SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
WITH THANKS TO. We would like to thank and acknowledge the many team members and contributors of Phase 0 to the present Phase 5, who have devoted their time, commitment, skillset and/or continuing support to the work of Shades of Noir. We have listed a number of them here with the acknowledgment of when they first became involved with SoN, however many contributors continue to support our work ten years on. PHASE 0 TEAM: Anthony Ebanks Darren Rochford (RIP) Dennis Brown Lorna Stewart Nathaniel Richards PHASE 1 TEAM: Amish Parekh Diana Donaldson Dr Deborah Gabriel Dr Kimathi Donker Julia Villard Montana Williamson Osei Bonsu Pamala Kember Sicgmone Kludje PHASE 1 CONTRIBUTORS: Aaron Kiely Angela Drisdale-Gordon Ayo Banton Buki Akiba Carolyn Bew Chantal Badjie Charlene White Colin Thompson Corrine Bougaard David Pugh Dr Gil Robinson
Dr Yvonne Thompson, CBE Geoff Small Gerard Hanson Gurnam Singh Hew Locke Kanja Ibrahim Sesay Luke David Mark Crawley Nehanda Wright Ngozi Onwurah Nixi Cura Peter Bonnici Prof. Andrew M. Ramroop OBE, CM Professor Ablade Glover OBE Simon Woolley Sonya Dyer Suki Chan Tanicia Payne Terry Finnigan Tom Happold Trevor Robinson CBE Yaba Badoe Yinka Shonibare MBE PHASE 2 TEAM: Laura Raphael Martin Sarreal Vladimir Molico
PHASE 3 TEAM: Andrew Persoff Angie Illman Bee Tajudeen Bryony Hussey Cai Zhang Cynthia Silveira Eva Wilkinson Katayoun Jalili PHASE 4 TEAM: Charisse Chikwiri Charmaine Watkiss Ebun Sodipo Inês Alves Jay Lee Julie Wright Kairon Edwards Melodie Holliday Mica Schlosser Michael Ukaegbu Othello De’Souza-Hartley Phalinda-Tavia Wakadima Sahar Amer Tabitha Austin Tiffany Webster
PHASE 5 TEAM: Bee Smith Favour Jonathan Florence Low Hope Cunningham Hsuan Wan Jessica Anoche Jorge Aguilar Rojo Kana Higashino Kerian Preddie Patricia Petersen Rayvenn Shaleigha D’Clark Sabrina Mumtaz Hasan Tamara James-Dickson Yasmine Akim Yuwen Hsieh
A Special Thanks: A special thanks to our founder and director Aisha Richards who has worked tirelessly and given so much over the past ten years to maintain, develop and drive forward this tranformative platform.
We Salute you!
We would like to thank University of the Arts London, with a particular mention of Mark Crawley, who has continued to fund and champion the works of Shades of Noir. Whilst this institution has many challenges towards social justice it has continued to show commitment as well as endure the voice of its critical friend Shades of Noir and as such evolve.
We salute you too!
OUR MISSION STATEMENT. Shades of Noir undertakes practice based social justice within the creative sector context in partnership with international educational and cultural institutions, as well as creative practitioners and a broad spectrum of organisations. Our aim is to evolve behaviour, practice and cultural value to support a variety of audiences through a broad range of discursive and proactive interventions. We seek to engage and support individuals who make up the sectors through a combination of activities, commissions and resources. We centre the histories, voices and experiences of marginalised communities as a catalyst for transformation of people, processes and policies. This is all in support of our mission to: • Centre the voices, experience and perspectives of marginalised communities to evolve thinking. • Create platforms to engage with intersectional experience, understanding and perspectives. • Support knowledge exchange within a social justice pedagogical context . • Transform behaviours through proactive interventions within a creative educational canon. • Build social justice and anti racist communities of change makers across sectors and countries.
