81 ACTS OF EXUBERANT DEFIANCE – A radical reclaiming of heritage – to imagine, experiment and create new futures!

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April 2021 is the 40th anniversary of the Brixton uprisings.

On this date an ambitious, year-long, community-led programme of exuberant acts of defiance will kick off in Brixton and ripple across the country.

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Anyone can get involved!

FEATURES

Acts

REMEMBER

REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED? Forty years ago in Brixton, Black communities were living

10/04/2021

Acts

RESPECT

RESPECT THE PEOPLES WHOSE SHOULDERS WE STAND Meanwhile, the police launched SWAMP

10/04/2021

Acts

RESIST

RESIST THE WHITENING OF OUR HISTORY Forty years later WHAT HAS CHANGED?

10/04/2021

FEATURE ACTS

FREE – Music Video

The music video “Free” is set in 1981 Brixton during the uprisings

08/06/2021

The People’s Collection

The People’s Collection is a participatory digital archive that documents the collective legacy

27/04/2021

Play Futures

As part of 81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance’s ongoing commemoration of the

22/04/2021

We think that telling the stories of this heritage from the ground-up and examining whether lessons have been learned will inspire community ownership and activism in what happens next. MAKING US THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT WHAT’S POSSIBLE.

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Reflections on the past year and 40th anniversary

Reflections on the past year and 40th anniversary of 1981 Handsworth Uprising at the Launch Event of #BRIG- Birmingham Race Impact Group organised by @punchrecords

@tonycealy @kwesi.shaddai went up to connect and reflect on the journey and learnings so far for #81acts.

Powerful and truly inspiration speeches from @kehindeandrews , Ranjit Sondhi, @derekbishton , Sue Brown, @cherylgarveyuk , @theblackcurriculum and others.
Sharing stories and insights, looking at #systemicracism and what has been achieved in past decades, making sense of today’s racist events.

Sharing #insights to #incite new ways forward together.

One thing is clear, there is still long way to go…

hopefully with #BRIG and all the activists and organisations involved we will get there faster.

Keep your eyes out for more news about how #actsofexuberantdefiance are connecting with communities across the uk.

Repost and images from @alicja_kcm

#blacklivesmatter #notoracism #uprising #1981 #communityled #insight #incite #regroupandrenew #respect #handsworthuprising #handsworth #brixton #brixtonuprising

Announcing @brxhousetheatre’s Act of Exuberant D

Announcing @brxhousetheatre’s Act of Exuberant Defiance….#onthesestreets

In April 1981, the streets of Brixton became the heart of an Uprising. 40 years later, these streets have much to tell us, with voices that still need to be heard.

ON THESE STREETS is a free interactive audio experience by non zero one through the streets of Brixton that invites you to witness, interact, and respond to the voices, stories, and legacy of the Uprising.

Writer Somalia Nonyé Seaton and Sound Artist XANA weave fiction with verbatim testimony, all set within an immersive audio world of sound clash culture with the dutch pot pressure of dub music boiling over into the streets.

As Brixton changes, the forces behind the 1981 Uprising grow louder for a legacy that must be heard.

ON THESE STREETS 27 Aug – 30 Sept, 10am – 10pm daily.

Part of 81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance.

⚡FOLLOW THE LINK IN @brxhousetheatre BIO TO LEARN MORE AND BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET

#Brixton #BrixtonUprising #LocalHistory #Protest #BLM #81ActsofExuberantDefiance #Theatre #Interactive #InteractiveTheatre #FreeTheatre #FreeEvents #uprisings #systemicracism #voicesofbrixton #livedexperience #BrixtonHistory #Local #LocalHistory

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION]
Stylised graphic map of the distinctive Brixton triangle, overlaid with the words "ON THESE STREETS" in bold black capitals Windrush font. There are three varieties: bright pink and purple, two tone orange and neon and forest green which repeat like flyposters on a wall or hoarding.

As part of 81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance's ongoing

As part of 81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance's ongoing commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the Brixton Uprisings, Dexter’s Adventure Playground continues to host ‘Play Futures’ - a series of creative workshops run by the new occupants of the site, BIGKID Foundation (@bigkidfoundation) in collaboration with The Brixton Project (@brixtonproject)

Partnering with Krish Nathaniel (@krish.nathaniel) urban designer, play worker and artist, sessions focused on the history of the playground site and how its future use might adapt to become a more inclusive and expansive space for young people and the wider community. Krish worked with architectural designer Antoinette Yetundi Oni (@where_you_bintu) and artist and architect graduate Teshome Douglas - Campbell (@ark_rube) to deliver the workshops.

