Cover Image: Getty Images Pawlet Brookes MBE, Photographed by Lauryn Pinard
Welcome to the Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
We are delighted to unveil Serendipity’s 2025 programme of events, united by this year’s theme: Intersection: Diasporic Dialogues. This theme reflects Serendipity’s commitment to illuminating overlooked voices, fostering meaningful exchanges, and building bridges across shared experiences and histories.
The year begins with the arrival of the fourth cohort of Young Archivists, a programme empowering young people aged 18 to 30 from underrepresented communities to shape the future of the heritage sector. Their journey sets the tone for a year dedicated to learning, dialogue and creativity.
In March, we celebrate International Women’s Day by hosting a thoughtprovoking conversation celebrating the power of Black women’s voices.
April brings a milestone celebration as we mark the fifteenth anniversary of Serendipity’s flagship dance festival, Let’s Dance International Frontiers (LDIF). Launching on International Dance Day (29 April), LDIF has grown into a vibrant platform for exploring identity, representation and ownership. Highlights include a performance by Ballet Hispánico at Curve, presenting an electrifying reimagining of Carmen.
As we move into June, the Annual Windrush Day Lecture takes centre stage. Delivered by Professor Verene A Shepherd, this year’s lecture will examine the far-reaching impact of the Windrush generation from a Caribbean perspective, emphasising the power and necessity of Diasporic dialogues.
In October, Black History Month (BHM) invites us to delve deeper into the theme of Intersection: Diasporic Dialogues through a series of films, documentaries and discussions at Phoenix. These stories spotlight the lives of the Windrush generation, Black activists and revolutionaries, uncovering their powerful and often untold contributions.
Pushing the boundaries of creativity, 2025 also marks the launch of Serendipity Online, a digital hub for Black artists, leaders, academics and researchers, to connect, collaborate and showcase their work. This innovation expands Serendipity’s reach and creates new opportunities for dialogue and discovery.
The journey of exploration continues with Serendipity’s first heritage conference, Black Heritage Voices: The Importance of Black Archives in Preserving Historical Memory. This event brings together professionals from Black and Asian communities, challenging traditional narratives and reshaping the future of the heritage field.
The year concludes with the warm embrace of A Very Serendipity Christmas Market, where we gather to celebrate the festive season with artisan stalls and community spirit.
At every turn, this year’s programme invites reflection, connection and action. Through these events, we aim to inspire conversations that drive understanding and create lasting change. Welcome to a year of discovery, celebration and transformation with the Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.
Pawlet Brookes MBE CEO and Artistic Director Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Young Archivists
10 - 14 February | 10am - 5pm | Studio Box, Serendipity | Fully booked
The Young Archivist course is designed to inspire and empower young people from diverse communities to pursue a fulfilling career in the heritage sector. With only 1% of the UK’s heritage workforce identifying as Black or Asian, this course aims to address the imbalance by equipping participants with the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in the industry.
Through an engaging and critical exploration of archives and cultural heritage, the programme brings often-overlooked perspectives to light. Now in its fourth edition, Young Archivists has supported over 40 young people to date. Participants gain invaluable insights from leading industry experts, fostering the tools necessary to build a meaningful and impactful career in heritage.
Contributors include:
• Hilary Carty, Director of the Clore Leadership Programme
• Naomi Korn, copyright, data protection and licensing expert
• Mel Larsen, coach and marketing strategist
Image Credit: Young Archivists. Photographer Hafsa Hirsi.
Young Archivists : Changing the Lens
12 February | 7pm | Studio Box, Serendipity | £10 - £8
Join us for an evening of short films that examine the history of European colonialism and the positionality of ethnographic collections housed in Western museums. The films explore important Diasporic dialogues that address Eurocentric perspectives around museum objects that have been taken or stolen from their country of origin, whilst giving voice to Black voices who seek to redress colonial history, reclaiming the narratives around museum objects.
