The idea
CrossCurrentz involves 6 multifaceted cinema screening events in key cultural spaces.The aim is to screen 'Movies, Memories, Magic' (a documentary created by young volunteers and London's South Asian community during a 2017-18 Heritage Lottery-supported project - 'Memories Through Cinema' led by the UK Asian Film Festival and Queen Mary University of London) in local cultural, civic and arts centres, broadening and diversifying their community base. Bespoke events will be based on the film's themes - South Asian cinema, culture, food, fashion, music, politics and migration history. As co-curators, community collaborators will be able to vote on the format of the screening event. They will act as consultants on formulating the structure, delivery and outcome.
Venues for the screening season include:
Rich Mix
Bethnal Green
Brady Arts & Community Centre
Whitechapel
The Cinema Museum
Kennington
Harrow Civic Centre
Patidar House
Wembley
Paul Robeson Theatre
Hounslow
What we'll deliver
- Provide South Asian communities a platform for expression and a digital socio-cultural record for future generations
- Rejuvenate the image and public perception of the project’s chosen cultural spaces
- Revitalise micro-level community participation in local cultural spaces through free and open access
- Provide the opportunity for the local community to be co-creators of each screening event interaction
Why it's a great idea
Research studies highlight creating “a link with home, history and the past” when promoting arts and cultural events amongst people from BAME communities. South Asian communities in the UK displayed lower than average levels of engagement in traditional and conventional avenues of arts and culture (Taking Part survey, DCMS, 2007). This renders it imperative to focus on specific community dynamics and local level preferences often overlooked by arts and culture providers.
CrossCurrentz will be led by the renowned UK Asian Film Festival (UKAFF) – Europe’s longest-running Asian cinema showcase. CrossCurrentz will empower local communities and cultural centres by providing an entertaining platform for expression, interaction and social communion plus an online legacy. The project will use the magic of movies and the indelible memories they inscribe, to get communities to think about their hyphenated cultural identity - rooted in local London and blended with global South Asian culture.
Steps to get it done
- Mobilise online/social media poll enabling community collaborators to decide on event format
- Finalise format of each event and special guest speakers
- Complete six screening events gathering data and documenting each event
- Initiate process of organising online repository to serve as post-event legacy
The project will be delivered by a team of festival managers, associates and university academics, including festival director Dr Pushpinder Chowdhry, Dr Ashvin Devasundaram (Associate Director, UKAFF/Lecturer in World Cinema at Queen Mary University), Dr Monia Acciari (Associate Director, UKAFF/Senior Lecturer in Cinema & Television History, De Montfort University Leicester), Samir Bhamra (Creative Director, UKAFF). The team brings extensive experience, expertise and a longstanding track record in film curation, community event co-creation, public engagement and research in South Asian cinema and culture. The UK Asian Festival enjoys a devoted audience base in London, commensurate with a dynamic social media presence and portals of publicity via the festival website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. This penetrative reach will stand the project’s crowdfunding bid in good stead, enabling the venture to hit the ground running and reach its desired grassroots audience.
