Collaborations (Archive)

COLLABORATIONS (Archive)

Some of the projects we have co-produced with a range of strategic partners.  
Details of the image credits, participants and exhibition catalogues to be uploaded

Pride: STONEWALL SOLIDARITY
(#WeStandTogether Exhibition)

urbanflo Partners: Brighton & Hove Pride
July/August 2019
Brighton & Hove Pride is now recognised as one of the World’s best Pride events 
with visitors coming from across the UK and the globe. Pride has evolved over the years with more and more communities coming together to celebrate every aspect of our city, regardless of sexuality, race, gender, age or ability. Over 300,000 people fill the city’s streets to participate and watch as an all-singing, all-dancing carnival of colour that is the Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade as it winds its way through the heart of the city.

In acknowledgement of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, urbanflo artist Elliss Lewin-Turner set up a pop up photo shoot for members, allies and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community who were visiting Vrystaat Arts Festival in South Africa. The international participants hailed from across South Africa and the wider African continent as well as from Australia, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, Tasmania and beyond...

A selection of the pop up portraits were put together as a special addition to the
Brighton Pride neXus exhibition for a collection called 'Stonewall Solidarity'

Pride Cultural Development Fund
(PCDF 2019)

urbanflo Partners: Brighton & Hove Pride
2018 saw the introduction of the new Pride Cultural Development Fund (PCDF), a special initiative that we have developed in partnership with Brighton & Hove Pride to enhance the cultural offer with a more inclusive approach to creative programming.  Our ambition is to develop the parade and ancillary events into a more artistic expression of Pride, involving an even broader cross-section of the community as artists, participants and audiences.
PCDF has two main components:
 
PART 1 is an Artists’ Small Grant Awards scheme which offers seed funding to enable underrepresented communities to get involved in the Pride Arts & Film Programme
-    2018: Granted 9 Individual and Group awards
-    2019: Granted 18 Individual and Group awards  
 
PART 2 is a creative platform for artists to showcase their work each year in curated exhibitions, workshops, screenings and performances;
-    2018: The ‘Colour My World’ programme featured over 80 visual and performing artists, with 2 large-scale city centre exhibitions.  Also, the ‘Pride in Our City’ exhibition featured the work from a local primary school competition that invited pupils to create artwork that represented what they loved about Brighton & Hove.
-    2019: The collaboration with the urbanflo neXus Transnational Exchange provided a unique international opportunity for Brighton artists to tour work to South Africa before appearing in Brighton.  The Pride event featured a large environmental group installation alongside 2 solo exhibitions - ‘Stonewall Solidarity’ and ‘Queer Letters’

STEP:CHANGE 2019
(ENGAGEMENT & INTERNATIONAL DANCE EXCHANGE)

urbanflo Partners: Sussex Festival of Performing Arts 
April 2019
We passionately believe that the arts are for everyone and we are constantly striving to improve the opportunities and experiences that we can offer to young performers from all walks of life.  Our STEP:CHANGE programme has been developed in collaboration with Sussex Festival of Performing Arts to enable a wider range of people to take part in the annual Festival season, and especially those who have limited access to the arts. By introducing a dynamic range of new features to the Festival we aim to facilitate high-quality artistic experiences and provide unique pathways for local, regional, national and international aspiring artists to participate.  These new features include some non-competitive activities such as the amazing exhibition performances brought to us in 2018 when South East Dance presented a young group of performers who were very new to the stage and we also welcomed students from the University of West Indies in Barbados who wowed us with their contemporary pieces.  All of these young dancers took away with them wonderful, inspiring experiences that will stay with them for a lifetime and we are now developing other opportunities so watch this space…

For the 2019 STEP:CHANGE we were very proud to once again invite both local and international guest performers, and the spotlight was on Project Female from Brighton and PowerHouse Studios from Barbados.Both groups rehearsed together at Marina Studios and shared how their pieces nce