RESTITUTION? AFRICA'S FIGHT FOR ITS ART
This documentary explores the intertwined history of violent European colonialism and the cultural legacy of ethnographic collections housed in institutions. Tracing the progression of colonial history from the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, it examines the systematic suppression of cultural traditions, religions and ways of life across the African continent—often through genocides and warfare—up until the early twentieth century.
The film surveys inquiries and movements for historical justice, uncovering the connections between European institutions and colonial violence. It also highlights the enduring struggles to reclaim what was taken, shedding light on the ongoing fight for restitution and recognition.
Director Nora Philippe
Year 2022
Time 52 minutes
STATUES ALSO DIE
One of Chris Marker’s earliest films, created collaboratively with Alain Resnais six years before Hiroshima Mon Amour, it examines the complex relationship between European audiences and objects of African origin. This documentary brings still, museumised artefacts to life through dynamic editing set to music, imbuing them with movement and vitality.
Structured in three parts, Marker and Resnais critically challenge Eurocentric perspectives. They begin by exploring the objects themselves—their forms, significance and perception as art—introducing the concept of the "dead statue," where artefacts lose their original meaning due to displacement from their cultural context. The film ultimately broadens its critique to address the commercialisation and commodification of Black culture as entertainment in Europe.
Director lain Resnais, Chris Marker and Ghislain Coquet
Year 1953 © Présence Africaine
Time 30 minutes
Young Archivists : Changing the Lens - Continued
HUNDERTTAUSENDFACH
hunderttausendfach (Hundred Thousand Times) is a poetic and cinematic time machine that recounts the story of colonial collecting and museum practices in Germany through a powerful parable.
Rooted in historical fact, this parable reclaims and rewrites colonial history from a Black perspective, transforming it into an act of appropriation and empowerment. The film also serves as an invitation for self-reflection and a call to take responsibility for the past.
Director Patricia Vester and Diana Thorimbert
Year 2024
Time 11 minutes
International Women’s Day: Binta – The Conversation
8 March | Doors Open 6:30pm | Event Start 7:00pm | Studio Box, Serendipity | £20 - £18
International Women's Day is a global day celebrating women's achievements and calling for action and equity. It is celebrated annually on 8 March and recognised by the UN. For Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, International Women's Day is an opportunity to highlight the issues faced by women from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora, as International Women’s Day calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that Black women in particular face, both in personal and professional spheres.
The evening will feature the UK premiere of a new documentary Binta – The Conversation by Opal Palmer Adisa. The film shines a light on trailblazing poet Jean “Binta” Breeze. Emerging in the 1980s as the first female dub poet, Breeze forged a voice, speaking for and to the Black female experience, with her poem, Riddim Ravings (‘The Mad Woman Poem’) considered a classic of modern Caribbean poetry and an anthem for the scorned Black woman.
The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion using Jean “Binta” Breeze’s legacy as inspiration to further the much-needed conversation about Black women, culture, stigmatisation and silence.
Panellists include:
• Zamzam Ibrahim, a climate activist, founder of IYADA and UN advisor
• Stella Kanu, CEO at Shakespeare’s Globe
• Opal Palmer Adisa, a multi-genre writer, film producer, gender specialist and cultural activist
Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2025
29 April - 17 May
Let’s Dance International Frontiers (LDIF) is a vibrant and dynamic annual dance festival that launches each year on 29 April, coinciding with International Dance Day. At its core, LDIF is dedicated to celebrating the art of dance while also pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and cultural discourse. The festival offers a diverse and innovative programme that encapsulates the rich international tapestry of Leicester, featuring an array of performances, engaging discussion seminars, hands-on masterclasses, and an insightful annual conference.
