Credit: Alison Ray Dance Company

The Unknown Soldier is a performance piece revealing the hidden histories of black British servicemen and women who fought for Britain during the First and Second World Wars. Created by Alison Ray Dance Company, the show explores the personal stories of the brave men and women of Black British heritage and the part they played in Britain’s successful war effort.

Ahead of show at Trinity on 19 October 2024 we caught up with company director, Alison Ray MA, to find out more about the making of the show.

"At the heart of The Unknown Soldier lies a captivating blend of dance styles, from the spirited rhythms of African and Caribbean movements to the fast, energetic Lindy hop dance to the poignant grace of contemporary dance"

Hey Alison, tell us a bit about the inspiration for this show

From a child, I learnt about Black servicemen in World War I and World War II following a trip to Barbados. The Prime Minister of Barbados at the time was the right honourable Errol Barrow who I also discovered was a RAF navigator in World War II. Upon our return to the UK, I was often surprised to see on television, that there were no black servicemen at the time in the Remembrance Services. Then, in 2014, during my master’s studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, I had the opportunity to see the Sea of Poppies installation at the Tower of London. This installation inspired me to create this work, and I realised then that I could create The Unknown Solider, it’s a piece very close to my heart, something I’ve always wanted to choreograph.

The show uses different dance forms - can you tell us a little about the significance of these within the show?

At the heart of The Unknown Soldier lies a captivating blend of dance styles, from the spirited rhythms of African and Caribbean movements to the fast, energetic Lindy hop dance to the poignant grace of contemporary dance. Lindy hop was a dance form that supported the heart during the war years. Through this energetic and joyful dance style, soldiers, family, and friends, could let go and find the strength to carry on… The choreography serves as a vessel, carrying the audience through the tumultuous journey of these brave servicemen and women as they navigate the perils of war and the complexities of identity.

The cast of three dancers weaves together episodes that are sometimes explorations of theme and place (a duet between two men portrays the choreography of soldier hood with forceful lines and balances of support) and sometimes historical narrative integrated with movement. All this is accompanied through live music, including violin and drums, to create an atmosphere of uncertainty and ambiguity, of embarking on this journey to the unknown.

Tickets for The Unknown Soldier start at £9

Coexist Community Kitchen Sessions - Image Credit: Francisco Vicaria

During the summer we offered a series of gardening and cooking sessions in our Community Garden. These sessions are delivered in partnership with Coexist Community Kitchen and are designed to combine Coexist’s culinary skills with Trinity’s gardening knowledge, drawing on the rich variety of produce available in our garden.

“Some people don’t really know anyone in Bristol, and I think that gentleness that gardening and cooking offers of socialising but whilst having your hands busy allows you to connect through more than just words, through a shared activity. I feel like there is more of a sense of community with some people who come along” - Fleur Handley, Trinity Garden Project Facilitator

The sessions area space for people to connect with nature, develop cooking and gardening skills and meet new people. Many participants have lived experience of the asylum-system and live in temporary accommodation with little access to cooking facilities or green spaces.

During the sessions participants explored the outdoor spaces; picked and selected food from the community garden to cook with during the project.  Other activities included outdoor cooking over an open fire, harvesting seasonal produce, tending to the garden, and coming together to share a meal that participants create as a group.

These garden sessions where developed in response to addressing increasing isolation felt by many during the pandemic in 2020/2021 when outdoor activities were still permitted under lockdown restrictions. Since then, we have continued to offer two six-week blocks of these sessions every year. Click here to find out more.

We hope to continue this valuable partnership with Coexist in spring 2025 when our garden comes back into bloom and the first bits of produce start appearing. Click here to find out more about our regular gardening opportunities at Trinity.

Garden Party: A Community Celebration - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

On Sunday 22 September 2024, we opened our gates for our end of summer community celebration. This event featured community arts workshops,  activities for children and families and performances.

In collaboration with our Community Connectors we connected with facilitators and artists from the local area who we invited to deliver activities on the day. We also offered businesses the opportunity to trade during the event and local traders came along to sell crafts, jewellery, vintage goods, and more at Garden Party.

On the music side of things, we programmed a diverse lineup of artists, including traditional Arabic music from Soufian Saihi, New Orleans style Brass music from Bigfoot Brass Band, Afrofusion from duo Sisanda and Ru, and an amazing blend of Bhangra and UK sounds from our headliner Indian Man.

We also offered attendees the chance to find out more about what we do at Trinity, with talks throughout the day about our Citizen’s Assembly project and our children, young people and families programme.

“An amazing day out – community, music and lots of activities for the kids” – Participant Feedback

We had a good turn out on the day, with 297 attendees and over £400 donated to Trinity to allow us to put on more community-focused events like Garden party. We wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who braved the rain and made this Garden Party so special, from the talented artists, workshop facilitators, stall-holders, local food vendors, the dedicated sound and lighting team behind the scenes, our hardworking bar staff, the entire Team Trinity, and, of course, all of you who joined us on the day.

Thank you for coming down to support what we do and celebrate our amazing local community.

If you'd like to continue to support Trinity, click here to make a donation.

Old Market is set to undergo a vibrant take-over this Autumn as the city-centre location becomes host to, Destination Old Market, a programme of public events showcasing the area's cultural and creative scene.

Taking place throughout October to November 2024 we have created a programme that will feature pop-up gigs and performances in secret locations in the area - shining a spotlight on the many artisans, makers and independent businesses based in the area.