Pride in Our City Exhibition
(LGBTQ+ Community Parade)

urbanflo Partners: Brighton & Hove Pride  |  Churchill Square
October 2018
Brighton & Hove Pride is now recognised as one of the World’s best Pride events 
with visitors coming from across the UK and the globe. Pride has evolved over the years with more and more communities coming together to celebrate every aspect of our city, regardless of sexuality, race, gender, age or ability. Over 300,000 people fill the city’s streets to participate and watch as an all-singing, all-dancing carnival of colour that is the Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade as it winds its way through the heart of the city. Every year, participants include Brighton & Hove Pride’s partners and sponsors, local community groups, representatives from political parties and faith groups, the NHS, Brighton Housing Trust, Sussex Police, Sussex Fire services, the Ambulance Service, the Girl Guides, Scouts, trade unions, and a number of major brands showing their support for diversity, alongside a selection of performers, musicians and artists. The Pride in Our City exhibition, supported by the Pride Cultural Development Fund, is comprised of images of the 2018 Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade by Chris Jepson, Jim Carey & Robby Dee.
Also featured are the winners and finalists of the School’s Art Challenge:
Cleo Curtis, Ettain Wedderburn, Conor Power, Elsa Metcalf, Emily Kent, Simi Sweet, 
Millie Alexander, Dana Wilding-Honeyman & Jack Paulsen
Download Exhibition Catalogue

Pride in Our City Exhibition
(Schools' Art Challenge)

urbanflo Partners: Brighton & Hove Pride  |  Churchill Square
October 2018
Brighton & Hove Pride is now recognised as one of the World’s best Pride events 
with visitors coming from across the UK and the globe. Pride has evolved over the years with more and more communities coming together to celebrate every aspect of our city, regardless of sexuality, race, gender, age or ability. Over 300,000 people fill the city’s streets to participate and watch as an all-singing, all-dancing carnival of colour that is the Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade as it winds its way through the heart of the city. Every year, participants include Brighton & Hove Pride’s partners and sponsors, local community groups, representatives from political parties and faith groups, the NHS, Brighton Housing Trust, Sussex Police, Sussex Fire services, the Ambulance Service, the Girl Guides, Scouts, trade unions, and a number of major brands showing their support for diversity, alongside a selection of performers, musicians and artists. The Pride in Our City exhibition, supported by the Pride Cultural Development Fund, is comprised of images of the 2018 Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade by Chris Jepson, Jim Carey & Robby Dee.
Also featured are the winners and finalists of the School’s Art Challenge:
Cleo Curtis, Ettain Wedderburn, Conor Power, Elsa Metcalf, Emily Kent, Simi Sweet, 
Millie Alexander, Dana Wilding-Honeyman & Jack Paulsen
Download Exhibition Catalogue

Colour My World Exhibition

July/August 2018
urbanflo Partners: Brighton & Hove Pride  |  Socially Engaged Art Salon (SEAS)
 In collaboration with Brighton & Hove Pride and Socially Engaged Art Salon (SEAS) we developed and produced one of the biggest and most diverse exhibitions featuring LGBTQ+ narratives as part of the new engagement initiative Pride Cultural Development Fund (PCDF). Located In 2 city centre venues, the stunning 'Colour My World' exhibition Included creative contributions from over 80 artists, filmmakers and activists from the UK Europe, Middle East. Africa, Asia and the Americas. Through this array of cultural lenses. the exhibition revealed a range of personal and sometimes raw, intimate and challenging explorations of social and political struggles that some LGBlQ+ communities are still facing; including experiences of Isolation and difference. persecution and resistance. family and community. The Jubilee Library exhibition featured the work of photographer 
Chris Jepson plus 7 artists awarded small grants from PCDF:
 A.Pozas, Bharat Patel, Estabrak Al-Ansari, Dr Gil Mualem-Doron, Irene 'Tokini' Fubara-Manuel, Josef Cabey & Olga Lidia Saavedra Montes de Oca aka Olisam. 
Download Exhibition Catalogue

Pride Cultural Development Fund
(PCDF 2018)

urbanflo Partners: Brighton & Hove Pride
2018 saw the introduction of the new Pride Cultural Development Fund (PCDF), a special initiative that we have developed in partnership with Brighton & Hove Pride to enhance the cultural offer with a more inclusive approach to creative programming.  Our ambition is to develop the parade and ancillary events into a more artistic expression of Pride, involving an even broader cross-section of the community as artists, participants and audiences.
PCDF has two main components:
1)    An Artists’ Small Grant Awards scheme which offers seed funding to enable underrepresented communities to get involved in the Pride Arts & Film Programme
-    2018: Granted 9 Individual and Group awards
-    2019: Granted 18 Individual and Group awards  
2)    A creative platform for artists to showcase their work each year in curated exhibitions, workshops, screenings and performances;
-    2018: The ‘Colour My World’ programme featured over 80 visual and performing artists, with 2 large-scale city centre exhibitions.  Also, the ‘Pride in Our City’ exhibition featured the work from a local primary school competition that invited pupils to create artwork that represented what they loved about Brighton & Hove.
-    2019: The collaboration with the urbanflo neXus Transnational Exchange provided a unique international opportunity for Brighton artists to tour work to South Africa before appearing in Brighton.  The Pride event featured a large environmental group installation alongside 2 solo exhibitions - ‘Stonewall Solidarity’ and ‘Queer Letters’