Over the past fifteen years, LDIF has emerged as a crucial platform for the arts, showcasing over 340 artists and dance companies. This includes an impressive tally of 69 UK premieres and 42 world premieres, highlighting its role as a launchpad for new works and talent in the dance community. In addition, LDIF has prioritised the development of emerging artists through various initiatives such as Signatures, the Black British Dance Platform, all in partnership with FABRIC. The festival also features masterclasses, discussions, films and local, national and international networking.
These efforts have positioned LDIF as a pioneering force in international dance programming and commissioning across the UK, attracting numerous artists to present their work for the first time in the UK. Notable past participants include acclaimed companies and choreographers such as Kyle Abraham/Abraham. In.Motion from the USA, Urban Bush Women, PHILADANCO, Senegal’s Germaine Acogny, Maya Taylor from the USA, Shamel Pitts/TRIBE and National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica.
LDIF25 LAUNCH
To celebrate International Dance Day and the launch of LDIF25, Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage welcomes two soloist dancers to take centre stage in its new space, as LDIF celebrates 15 years of bringing world renowned dance to Leicester. Shirley Ado Langhelle, from Norway, shares Tufani la Hubba, “the hurricane of love” and Oraine Frater, choreographed by David Blake, presents Reflections
29 April | 7pm | Studio Box, Serendipity
LDIF25 FESTIVAL WEEK
LDIF25 explores the theme Intersection: Diasporic Dialogues. It is an opportunity for conversation that celebrates the richness of Black dance. The festival explores how common movement languages can be found, even if different ones are spoken. Conversely, LDIF25 is a forum that refuses to be reductionist in the representation, opening discussion around culture, connections and collaborations.
The programme includes the return of the annual conference, exploring the theme of this year’s festival, which brings together Melissa Blanco Borelli, Anita Gonzalez, Diedre Nyota Dawkins and Torens L Johnson, Claudia Nwabasili and Roges Doglas, Eduardo Vilaro and Melissa M Young. The masterclasses and Dance Dialogues bring together Boyzie Cekwana, Claudine Carter Pereira, Alexandria Davis, Eric Parra, Thomas Prestø and Tia-Monique Uzor.
Cia Pé No Mundo from Brazil present an intimate duet examining the body as an archive, taking place in Leicester’s historic Guildhall (12 May). Signatures and the Black British Dance Platform come together to showcase emerging and establishing dance practitioners with a mixed bill of UK and international artists. Finally, Ballet Hispánico return to LDIF with CARMEN.maquia, reclaiming and reimagining the often-misunderstood character of Carmen and providing an opportunity to reflect on legacies of being misrepresented or appropriated.
12 - 17 May | Various venues
BALLET HISPÁNICO: CARMEN.MAQUIA
Ballet Hispánico returns to Curve for Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2025 with their electrifying reimagining of Carmen, a contemporary take on Bizet’s beloved classic. The physically charged and sensual choreography fuses contemporary dance with nods to the Spanish paso doble, flamenco and movement of the Latin American Diaspora.
The full-length work is choreographed by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, whose work, 18+1, featured as part of Ballet Hispánico’s repertoire at Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2022.
Ballet Hispánico was founded in 1970 by Tina Ramirez – challenging iconic representations and exposing the joy and celebration to be found in Latinidad. Today, it is the largest Latin American cultural organisation in the United States and one of America’s Cultural Treasures. Eduardo Vilaro joined Ballet Hispánico as a company dancer in 1985, becoming the organisation’s second Artistic Director in 2009 and CEO in 2015. Vilaro has built on Ramirez’s impact: expanding and deepening a legacy showcasing the depth of Latin American cultures and exposing the intersectionality found in the Diaspora.
16 - 17 May | 7:30pm | Curve | £28 - £10
Black Dance Uncovered: Summer School
14 - 18 July | 10am - 6pm
Black Dance Uncovered: Summer School is a unique dance training programme that brings together leading professional dance practitioners from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora. Over five days, participants will engage in both theoretical and technical training with a sharing of their work to take place on the final day. Participants will receive an introduction to Talawa TechniqueTM and build vital skills in professional performance practice centred on a holistic model of focused dance technique, socio-cultural and historical knowledge and unapologetic creative expression. The course will be a valuable continued professional development opportunity or bridge between training and professional practice.