"Living in Old Market for nearly a decade has made it feel like a part of me. I love the blend of its buildings, the unique characters, and the deep historical significance it holds for Bristol. My goal is to share with audiences a side of the city that’s often overlooked or taken for granted." - Tom Marshman, Artist

Businesses and shops will transform into DIY venues and will host pop-up performances from some of Bristol's finest live music, experimental sonics sounds & DJs. Line up so far includes Bristol's t l k, Copper Sounds + Sarahsson, Josephine Gyasi and James Storm. Pop up venues so far include pubs, hairdressers and retail shops.

Audiences can delve deep into Old Market's rich contemporary history through a new theatrical promenade performance devised by writer and artist, Edson Burton, in collaboration with artist Tom Marshman. Taking place in locations throughout Old Market, the audiences will uncover the captivating lives and stories that have shaped Bristol's Old Market into one of the city’s most memorable streets.

People can book Destination Old Market events through our website. A £5 deposit is required when booking. This deposit can either be refunded or exchanged for a voucher that can be spent in Old Market business taking part in the Destination Old Market.

Destination Old Market will take place on the following dates:

A Sound Odyssey:

Saturday 12 Oct

Saturday 02 Nov

A Theatrical Promenade

Sunday 13 Oct

Sunday 20 Oct

Sunday 27 Oct

Sunday 03 Nov

About Destination Old Market

Destination Old Market is produced by Trinity Community Arts and is part of the City Centre and High Streets Culture and Events Programme, funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority. The initiative aims to attract more visitors to the City Centre, boosting local businesses and the economy.

Speak Out Workshop - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

Speak Out was a free creative development programme for young people made possible through funding from the We Move Fund, created by Children in Need and BBC 1XTRA.

As part of the programme rapper/activist MoYah and poet and spoken word artist Sukina Noor delivered a series of workshops for young musicians and poets, offering support with writing and developing music-making skills.  These workshops where primarily aimed for young people who have lived-experience of the refugee and asylum-seeker system.

"As the Speak Out project unfolded, we saw how transformational this was to the participants. I think for me that was one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had working with young people" - Sukina Noor, Speak Out Facilitator

During the workshops the team offered tailored support and one-on-one mentorship to the young people who attended. We connected with translators to work with young people who wished to express themselves through Arabic -and  as a result they where able to use traditional Arabic poetic techniques during the workshops.

The young people involved in the project reflected on how the sessions offered them a safe space where they were able to fully express their identities and be themselves, and channel this into their art. For example, a participant from Brazil who spoke Portuguese was able to express himself better thanks to MoYah's ability to speak Portuguese, something that the young person had not been able to do since arriving in Bristol. Sukina observed the personal growth of the young Brazilian participant due to being able to speak his first language in the sessions, noting, "He could really experiment and let his story be told".

Facilitators, MoYah and Sukina both reflected on the confidence that the young people demonstrated by taking part and performing at Speak Out events, highlighting their creative and personal development throughout the project.

The young people who took part in these Speak Out workshops were given the opportunity to showcase their talents as part of the Bristol Refugee Festival.

In total six young people aged 16-18 took part in eight workshops, facilitated by MoYah and Sukina.

Click here to find out more about Trinity’s programme of events and activities for young people.

Summer Family Sessions - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

Are you a maker? Want to share your skills, interests or hobbies with your community?

On the 05 October we are teaming up with Eastside Community Trust and Somali Kitchen to host a free celebration of community creativity. This free event will take place at Easton Community Centre from 10am –4pm as part of the UK-wide Fun Palaces weekend.

During the day, there will be community volunteers offering a range of skill swaps – from a Fix It cafe to craft activities. Alongside this we are looking for other community makers to host their own skill swaps. This could be anything from a crocheting workshop to a keynote on stamp collecting – the day is all about sharing your skills with your neighbours!

We are offering each maker £50 towards materials/costs of your choice

How to get involved:

• Fill out this form, letting us know what skill you want to share.
• Deadline is midnight on Sunday 15th September.
• If you have any questions, please contact esther@trinitybristol.org.uk

Event information

• Fun Palace, 05 October 2024
• Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Street BS5 6AW
• Cost – free no registration required – just turn up
• Click here to find out more

Storytelling Sessions - Image Credit: Francisco Vicaria

Over the summer, as part of our Communities and Neighbourhood's programme, we hosted a series of free storytelling and movements session for parent/carers living in or around local neighbourhood, Stapleton Road.

The sessions where developed by Hibaq and Suad, who have recently joined the Trinity Team as Community Connectors. Community Connectors activate conversations with residents living within Trinity's locality which in turn help shape activities at Trinity.

Keen to encourage local families to spend creative time together during the summer break from school, Hibaq and Suad devised a four week programme of free-to-access activities that used storytelling and movement to explore and share stories of culture and heritage. Hibaq and Suad then invited families whose children attend local primary school, Easton CE Academy (one of three schools in the Cultural Alliance) to come along.

"I’ve had a lot of things on my mind this week, but here I forget everything, I relax" - Feedback, Participant, Storytelling Sessions

During the sessions parents and children took part in singing traditional songs, creating movement and dances. Hester Welch, the lead artist during the sessions, observed that during the sessions "families explored different ways of uncovering and sharing stories, building confidence in themselves and their surroundings, and celebrating these skills".

As well as using storytelling and movement to create connections between mothers and children, the sessions allowed space for women to have 'focus time' - a space to connect and express themselves in a calm, quiet environment while their children happily worked together elsewhere, creating dances and artwork to share back to them.

Across the four week project, we welcomed 45 participants from 12 families - all of whom live within a 20min walk of the Trinity Centre.

Read more about our commitment to celebrating, platforming and developing community creativity or find out what events are coming up as part of our Community & Neighbourhoods programme, including storytelling, singing, craft and drama drop-in workshops at our September Garden Party.