Connecting Places: Our Untold Stories

Brighton Fringe | May 2018
urbanflo Partners: BME Heritage Network |  Brighton & Hove City Council
 According to writer bell hooks “talking about place, where we belong, is a constant subject for many of us”.
The Connecting Places project was devised by the BME Heritage Network to create opportunities to hear the authentic voices of some of Brighton’s diverse communities sharing their stories and to highlight some of the lesser-known historic, social and cultural links to the city’s wider community that exist.
The Connecting Places pilot event was produced by urbanflo creative and the environs of Brighton Museum & Art Gallery formed the backdrop for a themed programme of live and projected performances, creative workshops and facilitated discussions.  Contributors animated the museum either with their own responses to heritage events and re-interpreted some of the collections with a more inclusive narrative from diverse perspectives.
Alongside these activities, the ‘unconference’ format provided an informal Open Space platform for critical debate on the emerging issues.  Conversations and workshops took place throughout the event exploring diversity issues, particularly relating to leadership in the arts and also reflecting on some of the substantial contributions different communities have made to contemporary British Society.
 
Presentations/Demonstrations
-    The Spicy & Wise group presented ‘No Taste Like Home’, an installation about a new book featuring stories of migration and recipes from around the world. Project participants read excerpts from the book
-    Tony Kalume of Diversity Lewes presented a talk on Kangas (African fabrics) and their meanings
-    Dr Gil Doron presented an installation and talk based on his New Union Flag project
-    John Agard/Crosspath Theatre presented 'Beachy Head Lady' a short excerpt from a new script in development by Grace Nichols
-    Bert Williams MBE & Suchi Chaterjee of Brighton & Hove Black History presented a talk on Thomas Highflyer with artwork by Josef Cabey
-    Dr Ludo Foster presented their 'Music, Gender Transgression & Mixed-Race Identity' project
-    Tayo Lewin-Turner presented a response to the Glyn Philpot exhibition
-    Judith Ricketts presented her installation 'Immaterial Spaces'

Interactive Conversations
-    Muzammal facilitated a discussion ‘Being a Contemplative Muslim in Brighton & Hove’
-    Akila Richards presented ‘Diversity Bin-go Lingo’ (installation)

Workshops
-    Phati Mnguni facilitate an arts workshop ‘The changing face of identity’ about the perceptions about Ndebele art.
-    Lesley Miranda & Nema Dubois lead a workshop on hair and make-up and the journey of the individual through culture

STEP-CHANGE 2018
(ENGAGEMENT & INTERNATIONAL DANCE EXCHANGE)

urbanflo Partners: Sussex Festival of Performing Arts  |  University of West Indies
April 2018
 As part of our development consultancy work with Sussex Festival of Performing Arts we are exploring new ways to align underrepresented communities with high calibre opportunities to participate in and consume the arts.  This initiative includes and strand of activity to extend the festival's international reach, for which we co-ordinated a dynamic exchange in collaboration with the University of West Indies (UWI - Cave Hill Campus, Barbados).
Neri Torres, the Dance Co-ordinator at UWI’s Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, travelled over from Barbados with students Christian-Paul Gibson, Courtney Walker, and Saleem Small who showcased their amazing skills in a new non-competitive programme at the Sussex Festival 2018 gala event at the Hawth, Crawley. The dance sequences were choreographed by Tara-Jane Herbert who trained at both Ballet Rambert (alumni) and with the great William Louther (Martha Graham Company). Tara has performed extensively in the UK and has taught and choreographed nationally and internationally. Choreographic work includes The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (a cast of 250 young people) and The Unicorn Children’s Theatre. Tara is the former Artistic Director for Dance United, working with street children in Ethiopia, female prisoners and young people at risk.  Most recently in Barbados, through her own company, ‘Ascending Stars’, Tara runs performing arts classes and camps, and works with a variety of organisations including; Barbados Community College, University of the West Indies, Barbados Dance Project, Operation Triple Threat and National Cultural Foundation Dance Ensemble/Performing Arts Ensemble. 

