Saziso Phiri created CATALYST in response to our Black Lives Matter commitments and a series of discussions that followed, led by Bo Olawoye. It is designed to be a catalyst for change at City Arts. By working with artists that reflect the diversity of our city, the programme aims to create a long-term culture of investing in, listening to and amplifying marginalized voices.
CATALYST features an artist’s residency, a three-part series of exhibitions and events, artist talks and a new podcast series. Read more about them below.
Residencies
Nottingham-based artist Honey Williams took on a residency at City Arts. An artist’s residency offers artists the chance to work outside of their usual environment. By making this change, they can be inspired to reflect on what they do, experiment and create new art.
Honey’s residency is supported by a grant from City Arts. The residency offers time and space to develop her personal artistic practices. City Arts is providing studio space, access to outdoor space for street art and access to equipment and materials.
Podcast
Community Conversations is a 5-part podcast series. It is hosted by arts and culture journalist Rachel Imogen Willcocks.
In each episode, Rachel dives into conversation with black and mixed-race black members of Nottingham’s creative community. Discussions will explore the guests’ creative processes, the 2020 anti-racism protests and mental health. The podcasts also look at entrepreneurship, and the guests’ experiences of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guests include:
- MELONYX – a Nottingham based duo making modern black-British Soul music
- Jeremy Prince – a Rave, Drum’n’Bass and House DJ and co-organiser of Nottingham Carnvial
- Norma Gregory – a historian, broadcaster, heritage consultant and arts curator
- Nathaniel Wilson – founder of Mimm & Nottingham Street Food Club
- Michaela Spencer – poet and founder of Truth Mental Health
Exhibitions & Events
BLACK is an exhibition and event series. It presents existing and brand-new artwork by our artist-in-residence, Honey Williams. It is divided into three parts: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
Honey’s work includes illustration, archived conversation, painting, performance and installation art. The work draws on Honey’s interest in decolonisation, marginalised beauty, identity, race, history, gender, love, fashion, sexuality and fatphobia
Project Team
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Saziso Phiri
Curator in Residence Visit Saziso Phiri's website -
Honey Williams
Artist in Residence Visit Honey Williams's website -
Rachel Willcocks
Podcast Host