Bethany Ley - Image Credit: Giulia Spadafora

As part of our in-house programme, Trinity Presents, we are pleased to be bringing Bristol-based Bethany Ley to Strange Brew on 13 Sep.  Bethany will be performing their new EP, Sundial as part of a new Audio-Visual live show in collaboration with visual artist Alfie Dwyer, who recently worked with Aphex Twin creating the visuals for their 2023 tour.

We sat down with Bethany for an in-depth conversation about Sundial, exploring their creative process and what's next on their journey.

Hi! Please introduce yourself

B: Hello! I am Bethany Ley (FKA. STANLAEY), an independent producer, vocalist, and sound designer based in Bristol. I write music that explores the cross section of my background as a classical musician, with electronic production, improvisation and sound design.

"Trinity is such a big part of the tapestry of the Bristol music scene and I am grateful for the continuous support. If I step back, it’s nice to see the musical evolution in myself and the city – and that Trinity has been a constant force in that throughout the years" - Bethany Ley

You previously released music under the name STANLÆY - can you tell us the thought process behind changing your name as an artist, and how this has been reflected in your music?

B: Changing the name has felt like a natural progression of stepping into myself as an artist. I wanted to release music under a ubiquitous name that can constellate the hue of what I do in a way that makes sense to me. Stripping it back has given me a different type of excitement to explore production within my recorded and live work.

Your debut EP ‘Sundial’ was released a couple of months ago – can you tell us a little about the inspirations behind the project, the process of creating the EP and what the response has been like so far?

B: Sundial stemmed from a love and exploration of acousmatic sound design, and the visualisation of sound. The project actually started off as an imaginary OST to a sort of visual landscape, or generative video game. It then mutated and merged with structure and song-writing. Other topical inspiration was Internal Family Systems (IFS), a therapeutic model which thinks of each person having several modes of self within themselves. The response has been heart-warming. I feel grateful for Lo Recordings for taking it on to a label that it feels very at home at! Also very grateful to my friends and new people I have met and chatted to when performing these songs live!

This project has seen you working with AV artist Alfie Dwyer to create animations for Sundial, what was that process like and what do you think the visuals add to the overall experience of the EP?

B: I experience and make music really visually and recently have been writing my music alongside creating visual scores, so working with a visual artist has felt really natural; especially someone I am so close with. Alfie and I have overlaps in our interests and art, so I think our work compliments each-other well and we both get inspired by each-other when talking about ideas. I feel like visuals and sound give each-other so much, and together create something bigger than each part individually. It’s Alchemy. Putting them together in this way for my debut EP ‘Sundial’ has felt like we are able to invite people into the universe of the music in a more physical way.

You’ve been on our radar for a while now – performing at Trinity several times including at our Garden Party – what has this journey been like for you as an artist?

B: I played at The Garden Party in 2021 (Post-Covid) and we absolutely loved that show! I also played with Ishmael Ensemble as part of their ‘Visions of Light’ tour at Trinity in 2022, and most recently supporting Waldo’s Gift at Strange Brew back in March. Trinity is such a big part of the tapestry of the Bristol music scene and I am grateful for the continuous support. If I step back, it’s nice to see the musical evolution in myself and the city – and that Trinity has been a constant force in that throughout the years.

What can audiences expect from your show at Strange Brew on 13 Sep?

B: You can expect sonic and visual gemstones and crystals being gently hurled about the room. I will be playing electric harp, electronics and singing alongside a band on stage with me, whilst Alfie Dwyer performs his live bespoke visuals alongside Matteo Amadio on lights. I am so excited to be joined by musical angels James Storm (sax, synth & voice), Isla Greenwood (voice), Laura Wilson (violin) to bring to life the songs in a new and expansive way just for the Bristol show.

What’s next for Bethany Ley?

B: I am slowly working on an album or new body of work which I am excited about. I am saving up to go to Indonesia & plan to deep dive into the sound of bells, harmonics, and hopefully learn more about soundwaves in the process.

Bethany Ley will be performing at Strange Brew on Friday 13 Sep 2024 - click here to get your tickets.

St Pauls Carnival Panel Discussion at Glastonbury Festival 2024 - Image Credit: Khali Ackford

Trinity is committed to creating ways in which citizens can take an active role in shaping arts and culture. As part of this commitment we are connecting with leading voices in the cultural sector to ask them to share their thoughts on the different civic and democratic tools that we as citizens can access. In the second in our series of opinion pieces exploring civic participation LaToyah McAllister-Jones, Executive Director of St Pauls Carnival, reflects on her experiences of using various tools to facilitate democratic decision-making.

Opinion: Voices in Decision-Making, LaToyah McAllister-Jones

I have always been attracted to work and play that enables people to have a voice. To be heard. After years of working with marginalised groups, from managing accommodation services for street homeless people to community organising in Hackney, I have developed an interest in the right to influence decisions being made about our lives.

One of the most interesting things about leading a community arts organisation is just how integral the community is to our work. St Pauls Carnival CIC is merely a custodian for the iconic event; we provide a stage and the community fills those spaces. Carnival celebrates African Caribbean talent in St Pauls and beyond as well as our culture and heritage. Our communities continue the traditions of our ancestors using music, dance and storytelling to share lived experiences and connect to our heritage. This is one of the most important things about our event: it allows us to tell our own stories, in our own words, using our voices.