There's No Taste Like Home

2017 - 2018
  urbanflo Partners: BandBazi
'There's no Taste Like Home' is the fourth and final strand of BandBazi’s two year #Resilient Arts project. BandBazi worked with Community elders to create a book of short stories inspired by recipes and memories from the homelands of the participants - UK, India, Iran, Kenya, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, Singapore, Malaysia, Pakistan, Belarus and many, many more.
This group now goes by the name 'Spicy & Wise'.
The entire project was documented through video and photography by urbanflo.
Book photography by David Churchill & Jenni Lewin-Turner
Evaluation by Tayo

Click here to order a copy of the No Taste Like Home book

INEXTRICABLE 3
 Mother India 21st Century Remix

urbanflo Partners: Kala Phool  |  Brighton & Hove City Council
May/June 2017
As the UK readies itself for its ‘conscious uncoupling’ from a long-term partner, the INEXTRICABLE exhibition series creatively reflects on notions of union, interdependency, separation, identity and freedom through a range of different lenses; including those of former British territories and other colonised or annexed regions across the world.
The focus of INEXTRICABLE 3 was India’s 70th Anniversary of Independence with an exhibition at Jubilee Library of iconic imagery from the classic Indian film Mother India and extracts alongside contextual information that explores the themes, artistic achievements, impact and cultural legacy of the film.
Kala Phool’s MI21 project pays homage to the original film through a stripped down 45 minute silent version accompanied by a live electronic and classical music soundtrack.
Directed by the great Mebhoob Khan, the film has gained cult status resonating with audiences all over the world; transcending cinema to being recognized as a genuine cultural, social and artistic landmark. Mother India metaphorically represents India as a nation in the aftermath of Independence and alludes to a strong sense of nationalism and nation-building. Lead character Radha is the symbol of hope, female empowerment and one of selflessness - qualities shared with women the world over.

Off The Rails

Brighton Fringe 2016
  urbanflo Partners: Artist Andy Seize  |  Churchill Square
As part of Brighton Fringe 2016, urbanflo produced an installation by visual artist Andy Seize - bringing art to the masses in the city’s major shopping complex, Churchill Square, which has a daily footfall of over 34,000 visitors.
Andy exhibited a section of a 1:1 scale London Tube train carriage replica, covered with artwork.  He also ran workshops and presented a series of limited edition prints featuring his signature super heroes, hot rods, letter shapes, palm trees and butterflies.
Alongside the train installation the ’Platform’ engagement programme provided a space for artists from the local community to share their work publicly in a series of performances and workshops featuring arts & crafts, music, creative writing and dance.

(Documentation by Jenni Lewin-Turner)
Download Exhibition Catalogue

FREEDOM Series

Brighton Fringe 2016
  urbanflo Partners: Brighton Fringe  |  Crosspath Theatre  |  Andy Seize  |  Legacy Film
2016 marked the 50th anniversary of independence from the UK for Guyana and Barbados, which we commemorated with a special series of 5 events throughout Brighton Fringe festival.  The FREEDOM season featured visual art, theatre, music, film and dance - all rounded off with a splendid Rum Party at Riki Tik's Caribbean Bar on Brighton Seafront .
The programme included numerous community engagement activities, with contributions from many talented artists including;
John Agard who performed his one-man theatre production of 'Roll Over Atlantic' courtesy of Crosspath Theatre
Andy Seize who presented is unique installation of an underground tube carraige 'Off The Rails' alongside a workshop programme for young people
Mrisi performed 2 shows with a selection of his own music and rap compositions and also lead a creative writing workshop as part of the 'Platform' programme in conjunction with Andy Seize/Off The Rails
Legacy Film presented the feature film 'Sally's Way' and several short films from the Caribbean diaspora
Legendary DJ outfit Dub Smugglers Sound System featuring Country Ranks provided an amazing floor-filling soundtrack for the finale Rum Party event supported by DJ4D

Plastic Funktastic

2014
  urbanflo Partners: Artist Jon Daniel | Brighton & Hove City Council
We produced and project managed the Plastic Funktastic Afro Pop cultural display created by the late, great independent Creative Director, Designer, Artist, Author, Curator, Collector Jon Daniel.  The exhibition featured images of action figures of characters from the African Diaspora - heroes from sports, politics, film and TV such as Mr T, Muhammad Ali, Huggy Bear, Lt Uhura, Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X

Supa You-Man © Jon Daniel
Afro Supa Hero © Jon Daniel
Afro Supa® Star Twins © Jon Daniel
Afro Supa® is a registered trademark owned by Jon Daniel
All rights reserved

