"WTF do artists need now?"

Chisenhale Dance Space, May 2023

Photo: Frances Morgan

Part of the launch of WTF Thursdays at Chisenhale Dance Space, this guided conversation surrounded the needs of artists in 2023. 

This conversation drew upon Lola Olufemi's text "She wants to make something" as a provocation.  This text was written as part of Structurally F–cked: an inquiry into artists’ pay and conditions in the public sector in response to the Artist Leaks data by Industria and commissioned by a-n, The Artists Information Company. 

In this session we discussed the issues we face as artists in 2023 and shared ideas and resources as steps towards reaching our needs as an act of mutual support.  

WTF Thursdays is a new space creating possibilities for connection and community-building amongst artists. Members of CDS’ artistic community can host events for free on Thursday evenings in the spirit of low-stakes, DIY action.

 

cycles of release, cycles of joy

Online, November 2020


A movement and reflection workshop co-facilitated by Renée Bellamy and creative Nicky Chue as part of Ritual Knowledge, a curatorial project led by artist and community healer Lateisha Lovelace-Hanlon as part of an online curation residency with 12ø Collective in November 2020. 

As part of this workshop Renée offered movement and reflection exercises that took steps towards conjuring joy, hope and possibility. Nicky shared a writing exercise around the full moon and its themes of release and sealing intention. This event was open to BIPOC of all ages and movement experiences. 

 

ingredients for a portal

Online, October 2020


Co-facilitated by Renée Bellamy and Saffron Mustafa and another iteration of  a portal that is the time we have shared, "ingredients for a portal" was a movement lab dedicated to transforming perceptions and uses of space and finding ways to move with joy, care and resilience. 

Drawing from materials personal to each participant, the workshop was based around connecting with movement and imagination and using writing as a tool throughout as methods of  locating and  articulating these sites of resistance and play. 

This project was part of Next Choreography 2020,  a choreography course held at Siobhan Davies Studios and facilitated by Alexandrina Hemsley and Nancy Roberts. 


 

THIS AND: contemporary dance sessions

London, 2019


Open to young people of all dance experiences and taking place over the course of 12 weeks at Creation Box London, these sessions offered space to develop dance technique and artistic expression as a unique individual. These sessions were part of THIS AND, a multidisciplinary arts community, created by Renée in 2019. 

Poster designed and illustrated by Renée