Introducing FUSE Brighton: elevating the voices & work of creatives of colour in the city

I had previously looked for organisations aimed at people of colour (POC) and found that they tended to be advice-based or community/family-focused as opposed to being creative sector specific.

Only 11% of people in the UK creative industry are from an ethnic background, according to 2015 research by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Many of them aren’t in senior positions. 

Fuse is an inclusive platform aimed at elevating the voices and work of creatives of colour. We’re here to create change. Founded in Manchester in 2018, Fuse now operates across five different countries including the UK. Fuse Brighton is the newest chapter and is aimed at creatives of colour from all disciplines, and not just in Brighton but across Sussex. 

Through curated content, our aim is to showcase creativity from around the city and beyond. This will be done through online and printed matter, a free directory showcasing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) creatives, highlighting their practices as well as sharing anti-racism and petition information. There will be open calls, opportunities and events shared across the network. We are also looking to launch a new initiative Features & Thoughts – an online feed of written editorial content and articles, which will be open for contributions. 

We also plan to host events, talks and exhibitions to aid the creative community and help it become more racially equal.  

Fuse will provide education resources and invite guest speakers to speak to students about their careers, and provide an insight into the sector. We believe this will inspire and provide pathways into the industry. And this will hopefully address the misrepresentation in the industry for future generations. 

Fuse Brighton is led by Ty Abiodun. “My ambition for Fuse Brighton is to create a network and platform to celebrate the diversity here in Sussex. We want to facilitate new artwork and opportunities and ultimately encourage more participation and representation across the arts.” 

If you’re an organiser, director or lecturer, you can push for more equal racial representation within your field or by inviting diversified guests to your lectures and workshops. Fuse will be more than happy to support you. We can also share your projects and opportunities across Fuse Brighton and our expanded network. 

Fuse Brighton 

Fuse is a volunteer-led organisation and is growing all the time. You can help us get bigger by signing up, sharing resources and making a donation. If you want to feature in our directory, get involved, or just spread the word, we’d love to hear from you. 

websites: fusemcr.com/brighton / fusemcr.com 

email: [email protected] 

twitter: @Fuse_Brighton

Background

I’m Ty Abiodun, a designer based in Brighton. Following recent events and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, I, like many people, have been looking to make connections, particularly with people with similar creative interests. I had previously looked for organisations aimed at people of colour (POC), and found that they tended to be advice-based or community/family-focused as opposed to being creative sector specific. During these searches, I came across Fuse Manchester, which did exactly what I was looking for. It was set up two years ago by Jaheed Hussain who found himself in a similar position with the misrepresentation of POC in the creative industries.  

After a few months, they gave a call-out to see if anyone would be interested in setting up Fuse in their city. 

So it seemed only right to step forward! 

[email protected] 

www.the-trees.co.uk