From Rwanda...With Love

Script Development
urbanflo Partners: rYico (Rwandan Youth Information Community Organisation
2016
From Rwanda…with Love (FRWL) is a creative heritage project initiated by Rwandan Youth Information Community Organisation (rYico) and developed in partnership with urbanflo creative and ART:sync (funded by Arts Council England and Brighton & Hove City Council).
The ultimate aim of FRWL is to develop a full touring theatre production, an installation and community engagement programme with workshops based on the Rwandan experience. The Research & Development (R&D) phase of FRWL was therefore strategically devised as a participatory community project to;
• produce and test a script based on the heritage and experiences of UK Rwandan communities
• imaginatively interpret the impact of conflict on identity
• explore the interconnections these events have created for people through migration.
• diversify the idea of what it means to be British in the 21st century, celebrate Britain’s ever growing cultural tapestry, counter discrimination and advance reconciliation.
National Theatre actor Fiston Barek led the experiential workshops and directed a public reading at the Komedia Studio. Published author Warren FitzGerald developed a script based on the testimonies of the workshop participants. The ongoing project presents a unique opportunity for many contributors, participants and beneficiaries, including young people from the 5,000-strong UK Rwandan community to share stories whilst dynamically learning new creative skills and life skills.

(Documentation by Jenni Lewin-Turner & Anna)

Crossing The Teas
urbanflo Partners: BandBazi
2014 - 2016
Inspired by the late artist and community activist Irene Mensah, Crossing The Teas was a community heritage project exploring different cultural practices around the shared custom of drinking tea. The project presented a unique chance for community groups from diverse cultural backgrounds to share and learn about the tea drinking customs, histories, traditions and stories of their own and each other’s cultures. Activities in the programme included; A Launch Tea Party, Community Tea Parties, ‘The Big Tea Party’, a Flash Fiction Competition, an Oral History & Photography Exhibition, an Academic Seminar at University of Brighton, and the ‘Big Big Tea Party’.
For one of the first events, 6 of the participating community groups celebrated and shared their learning by throwing a Big Tea Party for the public at Brighton Dome. This was followed by a touring Oral History & Photographic Exhibition which visited Jubilee Library, BMECP Centre and University of Brighton throughout June, September and October. A seminar at the University of Brighton discussed the project’s format and its findings, with presentations from the producers, participants and academics.
Main photos by David Churchill
(Documentation by Jenni Lewin-Turner)
Download Exhibition Catalogue

SupaSistas

International Women's Day
urbanflo Partners: Kofi Allen, Jon Daniel, Amrita Chandradas  |  Brighton & Hove City Council
March/April 2014
A very special event celebrating Goddesses, Icons and Heroines featuring pop-up photo shoots by Kofi Allen (ICONIC YOU) and Amrita Chandradas (SUPA GIRL), a singing masterclass by The Voicebox and a creative writing workshop 'Postcards to...'.
The wonderful and very sadly missed creative genius Jon Daniel kindly gave permission for the use of his iconic Afro Supa Hero brand for Supa Sistas.
The images captured on the day were curated for a 2 week exhibition at Jubilee Library 
(featured photographs by Kofi Allen)

Download Exhibition Catalogue

Photo Fringe Caribbean
International Exchange (Photography)

urbanflo Partners: Brighton Photo Fringe |  Barbados Community College  |  Barbados National Cultural Foundation
2012
Part of the 6 Degrees International Exchange 
(Barbados to UK Programme)
Brighton Photo Fringe (BPF) assisted with the curation and installation of the Roots & Wings exhibition, and also participated in the artists’ discussions and studio visits. BPF also delivered a photography workshop for a student group from Barbados Community College. The work produced from the workshop was exhibited to UK audiences during the 2012 Brighton Photo Fringe Biennial.
BPF also partnered in the delivery of networking and professional development sessions with local Barbadian artists at Queens Park Gallery as well as at photographers’ studios and homes. 

 WORDfest Caribbean
International Exchange (Literature)

2012
urbanflo Partners: Crawley WORDfest |  Crawley Borough Council  | Iron Sharpen Iron
Part of the 6 Degrees International Exchange 
(UK/Barbados Programme)
WORDfest is an annual grassroots programme of events dedicated to celebrating words and writing in its many forms. A specially programmed interactive Open Mic event in Crawley featured Spoken Word artists filmed on location at the Barbados Roots & Wings exhibition in the Steel Shed. A reciprocal event organised by Iron Sharpen Iron at “Thump Monkey” in Barbados featured UK artists filmed on location in Crawley.

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