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Pushing black-led arts into the spotlight

August 06, 2004

Propelling black performers from the sidelines into the mainstream is the mission of Push, a black-led, multidisciplinary arts organisation based in London. With a Fellowship of £74,820 from NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) - which backs UK innovation - Push will build on their considerable successes in this area.

Push run a contemporary arts programme of high-impact, public events and developmental workshops. Conceived by leading international actor and director, Josette Bushell-Mingo and independent theatre producer, Ruth Nutter, the project is in its fourth year.

In 2001, Push 01 came up with a trailblazing, multidisciplinary arts festival, which saw not only the first ever all-black British circus, but also introduced many black performers to mainstream venues - such as the Young Vic.

Josette Bushell-Mingo says: "Many black people are finding that the arts simply do not reflect their lives. Meanwhile, a swathe of talent is lying dormant because black performers have such limited opportunities. They are not being represented on the artistic landscape, and that means a richness of diversity is being lost."

The organisation aims to broaden the black community's perception of itself and to inspire pride in black art and media whilst reminding black artists that they have a responsibility for their own success.

The Fellowship from NESTA will enable Josette and Ruth to augment a personal creative and professional development strategy. They will concentrate on developing their skills and competencies through their role as joint producers of Push as well as pursuing their own separate training programmes.

They say: "We want to develop a deep and broad understanding of how to bring a range of cultural practice into the mainstream - and how to inspire others to do it."

NESTA's Director of Fellowship, Venu Dhupa says: "NESTA is delighted to support Josette and Ruth in their important process of self-development. Push has already gone a long way towards helping to develop contemporary Black British culture."

National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA)