We are living in a period of such great external and internal insecurity and anxiety. Is there a role that the artist can play or should be playing? What is the moral responsibility of the artist for what he or she presents? What is the artist's responsibility to the public? Why is a moral stance paramount in the arts? Is the personal life of the artist separate from their art? 

​

​Mojisola Elufowoju is the CEO and Artistic Director of Utopia Theatre. A leading African Theatre company resident at Sheffield Crucible Theatre. 

She was staff director at The National Theatre, working on Three Sisters by Inua Ellams. She was a recipient of the 2017 Opera Awards Foundation bursary, a founding member of Mosaic Opera Collective, guest director at London Academy of Dramatic Arts, East 15, London South Bank University and British American Drama Academy.
She is passionate about the growth and development of ethnic minorities in the theatre industry. Her work is to raise awareness and increase appreciation of African culture. She commissions and produces new writing and presents established classics within a strong African context, and in so doing, dispelling stereotypes and encouraging authentic voices from the African diaspora.

She has recently launched a new initiative, Utopia Theatre Creative Hub, bringing African theatre experts together to offer courses, workshops and events online. The Creative Hub brings together some of the world’s leading African artists who share their own knowledge and experience through workshops and events as well as offering 1:1 sessions with artists. The programme is designed to support the development of a sustainable talent pool, give African Theatre practitioners greater visibility and inspire the next generation of artists, ultimately strengthening African communities within the Arts.

​

https://utopiatheatre.co.uk/

Lucy Turner is Producer (Early Years & Families) at the Whitworth and Founder of the Still Parents project. Lucy has worked in gallery education for 15 years, previously working at the Laing Art Gallery as well as BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Lucy specialises in Early Years education and is passionate about using art to inspire curiosity, promote wellbeing and make positive social change. The Still Parents project recently won the Kids in Museums ‘Going the Extra Mile’ Award and University of Manchester’s ‘Making a Difference’ Award.

​

Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss
A multi award winning, ground breaking project centred around compassion and care for those who have experienced baby loss. Currently on display at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, Still Parents is the first exhibition of its kind, creating a platform to share
personal stories, open up conversations and break the wall of silence that continues to surround baby loss. The exhibition has evolved from the work of the Still Parents project, which supports bereaved parents.
Launched in October 2019 in partnership with Sands (Stillbirth and Neo-Natal Death Charity), Still Parents is a continuing series of informal monthly workshops. Under the guidance of professional artists, the programme encourages participants to collectively explore their experience through creativity. Making and doing is at the heart of these
sessions as participants are introduced to new techniques and skills whilst surrounded by people who understand.

​

https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/currentexhibitions/stillparents/

How do we work kindly and thoughtfully with people. Emma will discuss how YSP Learning uses creativity, nature connectedness, and a thoughtful programme to support social change. Inspiring and celebrating people and communities. Creating spaces and conversations where everyone feels welcome, seen and valued.

 

Emma Spencer is the Informal Learning programmer at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Emma has over 20 years’ experience of working in the arts and engagement, and played a key role in the development of YSP’s family program. She is passionate about creating meaningful, creative connections to contemporary art welcoming everybody to think, create and imagine together. Emma has particular expertise in early years and has built long-lasting relationships with local communities, inspiring all families to make creative memories.

​

https://ysp.org.uk/

So there’s something you are (com)passionate about and you can almost imagine it happening, but what’s the next step to take and what are the skills and connections you might need to actually make it happen. A session looking at moving beyond great ideas.

​

Adrian Sinclair directs UNION: The Northern School for Creativity and Activism; a programme of coaching and training for artists and activists across the north of England He is founder and Co-Director of community arts organisation Heads Together Productions, and has recently completed Phase 2 of the capital development of Chapel FM: the first-ever arts venue in East Leeds. He is an experienced trainer, facilitator, and a qualified coach. He now lives at On the Brink Cohousing Community in Sheffield with prime responsibility for composting!

 

https://unionarts.org.uk/ 

A very brief look at the history of the Disability Rights and Disability arts movements, the work of some Disabled artists and what we need is solidarity between ourselves and other oppressed groups. 

​

 

Mike Layward has worked in the arts for nearly 40 years, as a performer, musician, carnival designer, maker, puppeteer, producer, director and live artist. He has worked across the UK, France, Holland, Spain, Palestine and India.

​

Since 1999 Mike has been Artistic Director of DASH and has been instrumental in DASH gaining a National reputation as the leading Disability Visual arts organisation.

​

Mike's philosophy is based on the belief that the arts are and have to be a vehicle for Social change.

​

Mike has an MA in Activism and Social Change (Leeds University) 2009.

​

www.dasharts.org

Imogen Holmes Roe is Curator (Historic Fine Art). Since joining the Whitworth in 2019 Imogen has curated two major exhibitions which are currently on display Standardisation and Deviation: The Whitworth Story and Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss. With a specialism in co-curation and Constituent Led programming, alongside Still Parents, Imogen
is co-producing the (Un)Defining Queer project which will include an exhibition from November 2022.

​

Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss, please see Lucy Turner for more details on this talk.

 

The Whitworth, part of the University of Manchester, is the city’s ‘gallery in a park’. Together with local partners, artists and communities, the gallery uses art for positive social change, aiming to transform the way that art is experienced and used, by using art as a tool to open up conversation, generate empathy and actively address what matters most in people’s lives - here and now. The gallery’s dynamic Civic Engagement and Education team have generated new approaches to working with
non-traditional arts audiences from our diverse local communities.

​

https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/currentexhibitions/stillparents/

The power of art is how it can make anyone stand still, look about, reassess themselves in a more positive light. It can cause tears, sometimes temper; either way by the end of the workshop/project , the journey steered by anyone — or many art forms should be positive.   Documentary photographs do not tell the whole story it is when people linger and keep on talking or when by chance, you meet a participant somewhere and immediately they share their experience. Art can and does change lives. By giving voice to those often unheard.

​

Established in 1985 NBAA once was the largest network of Black artists in the UK.  It was formed by community artists who felt that Black art and culture was marginalised and under-represented.  From the beginning NBAA saw the value in hosting celebratory events alongside community projects and educational sessions.

​

SuAndi is a recognised Performance Artist and Poet working nationally and internationally and is NBAA’s freelance Cultural Director.  She is the recipient of a number of awards including the OBE and two honorary degrees.

​

www.blackartists.org.uk

Gumboot dance is a dance danced to no music. You are dancing at the same time making music. Using rhythms and chants to communicate as it was dance danced by miners and sometimes they will use  certain rhythms to warn each other the bosses where near.

 

Sinini is a singer songwriter and a traditional dancer (Southern Africa) He also makes small video documentaries.

​

https://youtube.com/channel/UCSNg8Tb2ZpAPazVNrJq5wMQ

​

​