This Post-Grad Interest Group was created by practice based PhD student Remi Rana-Allen with the aim of bringing together discourses on how to make the ‘brown feminist maker visible’.
Founded in 2019, BL&ME aims to be a research hub that highlights current topics and debates regarding Brownness, through publications, events and networking. Over the last couple of years, the group’s membership has grown.
What we have been doing
Cha: what does Brownness mean to you? A print publication from Brown Leaders and Makers Exist (BL&ME)
In October 2022, the team behind the BL&ME Interest Group received funding from the CCW UAL MPhil/PhD Initiative, the research Student Support Fund, TrAIN research student bursary and British Art Network, Tate and Paul Mellon Centre, to produce a print publication which was entitled Cha.
The publication had a simple brief: ‘what does Brownness mean to you?’.
27 artist-researchers from around the world responded to explore this evolving mode of cultural identification in relation to its representation and inclusion in arts and culture.
Download a digital copy of Cha
What is coming up
This would be following on from Remi Rana-Allen's solo touring exhibition Swan Song: sing her to me.
Here, we held a closed roundtable event at Phoenix Art Space Brighton in collaboration with the University of Sussex, during the show.We are holding a second open academic roundtable at Exeter Phoenix when the exhibition opens in mid November, this time jointly with Exeter University.
The roundtables involve many departments, including: Gender Studies, Historical Criminology, Law, Politics and Sociology, Human Geography, Drama, Theatre and Performance at the University of Sussex. And Art History and Visual Culture, Centre for Imperial and Global History for Exeter University. The WATU project in Nairobi, University of Nairobi and TrAIN. We discussed themes that were sparked by Remi's exhibition.
BL&ME Membership/Attendance
- We are an all inclusive group open to all students and staff.
- Membership is open throughout the year.
- Members are welcome to BL&ME events and are invited to join the conversation and dissemination of research conducted by BL&ME.
To join, contact Remi Allen r.allen1020181@arts.ac.uk
BL&ME is an opportunity to promote diversity, equality and dialogue through the arts.
The BL&ME Mission: Support – Discuss – Make – Belong
BL&ME Interest Group Introduction
By Founder Remi Rana Allen
Related Content
Remi Rana Allen talks about her PhD Research
Post-Grad Interest Groups at UAL
UAL’s Post-Grad Community supports a growing number of issue-specific, cross-disciplinary interest groups led by postgraduate students and academics.
These connect postgrads with shared research and interests across different subject areas and provide the opportunity to develop, new social networks, knowledge sharing, peer supported projects and the expanding of creative portfolios.
Want to read more or event set up your own group? Go back to the Post-Grad Interest Group Directory