CITY OF CULTURE FUNDS CELEBRATION OF BLACK CULTURE AND ARTS WITH IDENT2020 – #THE21 14.12.2020

Coventry Arts Producer & City of Culture Leader Nyasha Pitt curates 21 Black Artistes from across the UK and US on 21.12.2020
Coventry entrepreneur Nyasha Pitt brings beautiful, brave, brilliant Black performers back to the stage for IDENT2020 – the UK’s only annual arts festival which ONLY platforms Black performers.

Last year’s event, which was also funded by the City of Culture Trust, took place at Warwick Arts Centre. This year, the event will be streamed via YouTube on 21.12.20 – the shortest day of the year and the night upon which the Christmas Star (or the ‘Great Conjunction’ of Saturn and Jupiter) will be visible for the first time in 800 years.

The digital festival will feature dance, photography, spoken word, gospel music, opera, comedy and more.
The aim of the festival remains the same: the celebration, rather than appropriation, of Black talent, for the benefit and enjoyment of all.

Commenting on this year’s event, Nyasha said: “I cannot wait to share this event with everyone. 

"Last year was awesome; this year, we may have to create new words just to describe the incredible talent shared with us all, at a time when we all need inspiration.

“Black creativity is magical. And for far too long, we have been disenfranchised from even acknowledging our power.
"Other races can be applauded for their skills… however, when it comes to Black peoples, our talent only holds value when it is appropriated. 

"Or worse, when we are only supported to deliver projects which reinforce racial stereotypes and negative biases. That has to stop.

IDENT is a small contribution towards the massive change needed.”

IDENT2020 will feature some emergent and established Black UK & US talent:

•         Birmingham’s Poet Laureate Casey Bailey
•         Coventry poet Kassandra Gordon
•         Coventry-based visual artist melissandre varin
•         Birmingham Comedian Smash Entertainz
•         Birmingham jazz musician Romarna Campbell
•         Birmingham composer & musician Ray Prince
  (Gospel Revisited Project)
•         Birimmgham wordsmith KSSence

The full line-up will be posted and promoted over the coming week via the festival’s INSTAGRAM (@identfest) and TWITTER (@identfestival) channels. 
FREE tickets can be obtained from EventBrite (link below), to be screened on YouTube on Monday 21^st December 2020 from 3.33pm.

IDENT FESTIVAL ON EVENTBRITE

IDENT FESTIVAL ON YOUTUBE