Afri-Co-Lab CIC

Afri-Co-Lab (ACL) was formed in November 2020. It was created out of AfroRetro LTD,separating the creative participation and community aspects of AFRORETRO LTD into Afri-Co-Lab CIC.Afri-Co-Lab is a Creative Community Dreaming Space, formed in response to the inequalitiesthe pandemic and global racial uprisings in 2020 highlighted. It is a space for both practisingartists, creatives and the local community to experiment, experience creativity and community.Empowering marginalised communities through art. In December 2020 ACL moved into shopspace 3 Marine Court in St Leonards-on-Sea. Due to the lockdown refurbishment workcouldn’t take place, ACL hosted a series of artists in pop-up community creative events. InMay 2021 ACL premises had an internal refurbishment opening its doors in July 2021.Hosting a community arts shop and creative maker space. ACL has benefited the communityby:Hosting 3 local artists to use the shop window to exhibit their work during the lockdown.One artist received a paid commission from the exhibition.The Shop Window Gallery provided the local community with inspiring artwork to viewduring exercise walks in lockdown.ACL artist/designer shop has supported 10 local, 2 Ugandan, 1 london basedartist/designers to sell their work on a low commission basis and build their audienceand confidence. This has led to other retailing opportunities for the artists/designers.ACL Shop has given the wider local community ways to support local enterprise andcreativity and especially ways to support Black and POC Artist/Designers.ACL created a programme of body positivity and wellness classes with a low costsliding payment scale option. The classes bring together a diverse group from the localcommunity, with 20 regular folks in attendance.ACL supported a subsidised group exhibition of Black artists and artists of Colour atCoastal Currents, (Hastings largest art festival). Supporting 4 Black and POC artists todisplay and sell their work and share their practice. It also boosted the profile of Black and POC artists and creatives in the area.ACL programmed a series of 4 creative talks ‘Creative Gossips’ led by Black and POC artists and community leaders on a series of topics chosen by the creative community.Offering space for diverse conversation and modelling anti-racist practices.ACL programmes a series of monthly creative and artistic activities/classes/workshopsfor all with mixed audiences from both an artistic and non artistic backgrounds. Thesevary from free/pay by donation to paid events. All paid events have a low costconcession that is opted in from the public with no need to evidence. These classesare a way to bring both maker and audience into the same space to share experienceand knowledge.ACL have partnered with many local organisations such as Eggtooth, Allsorts, HomeLive Art, Sanctuary Festival, Refugee Buddy Project, De La Warr Pavilion to create and deliver audience centred creative workshops. Sharing creativity, community, inclusion through our anti-racist practices.ACL created a community promenade theatre show for Hastings Last Thursday free for the local community. 10 local community members participated including those who had never performed before. 70 people came and experienced and supported the work.ACL has given paid employment to local artists and creatives allowing them to share their skills locally rather than having to work in London and further afield.