Idea to iDENT: Diversity activism intertwined with cultural celebration

This time last week, I was stood in the foyer of the Warwick Arts Centre, welcoming the first of almost 300 people who had registered to attend iDENT Festival - a new arts festival celebrating Black culture as part of the Road to Coventry City of Culture in 2021, funded by the Heart of England Community Fund.

The event was designed to celebrate Black British, African and Caribbean culture in a way that was different from existing events in the Midlands, which tend to be more 'carnival' type celebrations.

And it was mine... in as much that it was the result of four months' of my determination, hard work and sometimes, blind faith. iDENT was just an idea a few months ago. And last weekend, my dream became a reality.

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I wanted to create the type of arts festival that I would normally travel to London to engage in. The Road to 2021 and City of Culture is such a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our creativity as a region and this was my contribution to that journey.

There is so much breadth and depth to Black culture; it's so much more than carnival and reggae music. There is a creative and cultural evolution taking place within the Black community; an awakening and pride in our artistry and ancestry that I wanted to give a platform to.

When I heard that the City of Culture was requesting bids from individuals and organisations across the City to create events that would add to the cultural programme on the Road to 2021, I decided to take a leap of faith.

I spoke to family, friends and colleagues and then reflected on the type of event I would want to engage with; then I crafted and submitted my pitch document and set about creating an event even though I did not know whether my grant application would be accepted (or whether I would receive my full grant request).

Those were some interesting weeks. Working full days providing marketing consultancy for my clients and then coming home to work on this passion project, that at the very least could have ended costing me personally a couple of grand, if funding was denied.

Just four weeks prior to the event, I received the news that my funding application had been granted. Relieved doesn't quite cover it... though I didn't really have time to celebrate. I had to cement this event and crack on with promotion...

I used my professional networks, including my own iDNetwork, to find contributors and speakers who would help me explore and celebrate the different facets of Black culture. And I am so grateful for all of the speakers and facilitators who came together to help me to create a truly beautiful moment this summer.

iDENT Festival focused on celebrating Black culture, arts and commerce. It featured three screenings provided by annual film festival Watch Africa including Concerning Violence, based on Frantz Fanon's essay, from his 1961 book The Wretched of the Earth. There were also workshops on personal branding and public speaking, spoken word artists and poets, panel discussions, African Caribbean food, Steel Pan Band music, as well as an open mic segment.

We had 298 people register to attend throughout the 12-hour day, with the highest levels of engagement taking place during the iDENT Talks and Literary Festival.

I think that this demonstrates that there is definitely an appetite for this type of event in Coventry. And I was especially encouraged by the diversity of attendees, which was really important to me. It was wonderful to see people of different colours, ages, cultures and even religions, joining together to listen, learn and engage with Black culture.

I am a consummate marketer, so I have already requested incentivised feedback. And I must admit that although most of the feedback has been very useful and constructive, there have been a small number of mean-spirited comments that temporarily knocked me for six and moved me to tears. This was the first year and we weren't perfect, but we were never going to be. Having literally put my heart and soul into providing a free festival, I was disappointed and dejected for most of this past week by these cruel comments.

But then... but then I was lifted by so many individuals who have proactively found me via LinkedIn or have sent emails to express their gratitude and joy that I developed and delivered on iDENT.

Those positive voices have been everything to me over the past few days, as I reflect on what I have achieved and what iDENT could become. So, thank you to all of those who have been constructive in their critique and appreciative in their praise. It means a lot.

And so, I will definitely be applying for more funding in 2020 and 2021,
to continue to build on the success of my debut event.

I'm looking forward to developing my vision further, engaging with more local artists and contributors and also broadening my network with like-minded positive people who want to join me in this dynamic, diversity activism for 'the culture'.

iDENT was all about communicating the beauty and breadth of Black culture, whilst also dispelling some commonly held stereotypes.

It wasn't a platform for debates on the Windrush scandal or knife crime - there are a number of notable experts doing fantastic work within our communities, who are better positioned than I to create events around these serious, politically charged issues.

I wanted to create something 'other' and I was really fortunate to be able to surround myself with people who believed in my vision and helped me do just that. In 2020, I want to explore more of the contemporary arts, including working with painters, film-makers, photographers, poets, sculptors, dancers and musicians.

I have a whole year to plan and promote the next event.

And I can't wait to get started.

By Nyasha Daley | First published August 10, 2019