Dawn Airey Addresses Leicester Conference Celebrating 50 Years of Naseem Khan's 'The Arts Britain Ignores'
On Wednesday, the Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage in Leicester will host the conference titled 'The Arts Britain Ignores: 50 Years On,' commemorating the 50th anniversary of Naseem Khan's influential 1976 report. This report championed a diverse national culture that acknowledges various ethnic artistic expressions. Dawn Airey, the chair of Arts Council England, is set to present her first speech, alongside participants such as Khan's daughter, Amelia Torode, and theatre director Jatinder Verma. The event will also unveil 'The Arts Britain Ignores at 50,' which includes new research. Airey plans to highlight the persistent challenges faced by artists, such as racism and funding shortages, while advocating for unity among those impacted by cultural space pressures and discussions on British identity.
Key facts
- Naseem Khan's report 'The Arts Britain Ignores' was published in 1976, 50 years ago.
- The report was commissioned by organisations including the then Arts Council of Great Britain.
- The conference 'The Arts Britain Ignores: 50 Years On' takes place on Wednesday at the Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage in Leicester.
- Dawn Airey, the new chair of Arts Council England, will give her inaugural speech at the conference.
- Contributors include Amelia Torode, Jatinder Verma, Brenda Emmanus and Lola Young.
- The conference launches the book 'The Arts Britain Ignores at 50', published by Serendipity Institute.
- Pawlet Brookes is chief executive and artistic director of Serendipity Institute.
- Airey is expected to say the journey Khan set the sector will sit at the centre of her work.
Entities
Artists
- Naseem Khan
- Lauryn Pinard
- Dawn Airey
- Frank Bowling
- Sonia Boyce
- Anish Kapoor
- Tebandeke Joseph
- Amelia Torode
- Jatinder Verma
- Brenda Emmanus
- Lola Young
- Pawlet Brookes
Institutions
- Arts Council of Great Britain
- Arts Council England
- Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
- Let's Dance International Frontiers
- University of Nottingham
- Fitzwilliam Museum
- Hayward Gallery
- The Guardian
- The Unloved
Locations
- Leicester
- United Kingdom
- Cambridge
- London