Living Archive – Serendipity

Perception: The Countees of Leicester

admin — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:21:03 +0000

Migration, diversity and Leicester heritage are a recipe for a rich explosion of culture all of which is showcased in this enlightened exhibition that highlights difference, belonging and place.

Perception: The Countees of Leicester explores the fascinating history of a local family against the backdrop of Victorian, Edwardian and post-war Leicester, using photographs, ephemera and documents to create a more complete picture of life in the Midlands. This exhibition reveals a performing arts dynasty that can be traced back to Methodist preacher Reverend Francis Nelson Countee and his son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Eliza Countee, music hall stars known as “The Two Countees”.

A legacy that was continued by their daughter Frances “Mabel” Elkington, neé Countee and her own children and grandchildren. The exhibition unpacks representation, identity and belonging, transcending beyond the Eurocentric gaze of privilege, class and expectation and provides an insight in to historical Black presence that is in plain sight, yet has remained hidden.

Thanks to Diane Clafton, Richard Elkington, Allan Countee and their families for sharing their story and Alex Darby for her support. Perception: The Countees of Leicester is curated by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage. In partnership with Leicester Museums and Galleries.

Supported with funding from Leicester City Council, Arts Council England and National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Manifest: Black Dance 1940-2019

admin — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:19:18 +0000

The Manifest: Black Dance 1940-2019 exhibition showcased the hidden history and impact of Black Dance in Britain using Serendipity’s growing Black Dance Collections. The exhibition provided a unique opportunity for visitors to engage with the history of Black dance in Britain through a variety of objects that reveal the stories of Black dancers and companies.

Items from the exhibition now form one of the key collections in the Living Archive. Flick through the pages of history with original dance programmes, brochures, photographs and costumes relating to Katherine Dunham, Pearl Primus, Les Ballets Negres, Adzido Pan African Dance Ensemble and Phoenix Dance Theatre.

Lost Legends: 30 Years of Black History Month

admin — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:13:36 +0000

2017 marked 30 years of Black History Month in the UK. In response, Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage curated an exciting project, Lost Legends: 30 Years of Black History Month in Leicester. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project celebrated and recorded the contributions of Leicester’s African and African Caribbean community to the cultural heritage of the UK over three decades.

Through an exhibition, documentary film and publication, Lost Legends gathered memories and stories, ephemera and memorabilia to better document Black British history, with specific reference to Leicester.

The film is accessible for all to view on YouTube and the publication is available to purchase via the Serendipity’s shop. Oral histories and archival materials will be accessible via the Living Archive in the forthcoming months.

Lost Legends: 30 Years 30 Voices, is an exciting publication recording the contributions and perspectives of Leicester trailblazers from an African and African-Caribbean perspective as part 30 anniversary celebration of Black History Month in 2017. 30 Years 30 Voices celebrates the impact they have made on the cultural landscape of the city.

Artrage

admin — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 10:56:00 +0000

Artrage was an intercultural arts magazine that was published in Britain from 1985 to 1991. The magazine was dedicated to promoting and showcasing the work of Black and Asian artists in the UK. It featured listings for exhibitions, performances, and other cultural events, as well as articles, interviews, and reviews of art and culture.

Artrage was founded by a group of artists and writers who felt that there was a lack of representation and recognition for Black and Asian artists in the mainstream art world. The magazine aimed to provide a platform for these artists to showcase their work and to connect with audiences and other artists.

The magazine covered a wide range of art forms, including visual art, music, dance, theatre, and literature. It also featured articles on cultural and social issues affecting Black and Asian communities in Britain, such as racism, identity, and representation.

Artrage was an important publication in the development of Black and Asian arts in Britain. It helped to raise awareness of the work of these artists and to create a sense of community and solidarity among them. The magazine also played a role in challenging the dominant narratives and stereotypes about Black and Asian culture in Britain.

Although Artrage ceased publication in 1991, its legacy lives on in the many artists and cultural organisations that it inspired and supported.

The Living Archive hosts all but two issues produced during the six years of the magazine’s production. Currently being catalogued and digitised, it will be available to access from October 2023.

