Coventry City of Culture 2021 announces the city's new Changemakers
Music from Kenya, art from South Africa and traditional dance from Jamaica are some of the subjects that will be explored through 20 projects led by Coventry artists that aim to make international connections and bring a wide range of cultures back to the city.
Ahead of 2021, Coventry City of Culture Trust has announced the successful applicants for the new International Changemakers Bursary scheme.
Funded by the British Council, Coventry UK City of Culture’s international partner, the programme will strengthen and evolve Coventry’s longstanding role as city of collaboration and friendship.
The artists will develop understanding of contemporary art in these international places as well as some amazing new international creative collaborations, and the visits will support their professional development.
The 20 successful changemaker projects will receive funding allowing Coventry’s creatives to travel to countries around the world to uncover connections, develop ideas and create lasting cultural exchanges.
The project has been inspired by the city’s pioneering activism in the twin city movement after World War Two, encouraging internationalism and celebrating Coventry’s role as an international city.
Two successful applicants, Colin Bell and Cherelle Harding, will be visiting one of Coventry’s twin cities - Kingston in Jamaica - in the hope of connecting the cultures and people by re-establishing a Caribbean carnival in Coventry in 2021.
Another project will see Sherrie Edgar travel to Ukraine to establish a connection with a country affected by war further exploring Coventry’s role as the only City of Peace and Reconciliation.
The work will spread as far as Cape Town with Coventry artist Colin Yates creating a series of new work alongside South African artists to be showcased ahead of 2021.
Armonico Consort will be bringing the sounds of Coventry to Kenya, before returning with songs from the country’s locales to be re-created in an original composition by the company’s composer Toby Young, set to be performed throughout the city by Armonico’s choirs.
Jon Davis, Senior Producer at Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “Each project will see an International Changemaker taking the city’s voice to all corners of the world, showcasing the culture and heritage of the city on a global scale and returning with the spirit of what connects us as people.
“The successful applicants were selected thanks to the breadth and scale of their global ambitions, meaning this project has truly become an international partnership featuring the city’s creative practitioners, artists, activists, professionals and community leaders.
“These projects will help to not only bring Coventry to the world, but will build lasting partnerships with cities across the globe, using art and culture to create a collective movement of connected changemakers.
“The knowledge that is being passed through this exchange will create a lasting international legacy in the partnerships and projects that are created from their work – we are so excited to see what our International Changemakers discover on their travels.”
