At the centre of Becky Warnock’s practice is a deep interest in listening; creating projects that platform people and stories that often go unheard, and developing spaces which prioritise conversation and dialogue. For her, listening is a radical practice which is the basis of social change, fostering empathy and moments of connection.

 A Welcome Table is simultaneously an event, engagement programme and art work. It sits at the heart of Peckham24’s 2025 festival, hosting artists, community groups and public audiences as part of the annual theme Come Together. Across the course of the festival, artist Becky Warnock will host four participatory talk events, plus a final collective meal and ceramic artists edition.

Each event will expand on themes drawn from the artworks in the main exhibition, including peacebuilding and reconciliation, community, food and culture. The project draws on the structure of a ‘long table’ gathering, in which audiences participate in the conversation, rather than simply observing. For each event, Warnock has invited an artist featured in the exhibition to offer a provocation based on key themes from their work, that can spark a wider conversation. When at the table, participants can also choose to contribute to the conversation by writing, drawing or mark making onto the specially designed table cloth.

 The ‘long table’ approach has a history of being used as a non-hierarchical panel format, originally developed by feminist theatre practitioner Lois Weaver. For Peckham24, the events will be hosted at Sunset Studios, with a specially designed table. The table itself is key, as it reflects both the domestic environment in which we share food with loved ones, and the board rooms in which those in power make crucial decisions.

 A final event takes the form of a hosted dinner. Working alongside Giles Duley, the renowned photojournalist also known as The One Armed Chef, Warnock has curated a menu that reflects the vibrant food suppliers of Peckham market. Once the event series has concluded, Warnock will work with the Peckham communal ceramics studio The Kiln Rooms to create a bespoke pottery dinner service which incorporates the interventions on the event series tablecloth into its design.