Talawa TechniqueTM is a fully codified and examinable technique for Africanistic movement and aesthetics, developed by Thomas Talawa Prestø. The technique seamlessly merges ancestral movements, historical and culturally contextualised vocabulary with contemporary African and Diaspora movement and sensibilities. The Talawa movement vocabulary stays true to Africanist dance heritage, rooting down towards the ground and is unique due to its use of rhythmic structures, making a clear distinction between aesthetical and technical choices. Connecting to history and culture in an empowering way, dancers are guided to skilfully master the multiple isolations and polyrhythmic articulations, while breaking down mental and cultural barriers to free movement. The technique uses knowledge and culture as a liberating tool, creating confident performers, who embrace their own identities and the multiple identities of Africanistic movement.
The course will also feature guest masterclasses led by pioneering dance practitioners and educators: Sharon Watson, Principal of Northern School of Contemporary Dance and David Blake, Director of Urdang.
Accommodation, if required, is an additional £78 per night, subject to availability. For participants 18 years old and over. Places are limited for a bespoke learning experience.
Annual Windrush Day Lecture
22 June | 6pm - 8pm | Studio Box, Serendipity | £15 - £12 - £5 Online
Windrush Day, officially recognised by the UK government since 2018, is commemorated annually on 22 June to mark the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush in 1948. This date has become a powerful symbol of the Caribbean community’s contribution to the UK.
Established in 2020, Serendipity’s Annual Windrush Day Lecture addresses the ongoing need for deep reflection and contextualisation against the backdrop of significant contemporary issues, including Black Lives Matter, Brexit, the Windrush Scandal, and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities. The lecture creates a platform for esteemed thinkers, writers and educators to amplify the narrative of Black presence, persistence, and resistance in the UK whilst unpacking the complex realities of BritishCaribbean connections.
Previous speakers have included Professor Stephen Small, Dr Beverley Bryan, Professor Gus John, Gary Younge, and Professor Lisa-Dionne Morris, offering diverse and impactful insights into the Windrush legacy.
THIS YEAR’S LECTURE: PROFESSOR VERENE A SHEPHERD
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage is proud to welcome Professor Verene A Shepherd, a distinguished historian, professor of social history at the University of the West Indies, and one of the Caribbean’s leading advocates for non-discrimination, gender justice and racial equality. Shepherd is Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and one of the leading voices calling for restorative justice for the Caribbean.
Join us for an evening of thought-provoking discourse led by one of the Caribbean’s most renowned voices.
Heritage
THE LIVING ARCHIVE
Serendipity’s heritage events are guided by the ethos of the Living Archive, which views an archive not as a static repository of labelled objects but as a dynamic, evolving framework shaped by ongoing interpretation and reinterpretation. This innovative approach creates opportunities for art to engage with and be informed by heritage, enabling powerful storytelling experiences. Through this process, the Living Archive fosters dialogue, reconnecting with heritage to ensure it remains vibrant and meaningful.
The Living Archive encompasses a diverse collection of materials, serving as a resource for a wide audience, including artists, academics, researchers, and those exploring family histories. Its digital collections aim to inspire creativity, learning and dialogue by breathing life into archival materials through artistic interpretations, events, exhibitions, podcasts and films.
As a key element of Unearthed: Forgotten Histories, a project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Living Archive contributes to the documentation, preservation and sharing of Black history and heritage in the UK, ensuring its stories are not only remembered but also celebrated.
HERITAGE OPEN DAY
The Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage proudly marks its first year at 8 Bowling Green Street, a Grade II listed building in Leicester city centre. As the current custodians of this historic site, the Serendipity team has researched its fascinating history and the vital role it has played in Leicester since 1865. To celebrate the building's one hundred and sixtieth anniversary, Serendipity is participating in Heritage Open Days.