In 2021, I was asked by Involve to facilitate   Bristol City Council's Citizens’ Assembly supporting policy development in housing, health inequalities and transport as the city emerged from Covid. The process was new to me, and I loved the way it cut through many of the challenges that we often come up against when engaging communities:

• Participants are randomly selected, and usually aren’t experts in the central assembly topic. There is a process to ensure that all participants are able to meaningfully contribute to the discussions, and this is critical to the success of an assembly.
• The process seeks to facilitate consensus, rather than debate which tends to have a winner and a loser.
• Participants are encouraged to explore what their real priorities are and what they might be prepared to forego for those priorities.
• Assemblies bring together a diverse range of people who you wouldn’t necessarily find together in a traditional social setting. This creates an opportunity for vastly differing viewpoints to be heard and influence how others participants might think about a topic.

St Pauls Carnival are currently delivering a Citizens’ Assembly for Culture in partnership with Trinity Community Arts, Citizens In Power and West Of England Combined Authority. The idea developed just as we were coming out of the pandemic and thinking about the lessons learnt; particularly the role of community. Together, we were curious about what it would look like to use the assembly process - democratic, person-centred and thinking about strengths of a place, its people and its assets - to reimagine what the cultural offer could look like in the South West region.

Democratic decision-making allows citizens to actively contribute to the discourse that shapes their communities. We also believe culture is experienced by everyone, in many different ways, and everyone should be able to access the culture that represents them. If this is to be the ambition, it is vital that we put people at the centre of that process. This means understanding how people experience culture, what it means to them and, as cultural leaders, asking ‘how can we reflect this in our approach and programming?’

The new Labour Government expressed an interest in the use of Citizens’ Assemblies earlier this year, and the format has been used to unpack challenging issues like abortion in Ireland. The South West region is already embedding this approach into how we speak to our communities, and we are at the forefront of using assemblies to understand how we deliver for everyone, and not just those who can afford it or who have easy access to culture.

Our Citizens’ Assembly for Culture project offers an exciting opportunity to create a new approach to engaging people in the cultural life of a place. The Assembly will take place in Spring 2025 as a central programme within Culture West, funded by the West of England Combined Authority and Arts Council South West. The recommendations coming from this Assembly will become part of the regional approach to delivering a citizen-led cultural offer.

Find out more about the Citizens' Assembly for Culture project:

• Read the first piece in this series about civic participation: Edson Burton’s exploration of why voting matters
• Sign up to an online information session with the Citizens' Assembly team
• Email Imogen@trinitybristol.org.uk to join our Citizens For Culture mailing list
• Read our blogs to find out more about the Citizens' Assembly project

Mungo's Hi Fi performing at Sequences Festival with Eva Lazarus and Charlie Hands

We are working with Bristol-based external promoters and artists to platform local grassroots artists alongside internationally renowned musicians. Teachings in Dub have been a staple of Trinity's programme for the last 15 years, honouring Trinity's legacy as a soundsystem venue by bringing some of the best Dub soundsystem operators and MCs to Trinity with monthly events at The Trinity Centre.

Ahead of our Day Party with Teachings in Dub and Mungo's Hi Fi on Sunday 18 August, we sat down with Mungo's to chat soundsystems, summer plans, up-and-coming artists and much more.

Q: Hi! Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about how Mungo’s Hi Fi formed?

A: Hello - we are Mungo's Hi Fi, a Soundsystem based in Glasgow and named after Glasgow's founder, St Mungo. We started collecting vinyl, playing out, organising club nights, free parties and protests in the 90s. We saw the music as part of a social movement, and developed a DIY culture around what we did, starting to build our own soundsystem at the time.

"Bristol is the capital for UK soundsystem culture at the moment, fed by the deep enthusiasm for the festival and party scene, far enough away from London to have it's own scene, but still close enough to be involved with what's going on there" - Mungo's Hi Fi

Q: Your soundsystem is pretty legendary – can you tell us how it was developed?

A: We helped out with other people's sounds to begin with, and then found some old speaker boxes discarded in a skip. We bought an old amp, fixed them up and started building from there. We had a monthly gig in a bar which we took the sound to and played music at, as well as our own promotions in an old working man's club. We used the money from these events to pump back into buying more and better speakers and amps, as well as building speakers ourselves, some of which we are still using nearly 20 years on. It has improved over the years, and we have become more experienced in every aspect of using it.

Q: How did you first link up with Stryda and Teachings in Dub?

A: I am ashamed to say I can't remember. We used to listen to their radio show and they helped promote the releases we were putting out since we founded Scotch Bonnet in 2005...so we have been in touch for around 20 years. They have always been supportive of what we do, and vice versa.

Q: You’ve been a staple of Bristol lineups for some time now – is there anything about Bristol that sets it out from other cities in terms of Soundsystem culture?

A: Bristol is the capital for UK soundsystem culture at the moment, fed by the deep enthusiasm for the festival and party scene, far enough away from London to have it's own scene, but still close enough to be involved with what's going on there.

Q: What else does the summer have in store for Mungo’s?

A: This summer is pretty crazy for gigs. It started off with tours in Australia, New Zealand, America and Canada, and since then has been a whirlwind of festivals in the UK and Europe, from Latvia and Croatia, to the depths of the Scottish countryside. It is such a privilege to be invited to these sacred gatherings of various tribes. Got to say Boomtown will be a highlight this year with our first ever soundclash with David Rodigan.

Q: Who are some reggae and dub artists you think more people should know about?

