Isto é PARTIS & Art for Change 2024 - Image Credit: Carlos Porfirio

In January, Trinity participated in the Isto é PARTIS & Art for Change 2024 conference held in Lisbon, Portugal, shining a spotlight on the transformative potential of citizen-led approaches in the arts.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and "La Caixa" Foundation are actively working to platform and support the tangible impact of participatory arts initiatives, reshaping cultural dynamics, and fostering more just and cohesive communities. The conference served as a beacon for continued dialogue and action in the pursuit of a more inclusive cultural landscape.

Featuring panels exploring diverse methods of citizen involvement in cultural dynamics, Trinity Community Arts, represented by CEO Emma Harvey, emphasized the significance of creative community spaces in shaping cultural dynamics in the arts. Emma shared insights into Trinity's work managing the Trinity Centre as a publicly-owned civic arts space, alongside efforts to save another publicly-owned asset, Jacobs Wells.

Trinity shared a panel with Lara Seixo Rodrigues, Marta Silva, and Miguel Atalaia, highlighting examples of collaborative and citizen-led cultural activity, including the Largo Residências in Lisbon and the Bons Sons festival in Tomar. Bons Sons - akin to Trinity's annual Garden Party, the annual community festival involves the entire village coming together to deliver a celebration of music, culture and local pride—an inspirational example of true citizen empowerment.

Trinity's partner, Saad Eddine Said, Co-Director of the Citizens in Power initiative, delivered a keynote speech on avenues for active citizen-led decision-making. Trinity, in is working with Citizens in Power and St Paul’s Carnival, to develop a Citizen Assembly for Culture, supporting communities in the West of England Combined Authority to shape their cultural delivery priorities and plans – funded by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) and the West of England Combined Authority. The conference also highlighted Battersea Arts Centre’s social enterprise programme, The Agency, which uses a co-design model to support young people to unlock their creative potential.

This collaborative effort, led by The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, amplified initiatives that are unlocking the transformative power of citizen-led approaches in the arts. The Foundation's commitment to fostering partnerships between communities, creatives, and institutions, as showcased in the PARTIS & Art for Change initiative, exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to shaping the future of towns and cities. This conference facilitates key conversations and projects that contribute to the creation of more just, cohesive and culturally vibrant communities.

Further reading:

Indulge in movement, spiritual healing, music and take part in live podcasting discussions.

Throughout the day there will be workshops and sessions hosted by Carmen Carrol and the Keep it Real Podcast team.

The event will be hosted by the All Ah Wi Women's group in partnership with Trinity Community Arts.

Schedule

10am-10.50am Holding Space

11am-11.45am Freedom Soul Dance workshop with Penny Avery - a fusion of West African contemporary and afrobeat

12pm-12.30pm Essential oils 101 with Michelle Meridith

12.30pm-1.20pm Music by DJs Kissan and Delicious

1.30-2pm- 5 steps to overcoming childhood trauma with Carmen Carol

2-3pm Keep It Real Podcast

About Carmen Carrol

Carmen's enduring passion for art and writing has remained steadfast and blossomed into a vibrant force in her adult life. Embracing her innate creativity, she has seamlessly woven it into her professional endeavours, carving a path as a freelance events promoter and writer.

About Keep it Real Podcast

Welcome to Keep It Real, the podcast where we tear down the patriarchy and save woman kind, hosted by BBC Radio 1 favourite Ruth Royall, DJ/Percussionist Rhiipercussion, MC/Poet and hiphop artist Madly and jungle queen DJ Anna Pixie Holmes. The podcast explores equality in the music industry, body positivity and invite you to come Keep It Real with them.

Holly Wellington joins the Keep It Real team to discuss 'Women's health visibility in the music industry.

When Holysseus Fly (Holly) burst onto the scene with her 2023 debut solo EP ‘Birthpool’, it was clear that she was something special. As the vocalist, co-writer and pianist with critically acclaimed collective Ishmael Ensemble, Holysseus Fly has already made a powerful impression as a solo artist.

It is a free session, a friendly and confidential space to support your wellbeing. If you are a woman of colour, we invite you to sign up or drop in to take a step towards yourself care. It provides an opportunity to meet others over a hot drink and express your thoughts, struggles, joys, being in a collective and benefit from this space. You would often find that others may have had similar experiences and talking about it reduces the sense of isolation. There is no compulsion to share either. You may join and be an active listener as well.

The group will run for 2 hours every time with a break in between. For now, the group will be once every month through March, April and May only:

• Wed 13th Mar, 10:30am - 12:30pm

• Wed 10th Apr, 10:30am - 12:30pm

• Wed 8th May, 10:30am - 12:30pm

The group is facilitated by women of colour, and we invite you to join to freely share your concerns being a part of this community, just to share how you have been or even to be a listener and to have a sense of belonging. If you have any questions please email Sayam

Music Masterclasses are free workshops for ages 16 - 25, inviting top industry professionals to come and share their knowledge and insights in a series of exclusive workshops and classes, covering all areas of the music industry.

