We're still collecting donations
On the 3rd October 2022 we'd raised £55 with 4 supporters in 28 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
We're asking Hackney Council to commit an additional £1 million to Arts projects celebrating 1st and 2nd generation immigrant families.
by A.Xodus in London, Greater London, United Kingdom
On the 3rd October 2022 we'd raised £55 with 4 supporters in 28 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
WE ARE A.XODUS - a culturally inclusive organisation:
A creative collective that upholds and celebrates pan-African culture through events, film, music and education.
Our current projects will bring all members of the East London community together regardless of ethnicity or socio-economic background.
The A.Xodus ethos is:
“NO MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM YOU CAN BE SUCCESFUL”
A.Xodus Values:
Creative Empowerment through Collaborative Community & Equality to drive Cultural Inclusivity & Wellbeing.
A.Xodus is opening the first culturally inclusive Arts hub in one of the most gentrified places in London, Hackney. This centre will house music, arts, film, and creative learning workshops available to all members of the community, regardless of socio-economic background, class, ethnicity or neuro-diversity. We need support to do this, as the significant cuts in Culture and Arts funding over recent years have hit all grass roots organizations.
Immigrant communities in Hackney can struggle to gain access to cultural spaces, as well education in the Arts and opportunities to develop creative skills. This in turn leads to a lack of access to creative sector jobs, and therefore a lack of representation within the Arts. A.xodus is a grassroots organisation that aims to break this cycle of exclusion by providing opportunities for members of the community to be included in the arts, and develop the skills to succeed in creative sector careers. Springing from within the community of East London, A.xodus, and other grassroots organisations, are ideally placed to understand the needs of the local community, providing an example of success from within the community, and commitment to serving the community from which it comes. A.xodus is committed to serving all members of the East London community, regardless of class, socio-economic background, ethnicity or ability. We actively support those facing challenges with neuro-diversity.
The time to act on the issue of exclusion in the arts is now, as the artistic sector is recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. If we do not act swiftly, we face a worsening of the situation, as the cost of living crisis, compounded by the unstoppable march of gentrification, and the rising cost of housing threatens to shatter local communities. It is vital that artistic talent within local, immigrant communities is developed, strengthening the community as a whole in its ability to withstand the economic storm.
We are asking for Hackney Council to commit an additional £1 million to grassroots Arts projects such as the A.xodus inclusive Arts hub. Immigrant and working-class communities in Hackney and across London often feel excluded from participation in the arts. “Inclusion” and “diversity” are not simply buzz words, but concepts that materially affect the people of these communities on a day-to-day basis. If we are going to claim to be inclusive and diverse, we have to back this up with concrete action, providing access to the Arts for people who would otherwise be excluded, either economically, or through a lack of representation of immigrant and working-class experiences in the Arts offer. By broadening access to participation in the Arts, foregrounding the experiences of those of immigrant and working-class backgrounds, or those facing challenges with neuro-diversity, we will be able to build a future in which people of all backgrounds can feel genuinely represented and included in the Arts.
If we could ask the government (local or national) to do one thing, it would be to support the cultural and artistic sectors with more grassroots funding. Arts funding has seen a massive decline in recent years, not only in London, but across the UK. Creative thinkers emerge from all sectors of society, but if only those from wealthy backgrounds are able to pursue a career in the arts, then we all lose out. Unlocking the creative potential within working-class and immigrant communities, and among those with various disabilities, will lead not only to economic benefits for local communities, but, in turn, to increased well-being within these communities. These benefits will only be seen if government steps forward with more funding for grassroots community arts projects.
There is a great untapped wealth of creative potential within immigrant and working-class communities in London. All that is required to unlock this potential is access to self-expression through the Arts. When an initial introduction to the arts can be provided by grassroots community organisations such as A.xodus, this opens up further pathways, such as to higher education, leading to both economic and social benefits for the entire community.
Local government can unlock creative potential in local communities by committing to additional grassroots Arts funding. We are creative people, all we need is an opportunity to develop our talents for the benefit of society as a whole.
This project offered rewards