Against All Odds: Why our Community are Magic & Need us Now More than Ever
Rising's Community Producer, Ellayah, talks about the current state of the city and sector, how it's impacting our community of young creatives, and why they need our support in these trying times.
When I was asked to write a piece about the trends I’m seeing in our community, I struggled for a while to figure out how to articulate my thoughts around the matter without sounding super bleak or accusatory. When working with underrepresented or disadvantaged people, it’s hard to remain ‘neutral’ when you pick up the pieces of systemic nuclear fallout day in and day out. From our most recent ‘Are You Still With Us?’ survey, around a third of our community can’t really afford to live. Nearly ALL of our community run the risk of being discriminated against in a workplace setting for having one or more of the protected characteristics.
The current socio-economic and ecological state of Bristol, the sector and the globe as a whole terraforms a nuanced terrain that, when mixed with our community members, become lined with paths of intersectionality. For example, 50% of our non-binary folk are also people of colour. Similarly, 34% of our working class or low income community members are also neurodivergent or disabled. The thing about intersectionality is that it’s not chosen. It is a theory for some and a reality for others. The way our community perceives and is perceived dictate the ways in which we support them. We can’t necessarily rely on solid networks, first impressions or traditional pathways into the arts.
AROUND A THIRD OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN’T REALLY AFFORD TO LIVE…
When an artist doesn’t have a safe place to call home, has experienced trauma, is racialised or doesn’t fit into gender norms, the support has to become holistic. The support NEEDS to be wraparound, otherwise how can we ethically expect these people to churn out creative bangers, time and time again?
Astonishingly, the Rising Community does just that. I am just one person in one organisation who is trying to make the sector more equitable. I am well aware that we can’t buy houses, make accessible jobs for all, uphaul the healthcare system or take down every St. George’s flag in Bristol - as much as we’d like to. And yet, our community prevails!
Jess and Euella presenting at Rising’s 6th Birthday in 2022.
THE BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT I SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS RESILIENCE…
Honestly? The biggest highlight I see in our community is resilience.
The bounce back is unmatched. It makes community work glorious and hopeful when you’re surrounded by people who will come back stronger. Supporting resilience in nuance, I think, could seem intimidating if you’ve been lucky enough to live a life where this isn’t your reality. The bottom line is this: my ability to support the Rising community well doesn’t come from knowledge of the arts sector. It’s the fragments of my lived and professional experience that allow me to see and dig deeper into the roots of their reality. It also helps that I’m supporting people in my hometown, I understand who and what makes up the city. When someone tells me they want to do or learn something, we try to make it happen.
The magic truly is in the work. When it comes to our community, we often assess the risk and do it anyway! We trust them. SO many members of our community have done such incredible things from this belief, and will go on to do even greater. My role is about seeing them where they are at, realising their potential and giving them a leg up through various methods that suit the individual. I spot patterns and themes to inform work that addresses the wider collective. The larger role of Rising is to make sure that they don’t fall through paid gigs, training, care-centred development and research that addresses the equity elephant in the room.
If you want to support our work, you can do so here. If you’re an organisation and want to meaningfully collaborate with underrepresented, socially engaged artists, learn more about how we could help you here.
If you have any offers orientating around housing, mental health or immigration law, contact our Community Producer ellayah@rising.org.uk.