Although there is no charge to attend and no tickets are required, we do ask that you sign up for attendance tracking purposes.

Although there is no charge to attend and no tickets are required, we do ask that you sign up for attendance tracking purposes.

Audiences are encouraged to attend with an open mind and willingness to participate in unconventional discussions and activities increase confidence in our collective understanding of the wider Arts sector and build relationships with peers.

What can you expect?

Discussions
An interactive format of fishbowl discussions whereby a group of people sit in concentric circles engaging in dialogue; people in the outer circles observe the discussion while people in the inner circle contribute to the discussion. People from the inner circle will intermittently give up their seats for others to contribute thus encouraging participation, active listening, and fostering a sense of community.

Reflective Activities
Before, in between, and after our discussions, we have created space for grounding through somatic practice, journaling, movement, and related techniques to set intentions, stimulate curiosity, and encourage an openness to connect with attendees and peers.

About the programme
Commun People is a programme that advocates for emerging Global Majority voices to participate in the Arts while strengthening their skills and widening their employment opportunities. By encouraging critical discourse, peer mentoring, practical and creative development, the programme will support Global Majority voices to develop their practice and overcome often exclusionary barriers to initiating or sustaining a career in the Arts.

About COMMUN
COMMUN is a combined arts organisation with a focus on community building with emerging and mid-career Global Majority voices. Through development programmes and activities, educational tools and creative media, COMMUN creates opportunities for Global Majority voices to collaborate and progress their practices while creating a greater understanding for othered people in our society.

Supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation

House of Mannington Presents: Black Excellence Cabaret.

A Cabaret show celebrating Black and POC drag performers. Blessing you with Black excellence and melination.

Starring:
Miss Terri Boxx
Cocogymnasty
Cammy Leone
Razzle B. Dazzled
Sam OsaWith Producer and Host Manly Mannington, and Co-Host Travis Hot

Subira Joy is a spoken-word performer and activist, based in Brighton, UK. Their work weaves together the personal and political, through experiences and imaginations, spoken with rage, softness, and laughter. Ahead of their performance of 'Kill The Cop Inside Your Head' at Trinity on 23 Feb, we spoke with Subira about the themes underpinning the performance, the influence of their queer identity, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and much more.

Please introduce yourself and share a little about how you got into performance arts.

Hi, my name’s Subira, I’m a spoken word performer, writer and artists and I got into performing through the spoken word and poetry scene, and made my way into the queer theatre scene in Brighton.

What was the inspiration behind Kill The Cop Inside Your Head?

The phrase Kill The Cop Inside Your Head shows up in activist circles often, and I found myself going over and over this phrase in my head and thinking about police, police violence and oppression, and the way that it impacts particularly Black and queer, Black and trans communities and how we learn to police ourselves.

How has your queer identity helped shape this work?

My identity of being queer, being trans and being a mixed Black person definitely shaped the work insofar as I’m really speaking from my experience as an over-policed body. I think I’m interested in how those of us who live at the intersections of marginalised identities are specifically impacted.

"I’m interested in how those of us who live at the intersections of marginalised identities are specifically impacted" - Subira Joy

What are some of the themes that you explore in the performance?

So one of the themes that comes up in my performance is that of ancestral technologies. I’ve collaborated with some incredible people throughout the process of making this, one of those people was Cole Alvers, who was generous enough to share that language of ancestral technologies and really looking at the way that we can reach back through our ancestries and heritages to find tools to resist the oppression and policing that we’ve taken in. That’s featured a lot in my work – looking backwards to find the tools to move forwards.

What was it like taking your performance to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival?

It was a really brilliant experience taking my show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I was supported by Eclipse, a cohort of Black and queer performers, which was brilliant as I think oftentimes Edinburgh can be challenging for artists of colour, but actually I was really supported and had a lot of great people around. I was also supported by my twin because I had recently broken my ankle and couldn’t do a lot of the dancing and physicality which is in the show, so they came through and we reimagined the show for the two of us, and I had a lot of fun with that.

What can audiences expect from Kill The Cop Inside Your Head?

Audiences can expect powerful imagery, poetry, dance, movement and fruit, so come through!

Click here to get your tickets to 'Kill The Cop Inside Your Head' at Trinity on 23 Feb.

Movema Easter Workshop - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

This half-term at Trinity, we've got an incredible week full of activities for children, young people and families to get involved with.

Tuesday 13th Feb - The Neighbours Upstairs: Sensation! (Ages 6-10)

On Tuesday, we've got a multi-sensory activity storytelling experience for 6-10 year olds, exploring sound, sight, smell taste and touch through lots of curious contraptions made to capture the imagination, with the story of the Neighbours Upstairs guiding us through this 90 minute experience. There are three events throughout the day, at 10am, 12pm and 2pm. This is a free event, click here to find out more.

