Testimonials

★★★★★

Kwanzaa Collective UK is an essential cultural institution in North Staffordshire. The organisation provides profile to Black and Brown artists. As a commissioner from a white-led arts organisation, we learn continually from Kwanzaa about the work that can be made when safe spaces are created for artists work on their own terms without racialised assumptions that can come with white-led organisations commissioning new work. 

Kwanzaa are leading on expanding the cultural provision in Stoke on Trent and North Staffordshire, delivering the annual Black History Celebration and supporting existing cultural offers like Six Towns Carnival and Appetite's Big Feast. The global perspective that exhibitions curated by Kwanzaa brings to North Staffordshire, such as Africa 54, is inspiring and a warm addition to what can be an insular cultural perspective.

★★★★★

Kwanzaa Collective UK has been essential to me as an artist by providing a safe space where people of colour can truly connect. It offers valuable networking opportunities with fellow creatives and a platform for my work to reach both local Staffordshire communities and beyond. Most importantly, it gives me room to develop and experiment with artistic ideas in an environment that understands and celebrates my cultural perspective. Kwanzaa Collective’s presence in Staffordshire creates community and opportunity where it's deeply needed.

★★★★★

Kwanzaa has been the most important organisation to emerge in the last decade. It has not only showcased my talent, it has created an unapologetically savvy community that knows how to build upon it.

★★★★★

Kwanzaa Collective is a family of supporters where nobody is left behind. Creating opportunities, providing accessibility and building connections among artists, writers, filmmakers, and more. A space that makes you feel seen and your voice is heard. 



Kwanzaa has been important as it enabled me to expand my expertise as well as network. Providing a safe environment for growth and development as an artist. Meeting people and building connections around Staffordshire.

★★★★★

Kwanzaa has been a safe space for me to create and platform projects that are not normally funded or prioritised. The community of artists, practitioners and locals that showed up with every exhibition and programmes has been instrumental in increasing my confidence in my ideas and work. Strengthening my voice as an artist!

"You can't sit around and wait for somebody to say who you are. You need to write it and paint it and do it."

Faith Ringgold: Harlem-born painter, sculptor, writer, performance artist and activist