Are you interested in London’s hidden stories? Then CoolTan Arts’ unique guided walks are for you. A cultural arts walk through the Borough of Southwark, from Maudsley Hospital in Denmark Hill to Tate Modern, that uses art, humour, architecture and local history to promote physical and mental well being.

CoolTan Arts runs a walk every third Saturday of the month, each with a different topic.

Walkers meet at 12noon at the main entrance of Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AX.

Upcoming dates:

20 February 2010 – CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle – Gay History, Love

6 March 2010 – CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle – International Women’s Day

17 April 2010 – CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle – You Read It Here First

15 May 2010 – CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle – Sociability, Science and Sanity

19 June 2010 – CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle – Summer Solstice Midnight Walk

21 August 2010 – CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle – Family Treasure Hunt/Quiz

CoolTan Arts’ February Largactyl Shuffle explored Southwark’s connections with gay history and  mental health.

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CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle

Gay History Walk

Date: Saturday 20 February 2010

Start: 12noon, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill

Did you know that London’s first gay disco was in Camberwell? (The Father Red Cap)

Or that Brixton Gay squatters / Brixton Radical Faeries in the 1970s set up the UK’s first gay centre in Brixton and a series of nearby squatted houses?

Sashay around South London with CoolTan Arts’ Largactyl Shuffle and find out 101 little-known facts about London’s most under-cover borough.

It’s LGBT history month in February, which celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community, its diversity and that of the society as a whole.

CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle Sponsored Walk on 10 October 2009 attracted over 80 people, marching to celebrate World Mental Health Day and raise money for CoolTan Arts.

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Walkers were welcomed by Michelle Baharier, Chief Executive of CoolTan Arts, the Mayor of Lambeth, Christopher Wellbelove, past mayor of Southwark Bob Skelly, London Assembly member and deputy chief of Transport Valerie Shawcross and TV Chef Rosemary Shrager. All the speakers highlighted the importance of art and walking on everyone’s mental health and well being, the social element of a community walk and how it can help people overcome barriers and stigma.

Walk participants photographed buildings designed by world famous architects and learnt about the relationship between local architecture and the history of mental health in Southwark.

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CoolTan’s Largactyl Shuffle Summer Solstice Midnight walk was a a guided geo-physical walk through Southwark hearing the voices of history from the Madhouse to the Modern Psychiatric Hospital.

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Largactyl Shuffle from CoolTan Arts on Vimeo.