Join us to explore the building's rich history and discover how it continues to serve as a vibrant hub for heritage and the arts today.
17 September | 10am - 12pm | 3pm - 5pm | Free
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Black Heritage Voices:
THE IMPORTANCE OF BLACK ARCHIVES IN PRESERVING HISTORICAL MEMORY
11 November | 8:30am - 7pm | Jewry Wall | Early Bird £120 |
Black Heritage Voices is a conference dedicated to uniting professionals from the Black and Asian communities working across various roles within the heritage sector. This includes archivists, researchers, audience engagement specialists, community artists, heritage programmers (Black History Month) and those in leadership positions. The event fosters dialogue and exploration around creativity, digital innovation and reframing narratives, with a focus on broadening perspectives within the heritage field and ultimately changing the gaze.
The conference will feature talks from esteemed international voices across the sector, including:
• Peggy Brunache, Lecturer in the history of Atlantic slavery at the University of Glasgow
• Cheryl Finley, Professor at Cornell University and Director of the AUC Art History
• Angelina Osborne, independent researcher and heritage consultant
• Mark Sealy, curator, cultural historian and Executive Director of Autograph ABP
• Deborah Willis, Professor and Chair of the Department of Photography and Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University
Black History Month (BHM)
Each year, Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, in collaboration with partners across Leicester, curates an engaging programme for Black History Month, designed to educate, inspire and entertain audiences of all ages. From exhibitions and workshops to talks and performances, the month offers something for everyone to enjoy.
For BHM25, the theme "Intersection: Diasporic Dialogues" shines a spotlight on African, African Caribbean and Latin American voices, fostering conversations across the Diasporas. The celebration will kick off with a powerful short film showcase, encapsulating the essence of this year's programme.
Join us as we celebrate the creativity and contributions of Black artists and practitioners throughout the year.
If you have an event taking place for Black History Month 2025 Leicester contact info@serendipity-uk.com or call 0116 482 1394 for more details.
Black History Month Launch:
SHORT FILM SHOWCASE
WHO WE WERE, WHO WE BECAME
Who We Were, Who We Became is a love song foregrounding the memories, faith and joy-making of the Windrush generation. It follows their final island moments and their journey to England. The short poetry film is a window into the Caribbean immigrant story and details the musical riddims and culture that helped newly arrived West Indians survive brutal racial violence in post-war Britain.
The poem was commissioned by Sheffield City Council to mark the seventyfifth anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush. It is a collaboration between producer and Sheffield poet laureate Danaé Wellington and filmmaker, Darshan Gajjar.
Time: 11 minutes
THERE ALL ALONG
The untold story of women who participated in the Trinidad and Tobago 1970 Black Power Revolution. The presence, importance and impact of female participation in the events of 1970 is presented through the first-person accounts of women revolutionaries, their male counterparts and scholars in the fields of sociology and gender
Time: 34 minutes
MOSIAH
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, a Jamaican-born political activist and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), is on trial in New York in 1923. The government accuses him of mail fraud for selling stocks for the Black Star Line, a shipping line designed to forge a link between North America and Africa. Garvey sees the trial as an attempt to destroy his movement through character assassination. Dissatisfied with his lawyer, he decides to represent himself. As the trial proceeds, flashbacks show glimpses of Garvey’s life and marriage to Amy Jacques Garvey. This is the first-ever narrative film about his life.
Time: 40 minutes
Each of the following four Wednesdays during October there will be a BHM film at Phoenix programmed by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.
Serendipity Online
BRITISH DANCE AND PERFORMANCE: IMPACT VOICE AND GAZE
This eight-week online course delves into Black dance from a British perspective, aiming to enhance participants' understanding of how language, representation and media influence the artistic and socio-political landscape in the UK and beyond.
