17 UK Orgs Supporting Black People in the Arts
There was so much interest in our 10 Contemporary Black Classical Composers article that we thought a follow-up post would be useful, highlighting some of the charities, non-profits and social enterprises championing diversity and promoting the voices of black people in classical music, opera, theatre, dance and museums. For further reading on equality and diversity in the classical music profession, read Dr Christina Scharff’s 2015 report from King’s College London. If you find this useful or have other organisations you’d like to let us know about, we would love to hear from you @alterclassical on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. To hear about our future articles, sign up for our mailing list.
Chineke! is the first professional orchestra and junior orchestra in Europe made up of majority Black, Asian & ethnically diverse musicians, founded by Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE in 2015 (who I interviewed recently). Their motto is: ‘championing change and celebrating diversity in classical music’. The organisation aims to be a catalyst for change, realising existing diversity targets within the industry by increasing the representation of Black, Asian & ethnically diverse musicians in British and European orchestras. If you wish to donate, you can do so via PayPal or cheque.
Pegasus Opera Company creates opportunities for young black singers to develop and perform in innovative opera productions. It was founded in 1992 by opera singer and teacher Lloyd Newton, who passed away in 2017, leaving the legacy of Pegasus with Alison Buchanan, the only Black Caribbean female Artistic Director of an opera company in the UK. They have various membership sponsor packages, and you can donate via bank transfer or cheque.
Nigerian-Romanian pianist Rebeca Omordia launched the world’s first ever African Concert Series in London in 2019, featuring monthly concerts of music by African classical composers. The programme of the series reflects the depth and diversity of African art music, the richly diverse genre of music which forms a bridge between Western classical music and traditional African music.
London Music Masters, founded in 2008 by Victoria Robey OBE and Prof. Itzhak Rashkovsky, raises the aspirations and nurtures the potential of disadvantaged primary school children in London’s inner-city schools, providing teaching, mentoring, financial support and performance opportunities to musicians aged 4-25. The team provides consultation, coaching and facilitation on diversity and inclusion in the creative industries across the UK and globally.
They haven’t posted anything recently but Mosaic is a group of leading Black and Asian artists and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines dedicated to reinvigorating opera. They create urgent, dynamic and engaging works which bring to the centre our multi-faceted experiences and identities and in doing so, add fresh and vibrant narratives to the operatic canon. In 2018 they had a Grimeborn residency at Arcola Theatre in Dalston.
Black Ticket Project creates cultural access points for black young people, working with youth groups, charities, youth workers, schools and youth arts companies across England to help build relationships between artistic institutions and communities that are often racially and socio-economically marginalised. This includes supplying free tickets to young people for theatre, shows, talks and exhibitions; organising free training and development opportunities; and covering travel and accommodation costs. Support them via PayPal or Patreon.
A social enterprise that delivers Black British history through the arts, in and out of schools to all young people in the UK. Founded in 2019, the organisation believes that by delivering arts focused Black history programmes, providing teacher training and campaigning through mobilising young people, they can facilitate social change. You can support them through their website.
Creative Access is the only organisation in the UK dedicated to recruiting under-represented talent in the creative industries: music, theatre, film, publishing, radio, TV and charity work. It’s a social enterprise with the aim of getting the industry to reflect and engage broader society. To support their work, you can become a mentor, become an employer partner or donate via PayPal.
Working with young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, Teach First alumni Isabel Farchyshe saw the barriers many faced to pursuing a fulfilling career in the creative industries – and the talent that the creative industries were missing out on. CMN offers mentoring programmes for young people who have not yet entered the creative industries, and a talent finding service for employers. It also offers coaching for organisations and managers to write a diversity strategy and build inclusivity.
Inc Arts UK is a not-for-profit company on a mission to diversify the workforce of the creative and cultural sector, with partners and clients including the National Opera Studio, National Theatre, Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre. Their focus is on behind-the-scenes staff across performing arts (music, dance, theatre), and visual arts and heritage (museums and archives). Inc Arts support employers to find out what they can do to help, providing a safe, confidential space to explore and build inclusive strategies that will work for your place of work; best practice and learning from other sectors; and access to the latest research.
Get Into Theatre is the UK’s leading theatre careers website, housing a range of opportunities from backstage to performing, training and apprenticeships, jobs and advice. The site has some options only available to BAME candidates, and you can also filter for disability and household income. It’s produced by The Stage, and funded and supported by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and UK Theatre/Society of London Theatre.
ZooNation Academy of Dance, founded by Kate Prince MBE in 2002, specialise in teaching dance styles that originated from, and have been influenced by, hip hop culture including breakin’, house, groove, waacking, kump and the funk styles of popping and locking. They are launching a behind-the-scenes initiative aiming to diversify and support black talent including stage management, theatre technicians, lighting design, sound design, stage design, costume design, music composition, theatre and event production, and company management. You can support them from £2.50 a month via PayPal.
GUAP is the world’s first video magazine, founded in 2015. A revolutionary youth platform at the forefront of creative culture, discovering and showcasing diverse emerging talent, its aim is to document and nurture young grass roots creative talent within music, fashion, the arts and business. The Black GUAP Fund is specifically for creatives of African/Caribbean descent. They give £100 to a new creative every week, with no strings attached. Donate online.
Ballet Black is the first black ballet company in the UK. It was founded in 2001 by Cassa Pancho MBE to provide role models to young, aspiring black and Asian dancers. Ballet Black aims to bring ballet to a more culturally diverse audience and is aiming for a fundamental change in the number of black and Asian dancers in mainstream ballet companies. They aim to raise £100,000 each season, and accept donations online.
Leeds-based Eclipse Theatre is the UK’s leading Black-led touring company, delivering diverse programming in theatre, film and radio. They create new work using the insights and experiences of Black British people of African and Caribbean backgrounds and those of us who are also marginalised for our race. Sharing enriching, thought-provoking stories that reflect our nation, we work hard to meet our audiences where they are. Donate online.
The Sheffield-based Utopia Theatre raises awareness and increases appreciation of African culture by creating new work and presenting established classics within a strong African context. They employ African artists, dispel stereotypes and encourage authentic voices from the African diaspora. Thanks to the Arts Council COVID-19 emergency funding scheme, they are currently offering free online courses and workshops for people of African origin aged 16+.
A network for museum and heritage workers who identify as of colour. Museum Detox champions fair representation and inclusion of BAME cultural, intellectual and creative contributions. It challenges and works to deconstruct systems of inequality that exist to enable a sector where the workforce and audience is reflective of the UK’s 21st century population.
Hannah Fiddy is a creative entrepreneur, developing new audiences for classical music. She has created and promoted numerous concerts outside of traditional spaces, including warehouses, pubs, clubs, museums, hospitals, prisons and even in Primark. Hannah is also an interviewer, writer and guest lecturer, and runs the Avon Chamber Choir in Bristol. In a past life she founded London Flashmob, producing quirky events from wedding proposals to cultural pranks for up to 1,000 people.
Follow Hannah on Twitter @Hannah_Fiddy.