PHASE 0: 2009 - 2010.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
The Study. Shades of Noir is an independent programme that supports curriculum design, accessible knowledge, and pedagogies of social justice through representation. For nearly a decade, the programme has reached huge success though research, media and events thanks to its diverse team of staff and students. Shades of Noir was founded by Aisha Richards in 2009. It was informed by “Any Room at the Inn”research. This is a scoping study that looked into the transitions and experiences of graduates of colour from art, design and communications higher education courses into the creative industries. By then she had been a teacher at Central Saint Martins for 8 years and a print maker in industry for 15 years. However she noticed that students of colour were increasing across higher education but she had not seen the same developments in industry. She found it concerning - What does this mean? Where did they go? She interviewed 19 graduates of the UAL, and found that a majority of these graduates were getting jobs but concerned about progression and the glass ceiling for people of colour across the sector as there were very few accessible examples. It seemed for many that the interviews were a time to reflect on their education and experience, especially surrounding the hierarchy of race in the curriculum and the lack of visible role models. Many said as much in these interviews with Richards. Out of the 19 students, only 6 agreed to be part of the written paper for fear of the potential consequences of speaking up. 5 of 6 that agreed stated that they were surprised that Richards was an academic at Central Saint Martins, with comments such as, “I didn’t know you were there Aisha.” “I had such a hard time there. I wish I knew you before.” “There was nobody that I could go to. It would have been good to just know I wasn’t alone.” Richards concluded that the root of exclusion and inequality within the higher education sector and the creative industries was affected by raced and gendered identities (when at the time it was mistaken as solely a socio-economic issue). Though her claims were supported by data, her conclusion brought a lot of resistance and hostility. In response, she drafted a proposal for an exhibition that responded to some of her findings. SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
CREATIVE SUCCESS STORIES EXHIBITORS INCLUDE: Professor Andrew Ramroop OBE – The 1st black owned tailor on Savile Row Professor Ronnie McGrath – Creative Writer and Author Professor Ablade Glover – Artist Samantha Cole – Fashion Designer Patricia Williams (PC Williams) – Knitwear Designer Yinka Shonibare – Sculptor & Turner Prize Nominee Trevor Robinson OBE – Advertiser and founder of Quitestorm advertising agency London College of Communication (formerly London College of Printing is located at the Elephant and Castle campus) Address: London College of Communication, Elephant& Castle, London. SE1 6SB By Train: The Elephant and Castle site is connected by Thameslink trains from Blackfriars. By Underground: Both the Bakerloo and Northern Lines stop at Elephant and Castle. Follow the signs on the underpass to London College of Printing (our former name). The College is opposite the shopping centre on the same side of the road as the Metropolitan Tabernacle, just three minutes walk away. By Bus: Elephant and Castle is extremely well provided for with buses including: 1, 12, 35, 40, 45, 53, 63, 68, 100, 133, 148, 155, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 322, 188, 322, 333, 343, 344, 360, 363, 453, 468, C10, P5.
Private View: 12 November 2009 (6pm – 9pm) Black Tie, Public Viewing: 16 – 20 November 2009 (tour bookings available)
The exhibition that never was. Richards has a vision to shift the thinking of how people of colour are perceived, and aims to make sure that the people she met didn’t share their experience in vain. So, she created Shades of Noir, initially an exhibition featuring artists of colour. It made it into Time Out, but unfortunately, with a lack of financial support, the exhibition wasn’t realised. She took the next year to regroup and figure out what Shades of Noir was going to be - especially for the students and staff of UAL. The original exhibition for Shades of Noir was supported by Dennis Brown and Lorna Stewart.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
The original logo for Shades of Noir was designed in 2009 by Darren Rochford (RIP). PHASE 0 TEAM: Anthony Ebanks Darren Rochford (RIP) Dennis Brown Lorna Stewart Nathaniel Richards
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
PHASE 1: 2010 - 2013.