Led by Pawlet Brookes MBE, CEO and Artistic Director of Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, and assessed by Tony Graves, former Associate Professor and Head of Arts and Festivals Management at De Montfort University, the course features insights from pioneering voices in Black dance, including Thomas Prestø, L’Antoinette Stines, and nora chipaumire. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of the policies and legislation shaping the creation and programming of culturally diverse work.
The course concludes with an in-person session, offering an opportunity to connect, reflect on the learning journey, and present a creative project or a one-minute dance film. Participants are encouraged to save the date for this engaging finale.
Course topics include:
• Government and policy
• Funding bodies and international connections
• Terminology
• Representation
• Examining case studies
• Programming and audience development for culturally diverse work
18 February - 8 April | 30 September - 18 November
Online Course | £275 | £225 for Members
Digital BlackCentric Week
Digital BlackCentric Week is an annual online event, that provides the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge conversations, development and innovative work that utilises technology as a creative tool.
This programme is at the forefront of exploring how new work, thoughts and experiences are redefining what is possible and how it is rapidly transforming industries, education and everyday life. By challenging existing barriers, it creates space to explore both traditional and contemporary concepts while forging a new language and occupying new realms for Black creatives, technologists, researchers and academics.
Digital BlackCentric Week continues to build stronger relationships and networks across organisations in the UK and the international dance sector whilst establishing a living legacy for Black dance.
To find out more about how you can be a part of Digital BlackCentric Week 2025, visit Serendipity-uk.com
A Very Serendipity Christmas Market
6 December | 10am - 4pm | Studio Box, Serendipity | Pay What You Can
Reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and look forward to the exciting opportunities in 2026. Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage invites you to join us for Serendipity’s annual open house, which has a special twist this year. Get into the festive spirit by visiting this Christmas market, featuring a variety of Black-led businesses offering highend artisan products. Whether you are searching for the perfect gift or treating yourself, come celebrate the holiday season with us. Experience the joyful atmosphere, as it’s the ideal opportunity to find that special gift whilst celebrating the season together.
Artist of the Season
Corner Gallery - Serendipity | By Appointment | Free
In 2025, Serendipity will proudly showcase the vibrant creativity and cultural contributions of Black artists, honouring the rich heritage of the African and African Caribbean Diaspora. The exhibition will be held in Serendipity's Corner Gallery, where visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a diverse range of artistic expressions throughout the year.
Each season will highlight a different artist, allowing for a deeper exploration of their unique perspectives and styles. Among those featured are the contemporary visual talents of Mel Larsen and Samantha Thompson, whose captivating works promise to inspire and engage audiences.
January - March | Mel Larson
April - June | Samantha M Thompson
July - September | Patricia Vester
October - December | Igor Tavares
To find out more about how you can submit your artwork for Artist of the Season, visit Serendipity-uk.com
Resources for Change
SERENDIPITY INSTITUTE FOR BLACK ARTS AND HERITAGE: CHAMPIONING ANTI-RACIST EDUCATION AND DIASPORIC KNOWLEDGE
Serendipity is dedicated to supporting anti-racist education with a focus on Black British history, dance, arts and culture. Through an expanding portfolio of resources, including podcasts, publications and educational packs, Serendipity addresses gaps in mainstream education by fostering a rich, diasporic approach to learning. These materials are designed for children, young people, students and self-directed learners, contributing to the decolonisation of education.
Collaborating with schools, colleges and universities, Serendipity engages in meaningful conversations about Black British history. Pawlet Brookes, the organisation’s CEO, frequently delivers keynote speeches, contributes to the Black European Summer School, and serves on advisory panels such as Midlands4Cities. Beyond advocacy, Serendipity offers practical training for archivists, curators and cultural organisations to access and utilise Black history, providing research tools that enhance planning, promotion and audience engagement for both charitable and commercial entities.