The sessions offered young people (11 - 21) a space to imagine and explore the future of the this significant site, found on what was once the Frontline of the Uprising.

The workshops were filmed by @youngcreatorsuk YCUK a Brixton based not-for-profit company. A unique and powerful blend of a creative agency, youth service and community empowerment project.

Take a look at what went on during these workshops and keep an eye out for the transformation of Dexter’s Playground fence which will be taking place later in July!

Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. @HeritageFundUK #NationalLotteryHeritageFund

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England. @aceagrams

ARTIST COMMISSION - An exciting artist commission

ARTIST COMMISSION - An exciting artist commission to lead a series of creative participatory workshops which will result in a public artwork is now open!

@81acts are commissioning an artist to lead a series of creative and collaborative workshops with the residents of Hurst Street Estate. Through a process of participation, activation and creativity the commissioned artist will help residents imagine what style or subject a mural that might feature on their building could look like. The workshops will result in a public artwork so the rest of the local community can begin to be engaged in the process.

The commissioned artist will work in collaboration with @brixtonproject and our #ExuberantForum to lead the creative community consultation.

DEADLINE for applications is Sunday 25th July 2021, 12am. To apply email apply@thebrixtonproject.com with a completed application form and a portfolio of your work.

The full brief and application form can be found in the link in our bio!

DETAILS:

- The artist will be required to facilitate a number of workshops with residents of Hurst Street Estate.

- The workshops must culminate in a public artwork so the rest of the local community can begin to be engaged in the process (this could be a pop-up exhibition in a local green space etc).

- The artist commissioned to work on the consultation process does not necessarily have to design the mural in the second stage of the process, but instead can work with a mural artist to incorporate their findings into the design.

- The second stage of the process is contingent on a second phase of funding which these participatory workshops and community consultation will support to feed into the next phase of the programme.

CONSIDERATIONS

The commissioned artist must:

- Have a valid DBS check

- Have experience working with communities

- Be comfortable working with people of varying abilities

#81acts #artistcommission #artistbrief #artistcallout #brixton #creators #creative #communityled with support from @aceagrams

Throughout British history Black communities have

Throughout British history Black communities have fought in the streets and in the courts for the basic human right to live without fear of racial attacks.

81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance continues to fight the necessary fight for those in the Black community who have and continue to be affected by police brutality.

An anonymous act has been submitted to 81 in the spirit of this struggle; multiple posters entitled ‘People’s Tribunal on Police Killings’ and a list of those who have been murdered at the hands of the police have been installed in bus stops circling the Police Station in Brixton.

This bold and significant act refers to and demonstrates its support of the People’s Tribunal campaign.

The People’s Tribunal on Police Killings is an initiative of the The United Families & Friends Campaign (@uffcampaign ), Migrant Media (@migrantmedia ) and 4WardEverUK (@4wardeveruk).

The People’s Tribunal is designed to take forward the heritage of struggle in a way that radically challenges the status quo. The Tribunal is particularly concerned that the crimes of murder and manslaughter committed by state agents have gone unpunished.

Support #thepeoplestribunal.

Find out more by following @uffcampaign @migrantmedia @4wardeveruk

Amplify by documenting and sharing these posters when you see them

#socialjustice #systemicracism #systemicchange #81acts #insight #incite #sankofa #exuberantactsofdefiance

Add your thoughts about the future of Brixton to @

Add your thoughts about the future of Brixton to @brixtonbid’s Acts of Exuberant Defiance- CANVAS FOR CHANGE - a space for manifesting the future Brixton needs/wants/deserves and sharing your thoughts on where we are at today. For painting, writing, drawing your responses to the 40th anniversary of the Brixton Uprisings, the amplification of Black Lives Matter Movement, to the ongoing struggle for Social Justice.

Go be part of #thecanvasforchange and share with us what you added?

Image from @thatspaghettibrand capturing an awesome #canvasforchange contribution to inspire you to get involved.

#brixton #harlem #BID #81acts #brixtonuprisings #insight #incite #communityled #radicalheritage #radicalfutures #brixtopia @makeitinbrixton @brixtonblog

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