PHASE 1 TEAM: Amish Parekh Diana Donaldson Dr Deborah Gabriel Dr Kimathi Donker Julia Villard SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
Montana Williamson Osei Bonsu Pamala Kember Sicgmone Kludje
Regrouping and rebirth. Rather than just an exhibition, Richards decided that it was going to be a campaign and movement for change. It had to be independent to UAL based on the advice of older staff members of colour in the creative and educational sector. Richards also needed people to help to deliver, funding and senior support and this is where Mark Crawley (Dean of Students and Director of Widening Participation) came in. Richards drafted an in-depth document contextualising the context and need to recognise the contributions and experiences of marginalised people that offered a learning opportunity for all. It started with multiple events and panels featuring Artists of Colour as well as causes around social justice and diverse representation. In 2010, UAL agreed to fund the organization. They also agreed to fund the original exhibition, that was eventually called “Happening to Be…”. Even the second time around, the exhibition still wasn’t an easy undertaking. Nothing like this had been done before, with a large population of non-white attendees at an art event on University grounds made for some interesting and uncomfortable discussions, behaviours and practices. However those and more notable creatives offered their work and support, as well as many staff and students, which continued to motivate Richards. Alongside the exhibition, Shades of Noir continued to organise and curate other events with diverse panels with Shades of Noirs first team which included academics such as Diana Donaldson as the event lead and supported by Dr Deborah Gabriel, Dr Kimathi Donkor, and then students Montana Williamson, Julia Villard, Amish Parekh, Osei Bonsu, Pamala Kember and Sicgmone Kludje. Richards believed that not only do people of colour need to be heard, they have to be listened to and their cultural capital reflected in every aspect of the educational experiences for social justice to take place. The mainstream media saw this as newsworthy and featured the exhibition and events during this period.
shadesofnoir.org.uk/exhibition-2012-happening-to-be
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
A Soiree: On Thursday 11 October 2012, Shades of Noir, in collaboration with the Group for the Equality of Minority Staff (GEMS) hosted ‘A Soiree’. It was an evening dedicated to discourse on the future of black and minority ethnic academics held at the ‘Happening To Be’ Exhibition. The evening commenced with a welcome from Project Founder and Manager Aisha Richards and an introduction from GEMS joint Chair Tanicia Payne. Presentations by SON PR Specialist and Researcher Dr Deborah Gabriel and Dr Gurnam Singh, a Principal Lecturer in Social Work from Coventry University were followed by a performance from the accomplished saxophonist Steve Williamson. After further presentations by Terri Finnigan, then head of Head of Widening Participation and National Teaching Fellow at London College of Fashion and Mark Crawley, Director of Widening Participation at UAL and Dean of students, the audience were invited to give their feedback on camera. GEMS was set up to promote the personal development and create a network of staff of colour in 1989, it also is the longest standing staff network at UAL. As a result of this event, the size of the network doubled.
shadesofnoir.org.uk/a-soiree
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
PHASE 2: 2014 - 2015
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
A developing brand: The Shades of Noir website and branding was completely updated and evolved to help bring forward the work that we do. As a result of feedback, we worked with many accomplished academics and practitioners to create original content and discussion. New features on the website included: Video ContentThrough our video interviews, Shades of Noir offered the opportunity for graduates, industry professionals, and all academic practitioners, including Higher Education Chancellors to share their thoughts and ideas on a more open medium. Written ContentWith the opportunity to branch out and speak to industry professionals about their work, we were able to generate original content on debates, performances, visits and other relevant events. DatabaseThrough a more updated and efficient system, users of the website were invited to add to our list of ever growing resources in a more instant and interactive way. PHASE 2 TEAM: Laura Raphael Martin Sarreal Vladimir Molico
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
“The Shades of Noir website and branding was completely updated and evolved to help bring forward the work that we do.”
