please click on each icon below for details of the other aspects of 6°

Project Outline

6 Degrees (6°) is an innovative, multi-faceted arts programme that connects artists, projects and communities across traditional, cultural and geographical divides.  Conceived and developed by Urbanflo Creative Consultancy, the initiative presents a unique creative platform for artists from different backgrounds and disciplines to collaborate on performances, events and exhibitions for international audiences.  Fusing diverse artists and art forms with contemporary and traditional practice, 6° has facilitated exciting opportunities for artists to creatively reflect on where histories and cultures connect, collide, intersect and intertwine.

Inspired by the “small world” concept that suggests any two individuals on the planet could be linked through a maximum of five acquaintances, 6° brings together a stimulating range of satellite projects which focus on the cross-cutting themes of global unity, integration, participation and community development.  The eclectic programme features performing art, visual art, spoken word, photography, music and digital media.  Activities include exhibitions, creative workshops, performances and professional development sessions.

6° is a truly distinctive initiative, specifically designed to propel cultural operators creatively and professionally whilst promoting the import and export of artistic talent.  A major aim is to engage artists with a range of high calibre cultural agencies and practices, and expose them to new international networks and opportunities. The project will also seek to respond to international events including the Olympic Games and UNESCO observations which include; International Year of Youth, International Year of People of African Descent, International Women’s Day, Universal Children’s Day and World Food Day.

6° has been extensively researched and developed over the last 3 years.  The project was also successfully piloted in Barbados in May 2011 and featured a diverse mini-festival of transnational collaborative art exhibitions and workshops, with live and virtual performances.  The next phase focuses on the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, with a year-long arts programme starting in February 2012 called <relay>.  The campaign will be produced in partnership with a range of cultural agencies including; Brighton Photo Fringe, Crawley Borough Council, The Hawth Crawley, Crawley Black History Foundation, Jonzi-D Productions, Audio Active, BandBazi, Creative Future, Brighton & Hove Black History, Barbados National Cultural Foundation and Government of Barbados Commission for Pan-African Affairs.

The <relay> arts series is inspired by the presence of the Olympic Training Camps in the country throughout 2012.  The project aims to innovatively connect communities from the visiting and the host destinations.  It will feature a parallel creative programme that will take place in partner countries - transmitted to and from each location.  These satellite participatory events will bring together international creative collaborators and audiences in a vibrant series of Photography, Spoken Word, Film, Theatre, Music, Dance and Visual Arts.  <relay> gets set to go next month with the launch of the "Roots & Wings" International Photography exhibition in February 2012.  The wider programme will incorporate a dazzling mixture of live and cyberspace activities alongside a series of creative workshops and masterclasses.

A key objective of <relay> is to enhance intercultural cooperation by highlighting lesser-known social connections.  For example, Crawley in Sussex is host to the Barbados Olympic Training Camp.  Barbados has countless inextricable historical, cultural, economical and social ties to the UK dating back to 1625.  Although an independent state and Commonwealth realm since 1966, Barbados still retains Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State.  The island is commonly known as “Little England” because so many locations have a UK namesake - Bath, Beachey Head, Brighton, Cambridge, Christchurch, Clapham, Dover, Folkestone, Hastings, Kent, Lancaster, Newcastle, Oxford, Rugby, Scotland, Windsor and Worthing.  Even National Heroes Square in the nation’s capital, Bridgetown was until recently known as Trafalgar Square and it still features a statue of Nelson that predates it’s UK counterpart by over 25 years!

click here for more details about the <relay> programme

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Photograph by Amrita Das & Kaydia Lewin-Turner: Diaspora Vibe Gallery Artists "Some-where | Now-where Exhibition

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