Last week, Trinity's Director of Culture, Jamell attended "Meeting the Moment" at the Watershed. This one-day event was designed for cultural organisations and aimed to empower senior leaders and trustees to speak out and drive change, even when they feel nervous or uncertain. One week on, Jamell reflects on the insights he gained from the day:
It was a day of BIG conversations and practical ways to work together, navigate differences, and find routes forward, even when our perspectives don’t always align.
It was energising to be at Watershed surrounded by so many like-minded people from across the cultural sector. Hearing from our own LaToyah McAllister-Jones of Citizens for Culture was a highlight, as she spoke about the group’s work with citizens’ assemblies and how they can bring people together to build common ground.
The workshops encouraged real self-reflection. For me, it was how I can have everyday difficult conversations better with my team and family in relation to other things, rather than far-right ideas, as with my colleagues and family, we are all on the same page most of the time (thankfully). But also within my work as Cultural Director, Programmer and Producer, I need to continue to advocate and elevate artistry and music that spreads a positive message of togetherness and elevates the underrepresented.
It was especially valuable to hear from Ellie Cartwright of Hope Not Hate on how to engage with and counter harmful or hateful narratives. That’s something many of us may need to navigate in different aspects of our work at Trinity, as well as in our day to day lives.
Alongside wonderful insights into sustainable theatre by climate activist and theatre Producer, Chloe Naldrett . Ned Suesat-Williams from The Crab Museums, an amazing way to integrate positive political messaging and fun crab facts, and director of Touretteshero, Jess Thom, on demanding and communicating change from her heartbreaking but bloody real story of cuts by our government.
Overall, it was a powerful day that felt like part of an ongoing journey, one that organisations and individuals continue to walk every day. But for me, it feels like in the music industry we need to be elevating these artists that are speaking out against the utter madness happening in this country and further. Cos we are in a mad time where protest in any form is being squashed. So the power of the arts needs to be upheld and continue to be platformed. That's my role and promise.
