  • During the COVID-19 lockdown, KWMC collaborates with residents and AUAR to explore modern construction methods, resulting the Block West pavilion outside KWMC.

2021

Expanding Spaces

  • KWMC doubles the workshop space at The Factory, upgrades its digital fabrication kit, and improves accessibility – supported by funding from the Open Programmable City via Bristol City Council. 
  • WeCanMake completes construction of its first two low-carbon homes while training 30 local people to use their creative co-design approach. The initiative establishes new planning precedents influencing wider housing policy and practice.

2022

KWMC’s young people’s programme ‘Maker City’ completes its first year of a seven-year partnership with the Bristol Strategic Partnership, working alongside Bristol City Council, Arup, Mott MacDonald, and Arcadis. 

2023

KWMC collaborates with PG Collective to explore and reimagine its leadership structure, developing more collaborative, resilient, and inclusive models of leadership.

2024

KWMC Founder Carolyn Hassan retires as CEO. Martha King becomes Creative Co-Director after nine years at KWMC, while Tom Newman is appointed a new role of Co-Director of Business Development and Operations. This shared leadership marks an exciting evolution in the way KWMC operates, reflecting its values of collaboration.

2025

KWMC presents the Foundations for the Future exhibition, co-created with retiring Founder Carolyn Hassan. The exhibition reflects on nearly three decades of KWMC’s work across changing social, political, environmental, and economic landscapes. Framed as a ‘usable past’, it highlights key practices, reflections, and moments of impact, while inviting others to add their own stories and visions for what comes next.