Community Projects | Kwanzaa Collective UK

Our Six Towns Carnival was an exhibition and programme that delved into the rich history, heritage and stories of Six Towns One City Caribbean carnival. This free family fun day of arts, food and music has been bringing the 6 towns of Stoke on Trent and a diverse range of people together for over twenty years. The exhibition celebrates the vibrancy and spirit of Six Towns carnival and highlighted the people, organisations, local and regional connections and collaborations that have made this highlight of Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural calendar possible.

The programme included an evening celebrating over 25 years of Six Towns Carnival and the new exhibition featuring photography by Adina Lawrence, ‘Our Caribbean Carnival, a film series by Anderson J West and Yesteryear Carnival by Morris Fox. The event featured live performances from projects funded and supported by carnival - Steel For Stoke and Ulysses Youth Girl Sing.

Exhibiting Artists: Adina Lawrence, Anderson J West, Morris Fox

This exhibition is a part of Stoke-on-Trent: A Living Heritage City (LHC), a UKSP-funded Pilot – project-managed by the City Council (link- https://www.visitstoke.co.uk/livingheritagecity). This Kwanzaa Collective project created an important archive for the city that continues to document this Caribbean carnival and connect the archives and collections of our museums to places and communities in Stoke

Location: Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

“Ode to Nana” was an exhibition by artist Jioni Warner in celebration of Windrush 75. It explored the ideas of legacy, struggle, and change.

As the granddaughter of a woman who was part of the generation of Caribbean's who answered Britain's call for workers, the display reflected on the British Caribbean experience placing Black women at the forefront.

Dealing with racism and sexism and other marginalisation's, Black women continued to pave the way for future generations like Jioni.

Twilight event - Windrush of the North

Kwanzaa Collective UK also produced a carnival parade as part of Appetite’s “The Big Feast” city centre programme of performance events in August 2023. Read More: www.visitstoke.co.uk/whats-on/ode-to-nana-p1989211

Including Tribes: Matabeleland to Staffordshire exhibition

Partners: Appetite, Arts Keele, National Gallery of Bulowayo

Tribes was a month-long exhibition in Newcastle Town Centre, hosted by Appetite at Newcastle Common. The exhibition, which showcased the art of Black and Brown artists living and working in Staffordshire, was part of a cultural exchange with artists in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. It ran concurrently in Matabeleland, at the National Gallery of Bulowayo.

Artworks on display included photography, film and digital painting reflecting on the theme of cultural heritage and documenting aspects of rich African culture such as body art, ceremonial dress, beadwork and piercings, their practice and relevance today. Work by the Staffordshire artists explored lived experience of how their African cultural identity informs their life in the UK.

William Ntiamoah also had his first solo exhibition at Chapters Cafe, Keele University, entitled “Look the Other Way”

Daby Obiechefu and William Ntiamoah were artists-in-residence at Newcastle Common during the Africa 54 programme, working in the space and hosting workshops.

Other highlights of the programme included a gum boot dancing, Anansi tales, Zine making, sgraffito art and stone carving workshops.

Exhibiting Artists: From Matabeleland, Zimbabwe: Eric Tshuma, Mthokozisi Gwebu, Ntjengeti Sibanda, Will Mgaza

From Staffordshire, England: Anderson J West, Cynthia Coady, Daby Obiechefu, Derrick Egblewogbe, Nom Ncube, William Attieku Ntiamoah

vicfallslive.co.zw/inside-ntjengeti-sibandas-contribution-to-the-tribes-staffordshire-to-matabeleland/

Location: Lichfield

“Face” was an exhibition showcasing the art of Black and Brown artists living and working in Staffordshire. Inspired by themes from ‘A Young Black’, the celebrated painting of Francis Barber by Sir Joshua Reynolds, this exhibition centered on the faces, voices, and descendants of Black and Brown people. Named as one of the Great Black Britons, Francis was the former servant, surrogate son and heir of Dr. Samuel Johnson, writer of Dictionary of the English Language. Francis lived as a free man in Lichfield, with his descendants still living in Staffordshire today. This year marks 220 years since he passed away. Look deeper and closer at the portraits in this exhibition and let the faces tell you their story.

A programme of events, talks and workshops ran alongside the exhibition including a drumming workshop, a film night, a paint party, a poetry party and a talk from Sue Bray from Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum.

Exhibiting Artists: Adina Lawrence, Daby Obiechefu, Jioni Warner, Nom Ncube, William Attieku Ntiamoah

Parnter: B-Arts

Exploring what we want to leave behind in 2020 and what we want to take with us into 2021, Tomorrow’s Garden combines the unique heritage of Stoke on Trent with ambitious artistic responses by Stoke-based artists and communities.

Originally envisioned as a self-guided trail of light installations around Stoke-upon-Trent Town, it transformed into an exhibition of light-based installation artwork and accompanying film series. A team of Kwanzaa Collective UK artists were commissioned to reflect on the year of the pandemic and respond to the question: ‘What will you leave behind, and what will you take with you in Tomorrow's Garden?’

They created an outdoor interactive exhibition at a park in Yeaman Street Park which was featured in Tomorrow’s Garden, a five-part film series. The film series can be found on the B-arts website here: https://www.b-arts.org.uk/tomorrowsgarden

Look at the Stories Behind the Art film series we created so the Kwanzaa artists could talk about their work, watch by click here

Location: Keele University

“Strong, British and Black” was an exhibition showcasing the art of black and brown women living and working in Staffordshire. Building on the themes of the Cultural Affairs I AM exhibition (2019) this exhibition centered the voices of black and brown women to explore what it means to be Strong, British and Black. Using film, photography, painting, poetry, sculpture and digital art, the artists explored the themes of the exhibition individually, while looking at how they interact. What does it mean to a strong woman? What does it mean to be Strong and Black?

What does it mean to be Black British in a country that often considers you Black in Britain?

A programme of events, talks and workshops ran alongside the exhibition. The artwork was projected onto Keele Chapel in a special event.

Exhibiting Artists: Alisha Friday, Adina Lawrence, Becki Kremer, Cynthia Coady, Daby Obiechefu, Gabriella Gay, Nom Ncube, Tanya Watson

www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/north-staffordshire-art-exhibition-explores-4618980