YOUNG ARCHIVISTS PROGRAMME
The Young Archivists programme equips young people from diverse communities—currently underrepresented in the heritage sector—with the tools to explore archives and intangible heritage. Participants work alongside heritage experts, using innovative technology to learn how to record, preserve and share cultural history. This initiative supports those interested in heritage careers, bridging the gap between communities and cultural institutions.
DANCE EDUCATION AND CPD OPPORTUNITIES
In 2024, Serendipity introduced an online CPD course exploring dance from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora. Designed for a global audience, this course revisits the history and significance of diasporic dance, offering fresh perspectives and accessible learning opportunities.
PUBLISHING: PURCHASING
As limited-edition print copies and digital eBooks, Serendipity’s publications are now available online, at independent booksellers and through ProQuest and Kortext, with a catalogue record for all titles available at the British Library. Serendipity-uk.com/shop
PUBLISHING: AMPLIFYING BLACK VOICES
As a leading independent publisher, Serendipity shares the expertise of trailblazing Black artists, heritage practitioners, and academics. Featuring contributors such as Thomas Talawa Prestø, Dr. L'Antoinette Stines, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Eduardo Vilaro, Ronald K. Brown, and Kyle Abraham, alongside academics like Professor Stephen Small, Dr. Beverley Bryan, Professor Gus John, and Gary Younge, Serendipity is recognised as one of the foremost independent publishers of Black dance in the UK and Europe.
Committed to documenting the legacy of pioneers, enriching the cultural narrative, and challenging Eurocentric perspectives, Serendipity continues to inspire and empower future generations through its work in arts and heritage.
Hidden Movement: Contemporary Voices of Black British Dance
Creolizing Dance in A Global Age
Blurring Boundaries: Urban Street Meets Contemporary Dance
Black Women in Dance: Stepping Out of The Barriers
Invisible Visibility: Diverse Voices Within Inclusive Dance
Identity and Choreographic Practice
Ancestral Voices: Dance Dialogues
Black Dance: A Contemporary Voice
My Voice, My Practice: Black Dance
Creating Socially Engaged Art: Can Dance Change the World?
In Situ: Responding to Space, Place, People and Time
Uncovering the Dance Within: Origins and Authenticity
LDIF 10 Years in The Making
Colonisation in Reverse: Jean-Léon Destiné
Moving Lines: Fifty Reasons to Dance
Lost Legends: 30 Years 30 Voices
Reflections: Cultural Voices of Black British Irrepressible Resilience
1981 - Black Liverpool Past and Present (Pocket Book)
A Wise Monkey Knows Which Tree to Climb (Pocket Book)
Souls and Solos, Duets and Dreams (Pocket Book)
Blacklnk, Issues 1-5 (magazine published annually)
100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark Catalogue
Camouflage: Embodied Dance
Serendipity Connect Membership
JOIN OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY!
Serendipity Connect is Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage’s popular membership scheme that offers a range of exclusive benefits for those who are passionate about Black arts and culture. As a member, you will have access to a range of events, exhibitions and workshops, as well as discounts on tickets and merchandise. You will also receive our regular newsletter, which features news and updates about our latest projects and collaborations, as well as interviews with artists and other cultural figures.
Membership benefits include:
• Priority booking
• Access to festival programmes and tickets before official release
• Discounts
• 15 - 20% off performances
• 15% off masterclasses and screenings
• Free digital subscription to BlackInk magazine
• International dance news
• share news with fellow members and keep up to date with industry news with our e-newsletter
By becoming a Connect member, you will be joining a vibrant community of artists, industry leaders and specialists who are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in arts and heritage. You will have the opportunity to attend exclusive members-only events, meet like-minded people, and support our work in promoting Black arts and heritage.
Insider Membership | from £70 per year/£6.50 per month
VIP Membership | from £100 per year/£9 per month
Organisational Membership | from £150
serendipity-uk.com/connect
Image Credit: Igor Tavares and Lauryn Pinard in Invisible Power (2023). Photographer Georgina Payne.
