The Finnish Institute’s staff provide ideas and inspiration for a socially-distanced summer.
Annika’s pick: Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Can you call it a summer holiday if you don’t binge on books while laying in the sun? Critically acclaimed novel Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo is on my list this time. The novel consists of interconnected short stories portraying the lives of twelve British women of colour and the challenges they face in contemporary British society.
Jaakko’s Choice: Pride Inside
Pride week in London has for long been one of the highlights of the year. The people and communities that different pride events celebrate are not able to come together physically this year, but Amnesty International, UK Black Pride, Gendered Intelligence, Stonewall and ParaPride have joined forces to bring the festival online.
Pride Inside takes place from 27 June to 10 July, and it consists of online gigs, comedy, arts-based events and panel discussions on, among other things, a very timely debate on decolonising Pride and creating safe spaces for QTIBPOC-people (Queer Trans Intersex Black People & People of Colour).
Find out more here: https://prideinside.uk/.
P.S. In this time it is also important to support the survival of local LGBTQ+ venues. I live in the vicinity of the legendary RVT, and I wish I could go back in time to witness the night Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett took Princess Di there dressed as a man.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-rvt
Sara’s Choice: House to House with Koko Brown
Brixton House (formerly known as Ovalhouse) is known to show plays with social commentary. Their online series House to House is showing Koko Brown’s spoken word and live vocal looping productions WHITE and GREY. WHITE explores experiences of growing up with mixed heritage. GREY is tackling depression and the racial politics of mental health.
WHITE is available from June 25 at 7pm, GREY will be available from July 2 at 7 pm.
More info here: https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/2020/05/27/house-to-house/
Ninni’s Choice: Rowing in Color podcast
One of my favourite London hobbies, rowing, has been on hold since March. I have filled the void by listening to rowing podcasts, especially while washing up. Rowing in Color is a podcast by Denise Aquino and Patricia Destine. They both are American women of colour and rowers turned coxes turned coaches. The aim of the podcast is to promote diversity in rowing, which is still largely a white middle class sport. The series is mostly about love of rowing, but for example the episode ‘What’s one thing you want your white coach to know’ is highly recommended for anyone doing team sports.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rowing-in-color/id1500669441
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/rowing-in-color
Rosaliina’s choice: Autograph ABP, Black Cultural Archives, Iniva
Have you ever visited Iniva, Black Cultural Archives or Autograph ABP? Take a look at these black-founded art spaces in London to learn more about their ideas on fighting inequality and injustice and celebrating resilience. For more, see, for instance, this ongoing list for black-owned and black-founded museums, art galleries and spaces in London and around the globe.
Autograph ABP, Rivington Pl, Hackney, London EC2A 3BA.
Black Cultural Archives, 1 Windrush Square, Brixton SW2 1EF.
Iniva, Institute of International Visual Arts, 16 John Islip St, Westminster, London SW1P 4JU.
Volter’s choice: South London Gallery’s new event series Convergence
South London Gallery is debuting Convergence, a series of critical conversations, screenings and written commissions on June 24th. The first edition, Cultural compensation won’t sustain anti-racism, features a discussion exploring the role of the creative sector in responding to race and racism” Dr Clive James Nwonka will be engaging in discussion with fellow academic Dr Francesca Sobande, The Guardian arts and culture correspondent Lanre Bakare and broadcaster and journalist Bidisha. The event will be hosted on Zoom, streamed on Youtube and an archived version will be accessible online afterwards.
You can find out more about Convergence here: https://www.southlondongallery.org/events/convergence-cultural-compensation-wont-sustain-anti-racism/
Photo: Eileen Perrier / http://autographabp-iadl.co.uk/artists/eileen-perrier/
