University of Brighton and African Artists Foundation facilitate new arts-based cross-cultural dialogues across continents

Led by Prof. Marina Novelli (academic lead for the university’s Responsible Futures agenda) and facilitated by Maria Pia Bernardoni (BBTCA Project Facilitator and International Project Coordinator at Africa Artists Foundation), the BBTCA Panel Series is the result of a collaboration between key players in the contemporary arts world. The planned online panel discussions will take place on 5 May, and 2 and 30 June 2021.

Social distancing and movement restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic have had dramatic impacts on travel and personal encounters – both planned and casual face-to-face – that are vital to cultural exchanges and experience.

Professor Marina Novelli

In response, the BBCTA project will bring together key experts from Africa and Europe – including Founder and Director, Africa Artists Foundation (AAF) and Lagos Photo Festival (Nigeria) Azu Nwagbogu, Brighton Dome and Festival Chief Executive Andrew Comben and leading experts from the contemporary arts world - to share personal and professional local and global perspectives, with the aim of stimulating innovative collaborations between creative sectors’ practitioners and academia from the two continents.

Never more timely than in an era of COVID-19 induced divisions, anxiety and uncertainty, cross-cultural exchanges remain key in the recovery process towards a co-constructed responsible future.

Full details of the panel discussions and registration details can be found on the university's BBCTA page. Participants in the opening panel discussion – taking place on 5 May from 2-5pm (BST) – will include:

• Azu Nwagbogu - Africa Artists Foundation (AAF) and Lagos Photo Festival (Nigeria)
• Alessia Glaviano - Senior photo editor at Vogue Italia, Founder and Director of the PhotoVogue Festival (Italy)
• Modupeola Fadugba - Artist (Nigeria/Togo/USA).

Professor Novelli said: “This project is the result of a shared vision and commitment to shaping the future of Interdisciplinary research, using contemporary arts as a vehicle to inclusive and impactful cross-cultural dialogues between key industry and academic players. I am thankful to those involved so far and I look forward to the participation of those who will join us along the way.”

The BBCTA panel series will explore broader issues around contemporary cultural engagement within and between Africa and Europe. This includes reflecting on the sector’s current state of play, to better understand how existing processes can be revisited to reimagine dialogue structures and shape a way forward.

The BBTCA project is a University of Brighton initiative facilitated through its Responsible Futures Research and Enterprise Agenda and the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) with support from the university’s Centre of Arts and Wellbeing (CAW), the School of Arts’ Crossing Cultures Series (CCS), the Business School’s Centre of Change, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (CENTRIM). BBCTA project’s key collaborators include the School of Arts' Duncan Bullen (Associate Dean Research and Enterprise) and Dr Charlotte Gould (Associate Dean Education and Student Experience) and respective teams.