A: Tough question, which depends on how much your ear is already to the ground. Coming from Jamaica right now you have to rate Samori I and Lila Ike as bringing something fresh and exciting. I'm a big fan of Johnny Go Figure from New York who I met for the first time a couple of weeks ago. As for the UK, I love what Joe Yorke is doing right now.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

A: I'm really keen to find out what the next generation will bring, and to see if there are ways that those of us who have been through it all can support them, cos I know it's harder than ever to make a name for yourself, let alone a career in the music industry. We help run a project in Scotland called The Soundsystem Project where we share some of the skills we have learned in building speakers, DJing, song writing, production and everything around that with young people. It really feeds my soul to see fresh faces getting involved, feeling inspired and growing as individuals and groups through the joyful act of making music together.

Mungo's Hi Fi will be playing at our Day Party with Teachings in Dub on Sunday 18 Aug alongside Solo Banton, Housewife's Choice and more - click here to get your tickets.

Nature in Newtown - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

Throughout the summer, we’ve been working with our Community Connectors to programme activities for the local community. Working with Shanti Pant, our Community Connector for Newtown, we devised a programme that encouraged residents local to Newtown to spend time together, enjoying and learning about local green spaces through gentle exercise and nature walks.

“You just don’t know what is on your doorstep” - Feedback, Nature in Newtown Participant

Newtown is one of three local neighbourhoods that Trinity is working closely with over the course of this year, to develop a greater understanding of residents’ interests and experiences, and how we can offer support to share creative activity. As a Newtown resident, and nature-lover, Shanti was keen to share her experience of how spending time in nature can provide a simple way to support wellbeing and connect with others, so we worked with her to create this project.

Nature in Newtown ran for ten weeks from June - August, led by Subitha Baghirathan, and supported by Shanti. With Lawrence Hill Health Centre as the groups’ meeting point, Subitha shared a range of wellbeing exercises and activities for participants to experience including; tai chi, vagus nerve breathing, mindfulness activities and listening walks. Through rain and shine, we welcomed ten local people over the weeks, enthusiastically sharing their knowledge of the area, and learning new things from each other.

We found out that there is plenty of nature surrounding Newtown, and new places to discover too. A walk through some tunnels - shared by one member of the group - contained beautiful tiles documenting ‘The Industries and Crafts of Bristol’s Rich Industrial Heritage’, a walk along the railway path encouraged group members to use Subitha’s tree book to identify different species by their leaves, and a visit to Trinity’s garden enabled the group to meet Fleur, our garden project facilitator, who showed them around the space and talked about our volunteer programme.

Over the weeks, participants reported an increased feeling of connectedness to their local community, confidence to explore the local area, and confidence to engage with others.

For the second part of this project, we’re inviting practitioners Shanti Sherson (Wellbeing at Wellspring Settlement) and Jon Aitken (filmmaker at Watershed) to join us at Lawrence Hill Health Centre’s community garden, for Filmmaking in Newtown.

Over three sessions in September, Shanti and Jon will lead nature-based activities and help participants create simple short films together that document our connection to nature.

The hand-crafted guitar built by young people who attend Novalis Trust, a Stroud-based learning academy

Young people from Novalis Trust have generously donated a handmade guitar to Trinity's music-making program. This guitar was created as part of the Workbench Project, an initiative delivered in partnership with Pi Guitars.

"We are honoured to donate this guitar to Trinity Community Arts. May it inspire creativity, foster community, and bring the joy of music to all who play it. Thank you for the incredible work you do in Bristol, nurturing the arts and empowering individuals." - James Mountjoy, Novalis Trust

The guitar will be available for young people who attend music making sessions at Trinity to access and play as part of 1-2-1 sessions or the weekly drop in music-making sessions Next Gen Sounds.

The Workbench Project involves young people at the Stroud-based college, who visited Trinity last week to present the guitar to the Music Team. In addition to the donation, the young people enjoyed a tour of Trinity's facilities, including the Recording Studio and the Live Room. Novalis Trust is a Stroud based charity who operate multiple residential facilities in aid of people with learning difficulties from the age of 7 all the way up to 65.

James Mountjoy - a Senior Occupational Therapist from Novalis - said that the group wanted to donate their guitar to Trinity as they love the work we do with Young People in the Creative Arts, reaching so many people to bring them opportunities to explore their creativity, much like the work done at Novalis and Pi Guitars.

Click here to find out more about Trinity's programme of events and activities for Children, Young People and Families.

Bristol Harbour Festival 2024 - Image Credit: Amy Fern

We were delighted to be welcomed back to programme the vibrant dance stage at this year's Bristol Harbour Festival - one of the biggest events in the city welcoming over 250,000 visitors across the weekend.

'This cocreated dance piece has been a wonderful creative project that brought dancers together from different backgrounds from across Bristol to create a unique, emotive piece' - Penny Marie, Dance Workshop Facilitator

Taking over the stage in Queens Square, we platformed a huge range of dance styles and traditions present in Bristol’s dance community; from Indian to Irish Dance, Voguing to Turkish Belly Dancing.

Some highlights from the weekend included Anna K, Bristol Ballroom Community, D-Wild Fitness and RSVP Drummers. We also platformed established resident dance groups based at The Trinity Centre, such as Gerry’s Attic, a dance group for older people who rehearse at Trinity every week.

In the lead-up to Bristol Harbour Festival, we commissioned Dance Facilitator, Penny Marie, to lead a series of participatory dance workshops in which attendees co-created a new dance piece to be performed at the festival. Across five workshops dancers of all abilities and backgrounds collectively devised a 15 minute dance piece entitled 'Our Light Within' that they performed on the Saturday of the festival.

Alongside this, HYPE Dance, who offer weekly street dance sessions at Trinity, hosted the Ultimate Dance Championships 2024 – a competition open to all dance styles for ages 12 and above. Winners of this competition showcased their dancing skills in front of the Harbour Festival audience and a panel of judges that included professional dancers Bethany Kyle, Tesleem Adeyemi and Candice Scott. Alongside this, HYPE brought performances from Lil Hype, Hype Dance and Hype Carnival Squad.

We wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who made the takeover at Bristol Harbour Festival 2024 such a success; from the facilitators, the talented dancers, the technical team behind-the-scenes, our partners Movema, Gerry’s Attic and HYPE Dance, and of course to everyone who came along to watch the performances and support dance in Bristol.

Programming the Dance Stage is one of the many ways we are creating pathways for communities to connect and celebrate together though culture. Click here to find out more.

Trinity Garden Party 2024 - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

We are very happy to announce we are one of three organisations to be awarded funding to deliver free culture and events activities in the city centre, between summer 2024 and February 2025.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this grant and to be recognised as the anchor organisation to bring together the diverse communities that make Old Market such a vibrant neighbourhood to visit, live and work in” - Jen Farmer, Arts Engagement Manager, Trinity Community Arts

Compass Presents, The Invisible Circus and Trinity Community Arts have each received £40,000 of funding from Bristol City Council to be the lead organisations to produce and manage activities in three areas of the city centre: Christmas Steps, Old Market and Stokes Croft.

This grant highlights the focus of our work over the last few years to proactively connect and engage with our hyper-local communities in arts and cultural activities, alongside our live events programme that boosts the local economy. With this grant we can build on our reputation producing high quality arts activities by co-designing an exciting and meaningful programme in partnership with our trusted local partners bringing together artists, residents and small businesses to maximise our collective potential.

The ongoing aim of the programme is to attract more people into the city centre to help support the local economy, businesses and the culture and events sector by showcasing Bristol’s reputation for creativity and arts.

We will be announcing more details about the events in the coming weeks.

Acclaimed actress Miriam Margolyes took time out of her busy tour schedule to visit Jacobs Wells Baths, showing her support for the ongoing recovery efforts of this historic building. As an early supporter of the campaign, and a patron of Trinity Community Arts, Miriam's visit highlights the importance of restoring Jacobs Wells as a vital community and cultural heritage hub.

“I’m thrilled to have a chance to visit Jacob’s Wells Baths and encourage the Council and my fellow-supporters with their exciting plans to return this listed building to the service of the local Community. This will help so many to have a go - opportunity knocks at last.” Miriam Margolyes

During her visit, Miriam Margolyes met with our team and some of the professional team from PH3 Design who have developed the recently approved planning scheme to restore the space. Planned works include a street-facing main entrance and modernisation of the previously unused ground floor Pump Room, transforming it into a new cafe-bar and studio.

Miriam's visit comes as we complete key milestones for the project, including securing planning and lease completion. This means we can now begin crucial Phase 1 Repairs including works to the main hall roof, funded by £1.6 million secured from the DLUHC Community Ownership Fund and match funders.

We are excited to now be able to move forward with our efforts to bring the building back into use as a multidisciplinary venue for arts, heritage, youth, community and educational use.

We want to give thanks to everyone who has so far shared in our journey to make this vision possible, including our Patron Miriam, Bristol City Council, local stakeholders and the Hotwells & Harbourside Community Association, who led campaign efforts to save the building from disposal.

Completion of the 35-year leasehold is still to be confirmed by asset owners, Bristol City Council.

Find out more about our Jacobs Wells mission:

• Discover our vision for the building to be restored and reopened
• Learn about our Community Asset Transfer offer by Bristol City Council
• Donate to our Fundsurfer to help raise much needed funds for our phased plans to restore the building

Oh Miriam! Live is at Bristol Beacon, 12th July – Click here for tickets

In partnership with St Pauls Carnival, Citizens In Power and West of England Combined Authority we are delivering a Citizens’ Assembly for Culture in 2025.

This ground-breaking initiative will bring together people from across the region, to meet with creative practitioners, cultural providers and decision-makers to shape the future of a cultural delivery plan for the region.

We have recently recruited Anjali Prashar-Savoie as the Citizens’ Assembly Producer to help with the successful delivery of the Assembly. We caught up with her to find out more about the project that will take place in 2025.

Q: Hello Anjali! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you’ve come to be the producer of the Citizens’ Assembly.

A: I've been working in the cultural sector and in nightlife with a focus on grassroots culture, community organising, and creating spaces that prioritise people, equity, and access. I'm really passionate about how culture can drive new forms of social and civic participation, especially given the current political, environmental, and social challenges that we collectively face.

This experience led me to the Citizens’ Assembly Producer role. I'm grateful to contribute to something that represents the kind of systemic change we need in both culture and society as a whole. Often, we know what challenges we face in culture and beyond, but practical moves towards solutions can be difficult to organise at scale. The Citizens’ Assembly stood out to me because it offered a practical model for doing culture differently.

Q: What has your experience been of the job so far?

So far, I've been connecting with cultural workers, organisations, and grassroots organisers to get people involved in the project and understand how Citizens' Assemblies can be useful. I'm also working on expanding a wider Citizens for Culture network to make sure that the Assembly is shaped by the people it serves.

Q: You’re currently working on connecting with other cultural organisations and individuals in the region over Citizens For Culture. Why would you encourage people in the cultural sector to get involved with the project?

The sector is filled with incredible talent and group efforts that make for an exciting and diverse culture. However, sometimes the work on the ground doesn't trickle upwards into decision-making and policy. On top of that, a lot of the cultural sector is made up of freelancers who work somewhat disconnected from each other, meaning we work in silos.

Engaging with Citizens for Culture will connect people interested in citizen or community-led culture. This means you can expand your network, share information, skills, and resources, participate in upcoming workshops, and contribute to collective advocacy efforts to influence policies and secure better support for culture in the region. It provides an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with citizens and other cultural workers, creating a collaborative community with shared goals of doing things differently.