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
shadesofnoir.org.uk/phase-2-events
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
PHASE 3: 2015 - 2016.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
Phase Three heralded a new form of SoN Events, which were received well across the institution and externally, most were over subscribed. Our events have had representatives from CHEAD, Arts Council, and HEA. One recent email from a staff attendee from Brighton University states ‘I want to thank you for these events, for having the courage and initiative to create the opportunity for change, awareness, and solidarity which informs the curriculum. Would there be scope for you to deliver staff training next academic year’ Over this phase we held four student focused panel discussions. This facilitated the space for students, academics and professionals to come together and discuss the following topics in a space where it was safe to be critical and analytical: • • • •
Funding for the Arts Race, Religion & Free Speech: The Power of Social & Broadcast Media Beyond Gender: The Identity of Fashion Feminisms – Arts of a Woman
These events also inspired the SoN Terms of Reference to evolve into a zine. Although since 2011 we had always provided a terms of reference document, however these Zines took the concept to the next level and have continued to grow in size and cultural wealth. They have not only found a home in UALs libraries but have also been circulated globally.
shadesofnoir.org.uk/terms-of-reference-journals
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
The Phase Three team has included 8 students and alumni in total. In addition to this we have also had a number of contributors from other institutions involved with events and creating content. We have facilitated support for Alumni lead projects such as Black Blossoms and Diversity Matters. As well as supported students with their final major projects. The impact on students is hard to quantify, however, we are aware that students do reference the work of SoN in their writing, that there is a clear personal growth in the team members who are involved and that the safe spaces we create are valued and develope a critical vioce further.
PHASE 3 TEAM: Andrew Persoff Angie Illman Bee Tajudeen Bryony Hussey Cai Zhang Cynthia Silveira Eva Wilkinson Katayoun Jalili
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
PHASE 4: 2016 - 2018. Phase 4 presented the following: Experience Offering opportunities for students and staff to come together to share their experiences and knowledge. This was delivered through 12 events including panel discussions and lectures Empower Facilitating student led events, chances to exhibit student work, and providing opportunities for creatives to share their work through online and analog publications. It was during this phase that we produced 9 zine publications and physical newsletters. Educate Providing training and support for academics, creating new resources for creative institutions to use within their curriculum and focusing on pedagogies of social justice. These include case studies and digitising artefacts. Academic Staff Recruitment Phase Four has seen the launch of Shades of Noirs Teaching Within programme, an exhibition and many events both at UAL and other institutions. PHASE 4 TEAM: Charisse Chikwiri Charmaine Watkiss Ebun Sodipo Inês Alves Jay Lee Julie Wright Kairon Edwards Melodie Holliday SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
Mica Schlosser Michael Ukaegbu Othello De’Souza-Hartley Phalinda-Tavia Wakadima Sahar Amer Tabitha Austin Tiffany Webster
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
www.shadesofnoir.org.uk/education/ teaching-within SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
Teaching Within. Shades of Noirs (SoN) ‘Teaching Within’ (TW) programme is a proactive academic progression intervention that responds directly to the under representation of academics of colour in the creative arts and design higher education sector, but not exclusively. This programme was created in 2016 by Aisha Richards in collaboration with SoN and has been delivered across all 6 different colleges within University of the Arts London (UAL) to present an intersectional approach to social justice. TW has increased the presence of academics of colour and further enhanced a diverse community of practitioners across the institution. This programme offers paid teaching placements across this institution and implements diverse mechanisms to train (including the PG Cert in Academic Practice bursary) and support a positive experience. Teaching Within 1.
Teaching Within 2.
Teaching Within 3.
