The World Cup 2010 is over. South Africa is now being hailed as worthy hosts, but Joy Francis cannot forget the country’s initial status as a violent no go area.
Sucker Punch by Roy Williams hits home on race, boxing and black male identity, but falls short on its only female character, claims Joy Francis.
Daniel Kaluuya, currently wowing audiences (and critics) as Leon in Sucker Punch at the Royal Court, is soon to be seen in Johnny English 2 with Rowan Atkinson. Joy Francis is well and truly charmed.
Broadcaster, DJ, journalist, composer and Artistic Director at Theatre Royal Stratford East Matthew Xia makes Kwame Kwei-Armah look lazy. Read why.
Maxine Quintyne-Kolaru, who is over halfway through her Royal Court Super Group, survives the infamous ‘Lock In’, sees her play performed at Soho Theatre and wonders what next.
Welcome to our new slot highlighting what you missed on the arts social scene featuring The Noisettes, BAFTA and James Purefoy.
Want to discover what other like-minded souls are doing? Are you ready to read a candid book review or inspiring interview? Do you want to share your knowledge of what’s happening (or not) on the performance poetry, creative writing or media scene? Or do you have an opinion that you want to express in a feature or poem? If you’re nodding, then this is the space for you.
Hackney budding journalists
Hackney Museum is launching Mapping the Change, an innovative project to collect local people’s views about the transformation taking place in the London Borough of Hackney in the run up to the 2012 Olympics. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the museum aims to produce an archive to be enjoyed by future generations and to discover what people really think about the Olympics and its impact. Words of Colour will deliver the journalism programme. For more information go to the website or email.
C4 opportunity to film shorts
T4 presenter Miquita Oliver is fronting a Channel 4 and Media Trust competition to find ten talented16-25 year olds to write, direct and produce short films for broadcast on the Community Channel. The First Shots: Identity Uncovered competition is looking for ideas that showcase how black culture has inspired the lives of individuals and communities across the world. Closing dates for entries is Thursday 29th July. The ten finalists will receive specialist training and a professional mentor. For more information on how to enter visit the website.
Glass ceiling in the arts
Women are still failing to break through the glass ceiling in the major cultural art forms from music and filmmaking to writing and the arts, claims new research by UK Feminista. Over 70 per cent of the acts at this year’s Glastonbury festival were male, 83 per cent of the artists at Tate Modern are men, and for every female character in a TV drama there are two male characters. Novelist and critic Bidisha said: ‘I’m angry. The marginalisation of women across all the arts and media is ubiquitous and obvious.’ For more information on the research go to the website.
Campaigning journalist dies
Themon Djaksam, a long standing National Union of Journalists (NUJ) magazine branch member and activist in the Black Members’ Council who died aged 53 in April, had his funeral organised by the NUJ in July after his family couldn’t be present due to visa restrictions. Originally from Gabon, Djaksam was Father of the Chapel at West Africa magazine six years ago. The freelance journalist held the chapel together through appalling staff conditions and stuck tight until all staff received statutory redundancy payments. The NUJ deputy general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: ‘Themon was a stalwart NUJ member, always ready to give help and support for union causes. His death was a great loss to all of us who were fortunate enough to know him.’
EU Journalist Award 2010
The EU Journalist Award 2010 is open to online and print journalists in the EU who, through their work, contribute to a better public understanding of the value and benefits of diversity and the fight against discrimination in Europe. The winner of the European competition, plus two runners-up, will receive prizes with a value of €5,000, €3,500 and €2,500 respectively. The winners of the national competitions will receive a prize with a value of €1,000. The Media Diversity Institute, a partner to the award, is responsible for encouraging entries from the UK. Up to three articles can be submitted per person and must be at least 630 words long. Deadline for submission is 12:00 (midday) on 17 September 2010. For more information email or visit the website.