2022
China Plate Theatre
Associate Producer: On Our Way
Type of project: #Producing
I conceived and produced On Our Way. The intention was to transform 8 bus stops on Soho Road into stained glass art galleries. The artwork themselves were co-created with our wonderful Artist Curator Nilupa Yasmin, and groups with memories and connections to the area.
The first bus stop gallery was debuted at the Bus Boycott Block Party. The rest were debuted in May 2022. Here’s a blog explaining the inspiration behind On Our Way. And here’s the press release.
With many thanks to:
2021
China Plate Theatre
Associate Producer: Bus Boycott Block Party
Type of project: #Producing #AudienceDevelopment
This Birmingham-based independent theatre studio, are currently developing a musical inspired by the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott. Diandra McCalla and I were recruited as Associate Producers to co-design a creative programme which spoke to the story of the Boycott, and surfaced histories of local activism too.
- In early Spring 2021, we embarked on a feasibility study commissioned by Birmingham City Council. It was to understand what would residents, community stakeholders, and artists would like in North Birmingham.
- With these findings, we commissioned three artists who were inspired by the story of the Bristol Bus Boycott. They were Jane Thakoordin (for We Still Here), Nilupa Yasmin (for On Our Way), and Black Hertiage Walks and Overhear (for Soho Settlers). These are the three projects that are a part of the To The Streets musical creative programme.
- On Sat 28 Aug 2021, we produced a one-day, free family “Block Party” at Soho House Museum. It not only gave a preview of the musical, we also had a live DJ, a walking tour, and artist workshops. It was the debut of our creative programme artists too and we had over 200 attendees.
My role in particular was artist liaison and support with getting Jane’s and Nilupa’s respective projects off the ground; event production support; leading the marketing and communication strategy behind this event; event support; and produced an evaluation report with audience insights. 📸 Ahsen Sayeed
Understanding British Portraits Network
Short film: “From Decolonial to Anti-Colonial, What’s Next for Museum Interpretation?“
Type of project: #Producing #ArtistLiaison #Research
UBP is an active research network for professionals working with British portraits. I was commissioned to create a legacy film that built on the content from their November webinar. It’s the first time I’ve worked with film, and I reflect on the seismic impact 2020 had on the arts with Tayo Adekunle and Nilupa Yasmin. We talk about the legacies of empire, decentring the white gaze, and what an anti-racist gallery or museum space might look like. With many thanks to Sonya Dyer and Tyrone Satchwell for helping me make this film.
Wellcome Collection
Evaluation Consultant for “What does it mean to be human now?”
Type of project: #Evaluation
I was commissioned by the Youth Programmes team to produce an internal report on their learnings and unlearnings over the course of this pandemic project. The report contained a mixture of quantitative and qualitative data reporting on teams within Wellcome Collection, as well as CYP (their partner). It also connected to Wellcome Trust’s wider DEI strategy.
National Portrait Gallery
Copywriting for social media
Type of project: #Marketing #Research
In June 2021, I was contracted by the National Portrait Gallery’s marketing team for copyrighting and scheduling content for their social media platforms. I had more success over on Instagram where I managed to gain over 39,000 likes.
2020
GEM Heritage
Course Director: AntiRacism in Practice
Type of project: #Facilitation #Research
GEM Heritage is a membership-based organisation for those who are interested in excellence in museums and heritage education. I designed a course with 6 workshops where I learnt as much from the participants as I did from the speakers. It was a labour of love. It was designed to take into account emotional labour of BPOCs, lived experiences, and intersectionality. I’m not an expert. I couldn’t do this work without recognising the people who’ve been doing the work since TIME and those who are doing it now.
Wellcome Collection
Project Support Officer: RawMinds Poetry
Type of project: #Evaluation #Facilitation
Up until this project, I don’t think I’ve ever lol’d so much as I did with the young people on this programme. I was the Project Support Officer and helped with getting the show on the road and led the evaluation. The young people on this programme were great, they did a showcase (just before lockdown 1.0 hit) and did their own brilliant anthology too.
colouringhistory.com 