Citizens for Culture also connects you with the Citizens’ Assembly set to happen early next year. We are looking for people in the cultural sector to become associates of the assembly and help guide what happens next. By engaging with this project, together, we can make sure your voice is amplified to shape the Assembly, and that the outcomes of the assembly are supported. Overall, this is a region-wide collaborative project that is worth being a part of because the process and outcomes will be determined by the people who join.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

We are offering online information sessions over the summer to learn more. The sessions will cover what a citizens’ assembly is and how you can get involved. In these sessions, we will also be seeking your input into our upcoming workshop series that will run throughout the Autumn.

Additionally, I love to chat. If you are a creative, cultural worker, venue, organisation or community organiser in the region, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out to me directly to chat about all things culture, community and citizens' assembly.

Find out more about the Citizens' Assembly for Culture project:

• Sign up to an online information session with the Citizens' Assembly team

• Email Imogen@trinitybristol.org.uk to join our Citizens For Culture mailing list

• Read Edson Burton’s opinion piece of why voting matters in this series about civic participation

• Read our blogs to find out more about the Citizens' Assembly project

1985 Oct 25 International Time Off for Women Day, credit Evening Post, collected as part of Art of Resistance

Trinity is committed to creating ways in which citizens can take an active role in shaping arts and culture. In 2025 Our Citizens Assembly for Culture, created, in partnership with St Pauls Carnival and Citizens in Power will take place, offering people living in the West of England Combined Authority region the opportunity to actively shape the arts and cultural experiences that matter most to them and their communities.

As part of this commitment we are connecting with leading voices in the cultural sector to ask them to share their thoughts on the different civic and democratic tools that we as citizens can access. In the first in our series of opinion pieces exploring civic participation Dr Edson Burton, Curator at Trinity, reflects on the role of voting in democratic decision making.

"The Bristol Bus Boycott, the Gay Rights Movement, the Disability Rights Movements of the 1960s-1990s. These campaigns or movements have led to legislative changes that have, in turn, transformed our social attitudes"

Opinion: Voting Matters, Dr Edson Burton

‘Politics time again, are you gonna vote now?’ lamented the reformed Buju Banton, alluding to the lethal elections of his native Jamaica. But the question could equally be applied to the forthcoming British election. During the last General Election (2019), 67% of the population voted, up from the all-time low of just over 59% in 2001.

While that figure is on the rise, it still means that over 30% of the population has no say in how they are governed. According to a recent YouGov poll, the reasons given for not voting include a lack of access to polling stations, ineligibility, and no forms of ID. However, the most prominent reasons are a lack of trust in politicians and a feeling that voting will make little difference.

One might argue that cynicism is rife in politics, with pledges that are misleading if not downright dishonest. It has ever been thus, but in a crowded information world, voters may become so confused as to become indifferent.

Perhaps the dance of truth owes as much to us as to our politicians. Few would jump for joy at the thought of higher taxes, but without increased taxation, how can we fund our troubled public services, invest in green technology, or ensure education offers opportunities for all?

Responding to concerns over national identity, political parties offer a raft of immigration control measures that, if implemented, would lead to a national staffing crisis. Yet, to extol the virtues of immigration is to risk electoral suicide.

The convergence between the main political parties may also fuel voter apathy. "There's no difference between them" is the often-heard lament. Despite the barbs and bites, there appears, at times, to be more that unites than divides the main parties. They vie to expose the actual commitment to an agreed-upon agenda rather than the agenda itself.

But it is worth remembering that this consensus is the result of political participation. The impetus to secure or woo working-class votes in this election is a result of the extension of the franchise beyond a small property-owning class. Once enfranchised, all parties have had to take seriously the interests of a wider range of citizens with divergent interests and lives. Further franchise expansion was not some benign gift of a ruling class but the result of blood and guts campaigns by working-class men and women. Think Chartists, Unions, the Suffragettes.

What is the point of voting if you cannot meaningfully participate in society? If your race meant you could be legally denied access to jobs or employment? If your gender meant you were denied promotion, let alone equal pay? If your sexuality or sexual identity could lead to your imprisonment?

Such was the case prior to major civil rights campaigns: the Bristol Bus Boycott, the Gay Rights Movement, the Disability Rights Movements of the 1960s-1990s. These campaigns or movements have led to legislative changes that have, in turn, transformed our social attitudes.

Broadly speaking, all our political parties have arrived at baseline of inclusivity consensus. In recognition of new voting demographics and the reputational damage of appearing to be illiberal parties may wish to appear to be race, gender, and disability friendly

But how safe is this consensus? Is it a pragmatic concession to the present while some hanker for an illiberal past? The USA has recently demonstrated the danger of complacency as civil rights advances have been eroded by reactionary forces. Could the same thing happen in England? Perhaps if it is electorally beneficial, but certainly not if it is electorally damaging. It could only be so if we vote or hint that our vote is for the preservation of our rights.

Beyond preserving our rights, further changes that we want to see in society will inevitably involve legislation, which in turn will involve exerting pressure upon politicians. The time scale of change may not suit the urgency of our demands, but rather than lose heart, we must continue to exert political pressure through campaigning and ultimately through the ballot.

Not voting is a verdict on politics, but it cannot lead to change; rather, it will maintain the status quo. In the calculus of win or lose, only voters and their interest's matter.

Vote.

Find out more about movements that have shaped society by exploring our interactive heritage timelines

Trinity Garden Party. Photo Alastair Brookes

Over the last year, we have developed our Community and Neighbourhoods programme in response to the needs and interests of residents, community groups, and grassroots organisations.

