BlackFest 2020, 21 – 27 September
BlackFest is a grassroots Black arts festival founded in 2018 and based in Liverpool. The festival showcases an eclectic mix of work from Black creatives, over a range of events. These events provide a platform for artists to develop new work. The festival plays a crucial role in the city’s culture, through celebrating Black arts and bridging the gap with marginalised communities.
Events range from online discussions of Liverpool’s slave trade history to the Black LGBTQI+ experience. There will also be a special live music night held at Constellations.
Festival line-up:
Locks
Online, 21 September, 7pm-9pm. Tickets
Writer, rapper and founder of RiseUpCiC, Ashleigh Nugent, talks about his personal experience of being in a Jamaican criminal justice system, his work with RiseUp and new book, ‘Locks’.
Hosted by performer and architect Tayo Aluko, and including writers D. Hunter and Keith LaMar.
Art Practice and Protest
Artist and art historian Susan Goligher chairs a conversation on the role of grassroots arts practice and protest.
Susan will be joined by artist Ekua Bayanu and Joint Head of Architecture, Manchester School of Architecture, Ola Uduku. They will discuss their work and the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Online, 22 September, 12pm-2pm. Tickets
Children Authors
Online, 22 September, 7.30pm-9.30pm. Tickets
A recent study showed that less than 2% of children authors are Black or people of colour, highlighting a severe lack of diversity in the publishing industry. Writers Phina Oruche and Patrick Graham will face this discussion head on, and talk about their experiences as esteemed black authors.
Spoken word and poetry night
Online, 23 September, 7pm. Tickets
BlackFest presents an electric line-up of emerging and established poets plus spoken word artists. The night also features their special guest poet Zita Holbourne. Join them as they uncover their pieces on Black Lives Matter, Covid-19 and political issues. They will explore how Black and brown communities have been disproportionately affected during the pandemic.
Black LGBTQI+ Matters
Online, 24 September, 7pm-9pm. Tickets
A discussion of the Black LGBTQI+ experience, with a panel of artists, academics and activists. The event is about celebrating who we are and what makes us. Join speakers, Mandla Rae, Felix Mufti, Akira Jeffers, Craig Adams and Iesha Palmer, as they talk about their experiences of being people of colour and part of the LGBTQI+ community. The talk is in partnership with Homotopia.
Music Night: Old Skool, New Skool, What’s New?
Constellations, Greenland Street, Baltic Triangle, September 25, starts 7pm. Tickets
Join BlackFest’s Music Night at Constellations, as they bring you Liverpool’s finest emerging and established music talent. The artists will also talk about the music industry in a pre-show discussion. The music will be a classic fusion of old and new beats, with Liverpool vocalist Jennifer John the host for the evening.
Diversity Dialogues Take: 3
Online, 27 September, 1pm-3pm. Tickets
Join the BlackFest panel of academics, artists and activists to discuss decolonisation, the conservation of slave trade history and more. The panel will discuss the need to remember Liverpool’s links to the slave trade, a history that for years has been whitewashed.
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