Annabel Crowley Carole Morrison Christopher Amaning Iris Ching Man Yau Jhinuk Sakar Laura Raphael Montana Williamson Nehanda Wright Rahul Patel Romero Bryan Sandra Fearson Sicgmone Kludjen Meena Sagoo-Reddy Vladimir Molico
Adam Saad Annabel Crowley Bola Tajudeen Dionne Walker Jheni Arboine Julia Villard Kwame Baah Leigh Odimah Lorraine Williams Makbule Yanar Martin Sarreal Melissa Genc Mikael Calandra Achode Peju Oshin Rahemur Rahman Raju Sachi Singh Samia Malik Sharon Bertram Shura Joseph-Gruner
Aman Sagoo Angie Illman Cai Zhang Ciaran Maguire Ebun Sodipo Elena Arzani Ella Bulley Eva Wilkinson Hamish Chohan Olamide Olayinka Olivia MathurinEssandoh Rebekah Ubuntu Richard Mkoloma Shani-Louise Osei Sheree Robinson Smita Tharoor Stacey Leigh Ross Zainab Bangura SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
Visible Faces in White Spaces (April 2017). ‘Visible Faces in White Spaces’ is an exhibition inspired by Rhian Spencer’s work ‘Black Faces in White Spaces’ (Fine Art, Camberwell College of Art, 2016). Spencer’s work features a series of illustrated portraits of black staff subjects and was displayed on iPads which were integrated throughout the Camberwell campus. During his study at Camberwell College of the Arts, Spencer often felt like a representative for his entire race as he was the only black person in many of his classes, leading him to feel excluded and isolated. Spencer’s work serves as an activism to create an enhanced black presence within his academic community. Shades of Noir (SoN) echoes this activism by proudly showcasing the contributions of students and staff of colour, working within the University of Arts, London (UAL). These portraits, taken by SoN photographer, Jay Lee, are put front and center as a celebration of their contributions and recognition of their collective significant presence within the institution. These people are the driving force for change within UAL and are bringing cultural currency to the table everyday which enriches our communities. We Salute them!
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
PHASE 5: 2018 - 2019 ‘Inside The Ivory Tower: Narratives of women of colour surviving and thriving in British academia’ by Dr Deborah Gabriel and Black British Academics Aisha Richards is one of Ten Women who contributed a chapter of her narrative surrounding the experience of Women of colour in Higher Education. A book described by one of two editors, Dr Deborah Gabriel, as “part of a movement to give voice to women of colour, those of whom aren’t recognised but invaluable to academia”. She also describes the book as a “political mission” with a key message for Higher Education, in the UK and on a global scale: a message that states that “the current inadequate approaches to tackling race and gender inequality must change”. The book breaks down the 4 steps needed for academia to change, they are as follows: • The critical examination of white privilege • The need to embed intersectionality (the real intersectionality, not the whitewashed version) and cultural democracy into academia • To recognise value of lived experience • Use knowledge to inform policy/practice ‘We were told that there were only 30 black female professors out of nearly 15000 in the whole of the UK.’ The significance of this book is upmost and to have these voices collected together is impactful on Higher Edcuation. The full list of conributors is as follows: Dr Deborah Gabriel, Aisha Richards, Professor Claudia Bernard, Dr Elizabeth Opara, Professor Heidi Safia Mirza, Dr Ima Jackson, Dr Jenny Douglas, Dr Josephine Kwhali, Dr Marcia Wilson, Professor Shirley Anne Tate.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
Shades of Noir first designed the Terms of Reference (ToR) as a supporting document for SoN events in 2011. They have continued to evolve contextually and engage wider communities through Richards direction: ToRs have always included external contributions, key terms and contextual resources. In 2015 they took the form of a zine and included visual contributions In 2017 the ToRs have been peer reviewed, with national and global contribution. In 2018 they became journals. They are sought after documents and as such have been digitised since 2016 to increase accessibility to accommodate the international demand. Currently 2000 people engage each month, ToRs are used as pedagogic tools, archived in libraries such as The New School, Plymouth College of Art, University of Western Cape Town, and The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Additionally, ToRs are featured in student dissertations and course resources lists globally. PHASE 5 TEAM: Bee Smith Sabrina Mumtaz Favour Jonathan Hasan Florence Low Tamara James-Dickson Hope Cunningham Yasmine Akim Hsuan Wan Yuwen Hsieh Jess Anoche Jorge Aguilar Rojo Kana Higashino Kerian Preddie Patricia Petersen Rayvenn Shaleigha D’Clark SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