A Very Brit(ish) Voice

admin — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 10:53:23 +0000

A Very Brit(ish) Voice is an award-winning documentary film that explores the stories of Caribbean people who travelled in the UK between 1948 and 1971 and settled in Leicester.

The film tells these stories through the words of seven otherwise ‘missing voices’ and reflects their experiences in the community.

With contributions from Dennis ‘Sugar’ Christopher, Nelista Cuffy, Elaine Hinds, Robert Lee, Pearl Ricketts, Boston Williams and musical storytelling from Mellow Baku; the film captures the experiences of the Windrush Generation and that of the present generation in their own words.

A Very Brit(ish) Voice was commissioned and produced by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage as part of Archiving the Past, Reflecting the Future.

Winner of Short Documentary Category at the World Cinema Festival, the film featured as part of programme for the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival 2023.

Directed by Jaha Browne. Jaha is filmmaker and director who uses the camera to enter people’s worlds, giving them a platform for their voices to be heard through intimate portraits. Jaha has been creating documentaries, music videos and digital content, working with a variety of clients from charities to brands to deliver stories from around the world since 2011.

Cinematography by Frances Freeman. Frances is a self-shooting production designer and video editor who has worked in both the UK and abroad for household names including Penguin Books, Twinings Tea, The BBC. She has photographed for The Nuffield Project in the UK, and worked on personal projects abroad, with spreads in both the International Times and the Guardian.

A Very Brit(ish) Voice is available for Serendipity Connect members to view online. For screenings, please email info@serendipity-uk.com for more information and rates.

* PERCEPTION

Serendipity Admin — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 15:07:07 +0000

Perception: The Countees of Leicester

Migration, diversity and Leicester’s heritage are a recipe for a rich explosion of culture all of which is showcased in this enlightened exhibition that highlights difference, belonging and place.

It was a legacy that was continued by their daughter Frances “Mabel” Elkington, neé Countee and her own children and grandchildren. The exhibition unpacks representation, identity and belonging, transcending beyond the Eurocentric gaze of privilege, class and expectation and provides an insight into historical Black presence that is in plain sight, yet has remained hidden.

Thanks to Diane Clafton, Richard Elkington, Allan Countee and their families for sharing their story and Alex Darby for her support. Perception: The Countees of Leicester is curated by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, in partnership with Leicester Museums and Galleries.

Supported with funding from Leicester City Council, Arts Council England and National Lottery
Heritage Fund.

Unearthed: Forgotten Histories

admin — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 15:44:58 +0000

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Black Digital Dance Revolution

Heather Saunders — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 15:06:18 +0000

Black Dance Digital Revolution is a nationally significant project working with regional partners; Serendipity (Leicester), Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Leeds), Dance City (Newcastle), Dance Umbrella (London) and beyond. It draws on the dance heritage of these four cities to develop a programme of digital and physical work including dance films, workshops and artist led residencies. Black Digital Dance Revolution explores how digital technologies can be integrated to push the boundaries of how artistic work is created, documented and shared.

Initiatives include Let’s Dance in the City, a series where dancers responded to the energy of the city to which they are connected. Beginning in Leicester in 2022, the project encourages dancers to take ownership of public spaces, whether they are structures of power, places to gather or historic landmarks. As the project grows Let’s Dance in the City will continue to draw on the dance and location heritage of other cities across the UK.

Interpretations – Siren Calls: To an Illusive Journey premiered in October 2022. The film showcases behind the scenes footage and interviews with the creative team behind the commission. Commissioned by Serendipity and composed by Philip Herbert, the project sought to unpack how two different choreographers, Monique Jonas and Thomas Talawa Prestø, responded to the embodied the experiences of the Caribbean migration in the mid nineteenth century. The documentary showcases both the energy of different choreographers and spaces, but also the personal stories that have shaped each artists’ contribution to this multifaceted commission.

In 2023, Serendipity will present the world premiere of The Silent Beat: A Haptic Conversation. Creative Producer, Pawlet Brookes brings together Antoine Hunter and Soweto Kinch to present an experimental work investigating the ways in which haptic technology can be used to relay music in new ways and the practical applications this might have for Deaf dancers and choreographers.