September 2010 – September 2013.
Shades of Noir supports the transformation of minds and actions. It is nearing the end of Shades of Noir’s first season in 2013 at the University of the Arts London.
Outcomes.
College Debates:
Colleges within the University of the Arts London have provided a safe place to have a discourse on Race for its staff. Outcomes include;
- Creation of varied proposed pilots of Blind Marking
- Review of institutional resource lists and inclusivity
- Enhancement of curriculum and its range to inspire beyond the usual and spaces for cultural currency, knowledge and experiences to be shared
- Instigate staff opportunities for discourse of this kind
‘Happening To Be…’ Exhibition:
The first all-black exhibition of some of UAL’s most high-profile creative alumni from the fields of Film Making, Advertising, Public Art, Fine Art and Tailoring – visited by students and staff, local schools, feeder colleges and members of the general public, and the Fine Art department developing a programme that includes representation of BME creative’s for all students to engage with. Engaging over 3000 people over 6 weeks – for many, this exhibition caused an emotional response and the guest comments were a place to share this as part of the legacy.
A Soiree:
The first GEMS (Group for the Equality of Minority Staff) academic event for members to engage with SoN and share the voices of academics both within the university and beyond (including a presentation by Dr Gurnham Singh and Dr Deborah Gabriel), statistical data, and possibility for actions where discussed – GEMS is aiming to commission its first research on the experience of staff of colour and continues to grow its membership. This one event increased GEMS membership by over 100%.
Cltad Academic Practice Provision (App):
We supported the design, development and delivery of ‘Inclusive Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, an assessed component of the teaching qualification MA Academic Practice – Students (staff/academics from across the country specialising in Art, Design and Communication Higher Education) on this unit are required in this unit to make an intervention collaboratively (with students, peers and or alumni) and reflect on it. Assessment is on the quality of reflection and considerations for the development, additionally, this unit is now piloting anonymous marking and is now one of the most popular selected units
Big Debates:
3 debates hosted at different colleges within UAL inviting the general public, students, staff, and guests external to UAL to openly discuss and consider actions to support change for greater race equality – outcomes so far include panellists contributing to course developments, collaborations and possible fellowship within the University of the Arts London; as well as external support and proposed SoN collaborations with charities, trusts, institutions and companies.
Website:
A ‘work in progress’ medium to support the communication and promotion of the contributions and value of BME communities, both to creative practice and global developments. The resource supports the inclusion of broad knowledge and practices that can contribute to the visible enhancement of cultural capital. This information is open access and contributions can be submitted by anyone, the database lists books, people (including recent graduates wanting to showcase their work), events, artefacts and more – a tool to support students and teachers for training, research, promotion, recruitment and curriculum enhancement.
Conference:
Shades of Noir participated in several conferences including Learning and Teaching, University of the arts London (UAL) (2010, 2011, 2012), A Critique of the White Perspective in Creative Higher Education through Students Voices, UAL (2012), Critical Pedagogy and Popular Education Group, Birmingham University (2012), ,Promoting Inclusive Change, Greenwich University (2011). Additionally, Aisha Richards delivered a keynote Improving the Degree Attainment of Black and Minority Ethnic – Higher Education Academy & Equality Challenge Unit, Coventry University (2010).
Publications:
Shades of Noir had a range of features in the mainstream media and community mediums including, Race Equality in Academia, The Independent (2013), New Year Debate to Discuss Race Equality in Creative Higher Education (2013), University of Arts, London: Driving Black success, Operation Black Vote (2013), Racial divide is higher education’s ‘dirty secret’, Times Higher (2012), New exhibition highlights diverse success, Arts London News (2012), Black Pioneers Celebrated At New Exhibition, The Voice (2012), Race for Equality (2011), National Student Union. Additionally Shades of Noir is featured in UAL annual reports (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013).
Challenges Faced.
- Moving from artist to changemaker
- Building relationships with different departments
- Staying focused on our vision, methods, and applications
- Responding to fear of difference
- Resistance to change
- The undermining of the existence or reality of racism
- Protection of black and brown folk in our spaces
- Institutional and individual acceptance and trust of a Black Female Lead
- Practices of physical and mental harm towards the lead, the team, and the presence of Shades of Noir
- Trust building in oneself and the vision
- Managing the emotional labour and harm when your head is above the parapet