During Phase 5 the Education site was expanded to allow both the Creative Database and Artefacts to have their own platforms, which has enabled them to grow and develop. shadesofnoir.org.uk/education This site is dedicated to explicitly sharing the knowledge, practices and experiences of students, graduates, HE staff and creative industry collaborators for the purpose of social justice. You will find provided a developing set of resources, activities and documentation that align closely with our aims and approach to social justice within creative HE. We hope this will further support transformational cultures and practices across the sector. This site includes the following: • Student and staff case studies • Terms of Reference (ToR) journals • Book and resources list • Curriculum Support • Consultancy shadesofnoir.org.uk/creatives The Creatives Database is an ongoing project to archive and document creatives from various disciplines, including design, fine art, sound art, writing, film, fashion and photography. The Creatives Database is an online space that champions Creatives of all disciplines who do not tend to be celebrated in traditional and mainstream media, centring the achievements of people of colour in particular. The database is an acknowledgement of the contributions to the arts of people of colour and creatives from other marginalised communities, including women, disabled people and queer and trans people. It is a recognition of, and reaction against, the elitist and colonial nature of arts education in the UK. It aims to provide arts educators with tools to decolonise and democratise their teaching in colleges and universities, though it is available to anyone who wishes to use it, including students. SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
shadesofnoir.org.uk/artefacts Shades of Noir is proud to present a growing platform of digitised artefacts which evoke discourse and reflection. We are currently engaged in work with a number of UK based archives and will be continuing to add more artefacts and collections to this platform in the future. The Artefacts site currently houses two archives: Tell Us About It: Created by Terry Finnigan in 2009, this programme of work embraces, affirms and presents the experiences of selected UAL students through the creation of artefacts. They are asked to reflect on their learning across their degrees. This collection is archived at the Archives and Special Collections Centre (ASCC) at the London College of Communication. Black Panther Newsletters: The British Black Panther newspapers are testimony to a time when social injustices were unravelling beyond control. This documentation aims to share the history of such events and is a necessary reference to the development of social justices and is highly relevant in today’s society in regards to the Black Lives Matter movement. This collection is housed at the George Padmore Institute in Finsbury Park.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
The main website has also been updated and continues to grow. We are currenlty working to make it more accessible and easier to use on more devices.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
OUR IMPACT. SoN reaches 1 million people globally each year and continuously delivers cutting edge modes of transformation through Richards leadership and vision. Shades of Noir cohesively embeds identity and belonging as one of the most important aspects in creative education that is meaningful and relevant to all students’ engagement, progression and success (hooks, 1994). The interventions SoN have and continue to design inform policy, develop people and evolve practices. SoNs decade of delivery has contributed to evolving thinking, supporting conscious intentions and encouraging crucial discussions. Richards directs the delivery and development of impactful social practice innovations as catalyst for transformation. These innovations support purposeful delivery for the SoN team of students and creatives academics to learn and build on. As well as providing a variety of engagements that affect a much wider community. SoN is now established as a higher education arts sector leading organisation, that has worked with institutions and organisations in London and beyond (including HEA, ECU, GSA, and the BBC). The work external to UAL has included consulting and delivering support of curriculum design, policy reviews as well as recruitment, retention and attainment processes and practices. As such I have developed skills in leveraging resources, influencing policy and practice in and beyond UAL.
SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.
WITH THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTER:
INFO: W: shadesofnoir.org.uk E: info@shadesofnoir.org.uk Tw: @shadesofnoir Fb: shadesofnoir
We salute you! © Shades Of Noir 2020 SHADES OF NOIR: 10 YEARS ON.