A Call to Care: Marice Cumber

Accumulate is the first art school for the homeless. They provide art school level tuition by professional tutors for people who often feel excluded from the regular education system. Accumulate works with young people from hostels from all over London, offering each participant the opportunity to find empowerment and the chance to further their education through creativity. 

Autograph has been working with Accumulate for 4 years and we’d planned to host their latest project, The Book of Homelessness, a graphic novel written, drawn and produced by young people affected by homelessness. In March, Accumulate's Founder Marice Cumber had to postpone the project due to Covid-19, and knew that the charity needed to pivot their approach to providing creative engagement. With the support of Crisis, The RSA, and LandAid, Accumulate began creating and distributing art kits to over 550 hostels across London.

Autograph’s Ali Eisa interviewed Marice, discussing how Accumulate adapted their arts engagement, expanded inclusivity, supported members, and developed new relationships with a wider reach of homeless housing organisations. Watch it below.