Kuumba Arts
What is Kuumba?
An Afrikan and Caribbean Arts & Community Resource formerly known as ‘Inkworks’ (the site was once an ink factory). It was renamed in January 1995 as ‘Kuumba’ - a Swahili word meaning‘Creativity’.
When was Kuumba established and why? 1973 by local residents and a community worker. A community centre was established to provide recreational and educational facilities for disadvantaged people in St. Paul’s and Montpelier, especially children of school age or under. Today the association works with residents, local groups, the local authority and voluntary and other organisations to advance education through Afrikan Caribbean Arts and Culture. We also provide recreational facilities to help improve quality of life.
What are the main activities of Kuumba?
- An arts and entertainments programme promoting the work of Afrikan Caribbean artists, directors, playwrights and actors.
- Weekly dance classes for adults and young people.
- The Afrikan Caribbean Arts Forum (ACAF), providing support for Afrikan Caribbean artists in the South West Region.
- A community nursery (Jumoke Day Nursery)
- A multi-cultural education and play resource (Bwerani).
- A lending library(Sankore Library) specialising in Afrikan and Caribbean literature.
- 12 workspace units currently housing new and developingcommunity groups.
How are you funded?
Bristol City Council and Arts Council England are our main funders, together with Easton Sure Start, Children In Need and continual fundraising from other sources. Kuumba also generates income through Nursery fees, arts programme, and renting workspace units, hall and meeting room space.
What are your plans for the future?
A major new arts and culture venue in Bristol, presenting high quality professional work and building on our existing community support and participatory learning. The Arts Council has confirmed a £2.1 million capital award towards Kuumba’s plan to establish a new arts and cultural centre on Stokes Croft, with a further £1.35 million acquired subject to match funding being secured.
What is the main challenge you face?
Bristol City Council propose to dramatically cut their contribution to our core costs with a further reduction over the next two years, after which our funding will cease. This would mean reducing the core team, not being able to fully implement the staffing structure needed to support the Capital Project and a major reduction in the services we currently offer, resulting in uncertainty among staff and users. We are trying to raise the match funding for the Capital Project and will be launching a fundraising campaign at the end of February.
If you had more funds what would you spend it on?
We would employ a Managing Director and a Fundraiser to move the Capital Project forward. We would maintain and increase our current staffing levels and pay staff their full worth so that the salary levels are comparable with the statutory and private sectors and not less just because we are part of the voluntary and community sector.
How can people contact Kuumba?
email: eking@kuumba.org.uk or Tel: 0117 942 1870
visit website: www.kuumba.org.uk
If your group would like to be profiled in a future Voscur newsletter or on our website, please contact Darron Thevarajah at the Voscur office Tel. 0017 909 9949,
or email: darron@voscur.org