Connecting Artists

Mentoring – we have been working with artists for almost 20 years to mentor and showcase emerging talent. Although this started organically by developing platforms for diverse artists to showcase their talent, we have since worked with several organisations and artists to develop a co-mentoring programme which supports emerging and newly arrived artists through peer support, training, performing opportunities, brokering relationships as well as collecting and distributing information and developing strategic partnerships to increase opportunities for diverse artists.

Here are examples of how we have worked with some of our associated artists:

  • Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir
  • Crossings Band
  • Radikal Queen (and OJ)
  • Kema Kay
  • Georgia May
  • Collective Identity

Platforma Nework – Northern Roots are the regional hub for the Platforma Network in the North East. Platforma arts and refugee network supports and develops arts by, about and with refugees and migrants from marginalised communities.

In October 2017 Platforma brought their national conference to the North East, and in February 2020 they will be piloting a satellite conference model, with Newcastle being one of the key locations.

 

Consultation and Producing

Here at Northern Roots we also work with partners and artists across the North East to produce work, co-promote, and guest programme at different venues.

Creating Communities

Northern Roots works with people across the North East to develop engagement programmes working with communities; as well as working with diverse artists and grassroots organisations to co-develop projects and showcasing opportunities.

Connecting Audiences

Showcasing – we work with artists based in communities to provide platform opportunities for them in more mainstream venues e.g. working with Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir to present and promote a show at Live Theatre, which encouraged members from the African Churches Network to become audience members.

Freedom City 2017 – working with a partnership across Newcastle Gateshead Initiative and Newcastle University, Northern Roots were the lead creative partner developing Freedom on the Tyne and the City Wide cultural programme; we also delivered the engagement for Freedom City and Freedom on the Tyne.

We worked with around 600 participants for Freedom on the Tyne including groups of people with refugee and asylum seeker status, members of the African churches network, groups of adults with learning disabilities, students from Northumbria University and Newcastle College and many more.

Freedom on the Tyne was a large celebration of the civil rights movements which brought people together to make change. Bringing the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead alive with music, movement and epic storytelling – with the memorable finale happening on the Tyne Bridge to an audience of 5000 people.