“I’m really looking forward to connecting with the residents of Newtown. The weekly sessions will be a place where people can share their skills and interests and socialise together” Shanti, Community Connector

We have created three 'Community Connector' roles to connect with communities within the Newtown area, families who live on or near Stapleton Road, and people who access services at the Wild Goose Cafe.

Shanti Pant is the Community Connector for Newtown, a neighbourhood directly opposite the Trinity Centre. As with all the Connectors, Shanti has an active presence in Newtown both as a local resident and in organising community events alongside her daughter, Hemlata.

Originally from Nepal, Shanti has lived in Newtown since 2019. Having grown up in the countryside, she is keen to bring activities to Newtown that connect people to nature and organise weekend events for children and families. A keen craftsperson she wants to use these skills to offer activities for people who may be experiencing loneliness and isolation, providing opportunities to connect through creativity and craft.

In the first few months as a Connector, Shanti has been working with Trinity’s Communities and Neighbourhoods team to plan workshops inviting local residents to join artist Benoit Bennett in designing a mural to celebrate Newtown and the communities who live there. She also attended workshops led by the University of Bristol at their Wellspring Micro-campus in Barton Hill. These workshops explored ways in which older adults can use film as a creative medium – something that Shanti is keen to explore with local Newtown residents.

Alongside this, Shanti has been connecting with residents and community organisations, including Lawrence Hill Health Centre, to create two new free-to-access activities for Newtown residents that will start in June 2024.

Nature in Newtown is a series of weekly nature walks where local residents are invited to explore the area and take part in gentle movement activities. Initially led by facilitator Subitha Baghirathan, the sessions will then move on to exploring how to use simple creative film techniques as a way to capture and express participants’ experiences of engaging with this activity.

Shanti will also be hosting drop-in Coffee Morning sessions in Rosevear House every Friday morning from 10am to midday, starting on 4th June until 5th July. These meetups will include creative activities and the opportunity for residents to connect with each other.

If you are a Newtown resident and you have an idea for creative activities in your community you can speak to Shanti by:

• Attending a coffee morning or joining a nature walk
• Calling Trinity on 0117 935 1200
• Sign up to our mailing list

Community Connectors and our Community and Neighbourhoods programme has been developed in response to our pledges, click here to find out more.

Harbour Festival 2019 - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

Trinity is commited to creating spaces to celebrate and engage with different types of artforms. This is why we have teamed up with Harbour Festival to bring back the dance stage at this year's festival, programming a stage in Queen Square 20 July.

On Saturday, Trinity will be curating the stage, followed by Movema – an award-winning dance company – taking the reins on Sunday. This year's dance programme is more inclusive and representative than ever before, celebrating Bristol's diverse community through an array of talents and styles.

As always, we'll be collaborating with local dance companies, community groups, independent artists, and cultural organisations to showcase the rich tapestry of dance talent Bristol has to offer. We will also advocate for dance across the city, featuring open access and free-to-attend dance workshops leading up to the festival, ensuring dance is accessible to all.

We are thrilled to announce that Penny Marie will be our dance facilitator for Harbour Festival, working with the community to co-create a dance piece for Bristol through community workshops. Additionally, Trinity residents Hype Dance, an urban dance group for young people, will unveil their Ultimate Dance Championships 2024 – a competition open to all dance styles for ages 12 and above, giving contestants the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience at the Harbour Festival and win exciting prizes!

Our programme boasts an incredible lineup of dance groups, featuring long-time collaborators with Trinity: Gerry's Attic, a regular dance class for over 55s; Anna K, a Turkish belly dancer who led performances and workshops at our Garden Party on 12 May; Bristol Ballroom, a queer-led collective known for their vogue balls at Trinity and previous Harbour Fest performances; and Kennedy Muntanga, a professional dancer presenting his new work ‘Hare and Lion’. We are eager to unite these established partnerships, promote fresh work, and provide a platform for these talented dancers at one of Bristol’s biggest events of the year.

Igloo - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

This May Half Term, we’ve got an exciting programme of activities and events for children and young people of all ages to get involved with at Trinity.

Wednesday 29 May - Friday 31 May – Speak Out

Our Speak Out workshops continue on Monday, offering young people aged 16-18 free workshops and the chance to create a performance piece with the guidance of Kabbo Ferdinand – an African Indigenousness storyteller and musician, and Natasha Gatward an immersive performance artist and eco-conscious costume designer.

Wednesday 29 May – Music Masterclass: Hodge

Music Masterclasses are back on Wednesday 29th May. This month, young people aged 16-25 are invited to a free production workshop with Bristol-based DJ and Producer Hodge, who will share their approach to producing which involves finding sounds, processing them, and creating loops and ultimately overcoming writer's block while finding methods to create music in an organised way.

Thursday 30 May – Next-Gen Sounds

Next-Gen Sounds continues as normal during the half-term, with young people aged 14-25 invited to Trinity to take part in group drop in music making sessions led by Trinity and Off The Record.

Friday 31 May – Stay and Play

Children aged 0-5 & their families are invited to Trinity to play, learn and have fun together in our Friday Stay and Play sessions, delivered in partnership with the Health Visiting team. Come along to play, sing, share stories and enjoy the beautiful gardens.

Sunday 02 June – The Fairy Forest

Head to Trinity on Sunday to explore a forgotten woodland world, filled with fairies, forest sprites and mystical beings in ‘The Fairy Forest’ a new children’s theatre show from Tidal Tales, suitable for ages 3 and up.

Click here to learn more about our programme of activities for children, young people and families.