Case study: SEEN Lewisham Festival
Funding overview
Organisation name: London Borough of Lewisham
Programme name: SEEN Lewisham, a festival of Global Majority artists
Funding value: £95,000
Programme objective: to celebrate the culture and talents of Lewisham residents
UKSPF strand: Borough - Communities and Place
About the programme
‘SEEN Lewisham, a festival of Global Majority artists’, is a celebration of the talent of Lewisham’s Global Majority communities. It is led by Lewisham Council and the Broadway Theatre, in partnership with Creative Producers, Nouveau Riche.
Building on the success of Lewisham as a London Borough of Culture in 2022, SEEN Lewisham was identified as part of the Lewisham Council’s Corporate Plan and Cultural Strategy where they made a commitment to co-develop a Black and Global Majority arts festival to:
- reduce the gap in creative and cultural participation between different communities and different parts of the borough
- increase cultural and creative activities that can bring people together to celebrate Lewisham’s many cultures
- support children and young people to have creative opportunities in their everyday lives.
In action
From Monday 10 to Sunday 16 June 2024, the Broadway Theatre in Catford came alive with cultural and creative performances, events, and workshops, with fringe events in schools and cultural spaces across the borough.
55 events took place, shaped in partnership with over 100 Global Majority-led cultural and creative organisations, freelancers, artists, and businesses all working towards the shared aim that: “Everyone has access to the positive benefits of engaging with cultural and creative activities.”
Testimonials
“This is so important, a Global Majority cultural festival for many reasons, apart from showcasing talent. It is important to be seen and to feel seen.”
- Audience feedback
“Lewisham is so diverse. SEEN Lewisham is a great platform to celebrate local talent. Please repeat the festival again. And again!”
- Audience feedback
"It's known, especially locally, that Global Majority artists don't have an opportunity to fail, to try new things, to be able to get the kind of financial backing they need to try things….it's about giving that opportunity to people that historically have not had it."
- Ryan Calais Cameron, Creative Producer, SEEN Festival
Solving the challenge
At the festival’s heart was an ethos of supporting and platforming Global Majority creative and cultural sector practitioners. This was developed following a community consultation that demonstrated key inequalities in cultural engagement and creative opportunities.
Core to the delivery of the festival was a programme of mentoring support for emerging and developing creatives, leading to a project showcase of developed performances. This showcase was at the heart of a diverse, community-driven, borough-wide programme which included:
- a 'Show and Sell' market day for Global Majority-led creative businesses, supporting 60 local businesses
- a programme of free skills development workshops for children, young people, and adults, including practical skills and development
- a free family day, with interactive storytelling and workshops in music, dance, and song
- a schools programme delivered with workshops and performances engaging 271 children
- a pop-up library with free events including Rhyme and Story time, heritage workshops and spoken word
- an exhibition of Global Majority visual artists curated by the Collective Makers
- a film club evening hosted by Arts Council NPO Jazz re:freshed
- a sell-out festival finale of music, African dance, spoken word, and a Windrush dance tribute.
Impact on Londoners
Over the week, more than 17,000 people took part in the festival which included 3,000 people directly involved in events, performances, and workshops, and 26 volunteers who helped to make it happen.
The event evaluation showed that the festival:
- attracted diverse communities - 67 per cent were from Black, Asian or Dual Heritage ethnicities. Ages ranged from 16 to over 60.
- felt relevant to people from the Global Majority. 93 per cent from the Global Majority either agreed or strongly agreed that the festival ‘felt relevant to them’.
- supported pride in place. Ninety-four per cent agreed that ‘Seeing these kinds of arts and cultural activities in Lewisham gives me a sense of belonging and makes me feel proud’.
- helped to increase local engagement with cultural activities - 54 per cent of those surveyed had never visited the Broadway Theatre before, but 89 per cent would like to return because of the festival.
SEEN Lewisham has exceeded expectations in its delivery against the aims and objectives for the festival, and it has made a positive impact on Lewisham’s communities.
Because of its success, Lewisham Council has committed to ongoing delivery of the festival for future years.
Need a document on this page in an accessible format?
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of a PDF or other document on this page in a more accessible format, please get in touch via our online form and tell us which format you need.
It will also help us if you tell us which assistive technology you use. We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.