THE YINKA SHONIBARE FOUNDATION
New Fellowship Residencies for African Diaspora Artists and Curators
A UK charity supporting African and diaspora artists and curators, fostering exchanges with global peers. Creating, facilitating and hosting international multi-disciplinary residencies and breaking down barriers of access, lack of infrastructure, education and opportunity.
It ran from 12:00 PM, 30 November 2021 to 12:00 PM, 7 December 2021
Registered Charity in England and Wales (1183321)
Match funded Campaign target
£12,500
Amount raised
£5,380
Donations
16
Location
Multiple locations
Campaign overview
Aims
Where's the money going?
Impact & reporting
Situation
The barriers to access that exist in the arts and culture sector whether on the basis of privilege, wealth or education disproportionately affect those from the African Diaspora. Systemic inequalities and racial disparities continue to make it more difficult for them to access opportunities, find recognition and build a successful career in the art world. We want to address this issue by creating and offering a new Fellowship Residency to a UK based artist and curator from the African Diaspora.
Solution
We are currently opening two new purpose-built residency buildings located in Lagos and on a lush 54-acre farm in Ijebu, Nigeria. These spaces will become the hub of a new programme of fellowships and residencies for those working across both the arts and ecology. We already have a proven track record of running residency programmes both in the UK and digitally but want to foster cultural exchange and trans-continental working relationships. These will in turn build creative career networks between artists, institutions and cultural communities and provide dedicated opportunities for marginalised voices.
The art world needs to evolve - there is a rich vein of talent out there, but we might lose them if the status quo of the last thirty years remains. We are working with the local community, whilst opening doors for the next generation, equipping them to thrive not just survive.
— Yinka Shonibare CBE RA
There’s so much to learn in Africa, there will be opportunities for visitors to work alongside African artists, to debate alongside them, to explore work, and leave with a completely different perspective. I’ve done residencies myself and I always come back with a changed view of the world.
— Yinka Shonibare CBE RA