Wednesday 14th Feb - Music Masterclass: Crack Magazine (Ages 16-25)

Our Music Masterclass series continues on Wednesday we have invited Femke and Louise from Crack Magazine to deliver November's Music Masterclass. The workshop will consist of a insight into running a music magazine, personal reflections and time for questions. Music Masterclasses are our series of regular workshops and lectures, inviting top professionals from the music industry to Trinity to share their knowledge and experience, and help highlight entries into the music industry for young people. Sign up is free, click here to find out more.

Friday 16th Feb - Igloo (Ages 0-3)

Igloo is a non-verbal, playful experience filled with warmth, sensation and gentle exploration, suitable for babes in arms and pre-schoolers aged 0-3 accompanied by their carers. As part of each performance there will be a facilitated play session. The performance is non-verbal, but the play session contains some words. Audience members will also be given an Igloo picture book and other creative ideas to enable families to continue with creative play at home. Click here to find out more.

Saturday sees the best in roots and Dub.

Line up coming soon…

Please note this is a standing event, accessible seating is available.

Last entry: 2 hours before curfew

Venue levy: Trinity is introducing a £1 Restoration Levy on every event ticket sold. This income will be used to create a dedicated fund for critical building works that will protect and maintain the Trinity Centre building and grounds.

Friday belongs to a celebration of 140.

Line up coming soon…

Please note this is a standing event, accessible seating is available.

Last entry: 2 hours before curfew

Venue levy: Trinity is introducing a £1 Restoration Levy on every event ticket sold. This income will be used to create a dedicated fund for critical building works that will protect and maintain the Trinity Centre building and grounds.

Now in it's forth year, this two day festival has a programme packed full of activity.

Sunday Matinee Performance 1pm

Join Gerry's Attic for a feast of all things dance showcasing their latest work featuring a new piece by renowned choreographer Laila Diallo and a guest performance from Alexandra Pickford (Bluffing Your Way In Ballet).

Sunday Workshops

There are also public taster workshops in different dance styles for over 55’s to try out.  Each ticket includes free access to the dance workshops. If you would like to attend these workshops please select the workshop time you would like at the checkout.

3-4pm. African Dance workshop with Louis Roger Eboa

4-5pm. Contemporary Dance workshop with Julia Thorneycroft and Vicki Hearne

Founded in 2016 by Julia Thorneycroft, in partnership with Trinity Community Arts, Gerry's Attic has run weekly classes and performed in varied contexts including Sadler's Wells Elixir Festival, Joie De Vivre (PDSW) and Bristol Harbour Festival.

Now in it's forth year, this two day festival has a programme packed full of activity.

Sunday Workshops

There are also public taster workshops in different dance styles for over 55’s to try out.  Each ticket includes free access to the dance workshops. If you would like to attend these workshops please select the workshop time you would like at the checkout.

3-4pm. African Dance workshop with Louis Roger Eboa

4-5pm. Contemporary Dance workshop with Julia Thorneycroft and Vicki Hearne

Sunday Performance 6pm

Join Gerry's Attic for a feast of all things dance showcasing their latest work featuring a new piece by renowned choreographer Laila Diallo and a guest performance from Alexandra Pickford (Bluffing Your Way In Ballet).

The evening will also premier a new film by Gerry’s Attic, directed by Chris Lewis Smith and Vicki Hearne (Untold Dance Theatre) and a short film by Striking Attitudes.

Founded in 2016 by Julia Thorneycroft, in partnership with Trinity Community Arts, Gerry's Attic has run weekly classes and performed in varied contexts including Sadler's Wells Elixir Festival, Joie De Vivre (PDSW) and Bristol Harbour Festival.

Returning from a sold-out Fiber show in Amsterdam, Royall Sound Live takes to the stage for an impressive live experience ,packed with special guests for their first show on home ground.

7pm: Gemma Rose

7.30pm: APH

9.15pm: Royall Sound

Please note this is a standing event, accessible seating is available.

Last entry: 2 hours before curfew

Venue levy: Trinity is introducing a £1 Restoration Levy on every event ticket sold. This income will be used to create a dedicated fund for critical building works that will protect and maintain the Trinity Centre building and grounds.

Your favourite 90s band providing ear worms for decades are back, and they aren’t showing any signs of slowing down… The band celebrates 30 years since the release of their 3 times-Grammy nominated and platinum certified album “God Shuffled His Feet”. In 2018, The Crash Test Dummies hit the road for the first time in 20 years, with an Anniversary Tour that spanned North America.

The overwhelming reception led to a 30th Anniversary Tour in 2022 for their debut release “The Ghosts That Haunt Me” that touched down in the US, UK (including a London headline at the legendary Kentish Town Forum), Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Canada.

+ support: Duke Special

Please note this is a standing event, accessible seating is available.

Last entry: 2 hours before curfew

Venue levy: Trinity has introduced a £1 Restoration Levy on every event ticket sold. This income will be used to create a dedicated fund for critical building works that will protect and maintain the Trinity Centre building and grounds.