New research project from People Dem Collective - co-commissioned by Creative Estuary - to be documented by ‘cene

For more than 18 months ‘cene Magazine has worked alongside People Dem Collective to highlight the work being undertaken, both in Margate and the wider county, to elevate members of the Black, Brown and Diaspora communities to reach their full potential.

Now, in a brand-new collaboration, ‘cene will work with PDC to document a project designed to research, understand and analyse how the communities they represent are integrated into the creative industries. Throughout 2022, PDC will investigate the diversity within the creative landscape through podcasts, panels, live case studies and events, which ‘cene will then broadcast across its print, online and social media platforms – culminating in a very special, one-off magazine to present the findings and toolkits to push for change.

WHO ARE PEOPLE DEM COLLECTIVE?

People Dem Collective are a registered CIC and community organisation based in Margate. The collective was born out of a lived experience of lack of space, engagement and inclusion for Black, Brown and Diaspora communities. Their vision is a world where systemic racism is dismantled through innovation, elevation and education. Their focus is on healing and transformation – they aim to elevate those from within their communities and beyond. Their mission is to facilitate and provoke systemic change and they are mobilising a sea-change within their community, aiming to ensure sectors, leaders and decision-makers reflect the communities that live in Margate.

WHAT’S THE PROJECT?

The People Dem Collective co-commission will be connecting with audiences, artists, curators and creative spaces. Through events and activations they will create a safe space to encourage conversation to explore the Black, Brown and Diaspora experience within commissioning and programming.

As part of the programme of events and activations, People Dem Collective will be collecting data across the Creative Estuary to establish how creative spaces and curators have responded to the anti-racist movement in 2020 and the deafening call for better representation within the arts. The key questions are: Has there been an impact or change within the art and cultural landscape? How do we ensure artists are elevated and not exploited in times of political crisis? What’s the legacy?

You’ll be able to connect with the conversation through podcasts, panels, live case studies and events. These will be invitations to explore and reimagine what a new creative ecosystem might look like and how the PDC can develop a best practice for commissioning and programming for creatives from the Black, Brown and Diaspora communities for real everlasting change and impact.

Creative Estuary Co-commissions

Creative Estuary Co-commissions is an ambitious creative programme taking place along the length of the Thames Estuary in Kent and Essex. The Co-commissions will support creative practitioners and organisations to make and present new work. These co-commissions will be delivered through a network of partners and at a range of scales, responding to local contexts and communities. From grassroots organisations to established cultural venues, as well as smaller-scale commissions working directly with local artists and collectives, the Co-commissions will create opportunities for creative innovation and new cultural production throughout 2021 and 2022.