In 2016, the University of Nottingham's Centre for Research in Race and Rights (C3R), which is part of the Research Priority Area in Rights and Justice, and the New Art Exchange joined together to create Nottingham's first black history mural. Funded by the AHRC's Connected Communities Programme, the four-month project has transformed an old wall in the heart of Hyson Green into a vibrant and inspiring piece of public art. It depicts the diverse histories and potential futures of Nottingham's Global Quarter in Hyson Green, and explores the ideas of utopia and community activism. This brand new mural celebrating Nottingham's black history is the creation of artists Tim Weeden and Andrew Wright in collaboration with Maxine Davis, Youth Forum Manager, young people from NG7 Voices Youth Forum / Hyson Green Youth Club, and freelance Community Engagement Consultant Boseda Olawoye.
Guest contributors to the project's learning seminars were Lisa Robinson from Bright Ideas and Black Lives Matter Nottingham; Panya Banjoko and Ioney Smallhorne from Nottingham Black Archives; and Zoe Trodd, Hannah Jeffery and Hannah-Rose Murray from C3R. The mural project will be featured at a Somerset House exhibit in 2016, curated by Hannah Jeffery and Rebecca Nelson.
Our project's short film is by the documentary filmmaker Ioney Smallhorne.
Project team:
Chief Executive of New Art Exchange and Project Executive Producer – Skinder Hundal
Freelance Community Engagement Consultant and Project Manager – Bo Olawoye
Director of Programmes at New Art Exchange and Project Producer – Melanie Kidd
C3R Co-Director and Project Director – Professor Zoe Trodd
C3R Postdoctoral Director and Project Director – Dr. Katie Donington
C3R Postgraduate Student and Project Director – Hannah Jeffery