Spaces for Hire
Serendipity can now offer city-centre space for hire; the spaces are available for a variety of activities within the creative sector. This ranges from board meetings, seminars, and screening days to rehearsal and artist residences.
Dialogue Box and Studio Box are located at Serendipity's office and digital archive on Bowling Green Street, next to Leicester's Town Hall Square, it is:
• 10-minute walk from Leicester Railway Station
• 12-minute walk from Leicester Bus Station
• 4-minute walk from parking facilities (Newarke Street car park)
DIALOGUE BOX
A flexible and modern space ideal for meetings, training days, events, seminars, workshops and more... Accommodate up to 24 people (11 people socially distanced) in a bright and airy board room, filled with natural light, that also hosts our reference library.
Facilities:
• 65” HD screen, with HDMI and USB connections
• Complimentary WIFI.
STUDIO BOX
A multifunctional and adaptable space that is ideal for seminars, lectures, masterclasses, meetings, conferences, training days, rehearsals, script readings, and much more. Capacity of up to 50 people seated theatre style.
Facilities:
• 100” HD screen, with HDMI and airplay connections
• Access to basic sound and lighting equipment - avaliable on request
• Complimentary WIFI. Half Day | £200 | Charity and Membership
www.wasafiri.org/subscribe
Venues
Studio Box and Dialogue Box
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Herritage
8 Bowling Green Street
Leicester LE1 6AT
T: +44(0)116 482 1394
W: www.serendipity-uk.com
E: info@serendipity-uk.com
Curve
Rutland Street
Leicester LE1 3UL
T: +44(0)116 242 3595
W: www.curveonline.co.uk
E: tickets@curvetheatre.co.uk
Phoenix
4 Midland Street
Leicester LE1 1TG
T: 0116 242 2800
E: hello@phoenix.org.uk
W: www.phoenix.org.uk
The Guildhall Guildhall Lane Leicester LE1 5FQ
T: +44(0)116 242 2800
W: www.leicestermuseums.org/ leicester-guildhall/
Jewry Wall and Roman Baths
156-140 St Nicholas Walk
Leicester LE1 4LB
Further Information
ACCESS INFORMATION
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage is committed to ensuring that all are welcome to attend events at Let’s Dance International Frontiers. For further information, including venue layouts, details of events with British Sign Language and Audio Description or for marketing materials in accessible formats, please visit www.serendipity-uk.com, email info@serendipity-uk.com or call +44(0)116 482 1394.
PROGRAMME CHANGES
All details were correct at the time of print. Whilst every effort will be made to keep to the announced programme, it may be necessary to make changes without notice and in accordance with current government guidelines. Refunds or exchanges will be made at the venue or organiser’s discretion, please see terms and conditions for further details.
CONCESSIONS
Where stated, concessions are available to full-time students (with student ID), state pensioners, people with disabilities, unemployed and children under 16. Please be prepared to provide proof of concessionary status. Curve discounts for 16-26 years and students are available with Curve’s 16-26, Student Membership and Curve Connect.
SERENDIPITY INSTITUTE FOR BLACK ARTS AND HERITAGE
8 Bowling Green Street Leicester LE1 6AT
Room CL00.14, Clephan Building, De Montfort University, The Gateway Leicester, LE1 9BH
+44(0)116 482 1394
info@serendipity-uk.com
www.serendipity-uk.com
@SerendipityInfo
Serendipity Artists Movement Ltd
Company Number in England and Wales 07248813
Charity Number in England and Wales 1160035
@SerendipityInstituteUK
@SerendipityInstituteUK
Please note that all details were correct at the time of going to print. Whilst every effort will be made to keep the announced programme, it may be necessary to make changes without notice and in line with current government guidelines. Refunds or exchanges will only be made at the venue or organiser’s discretion. Please see terms and conditions for further details.