Our Voice Network | Rhwydwaith Ein Llais exists to empower, develop, and platform artists of the Global Majority through professional development opportunities, showcasing events, and bursaries.
Founded by Krystal S. Lowe
2023 Our Voice Bursary
In Partnership with Awen Cultural Trust
For artists of the Global Majority who are seeking to take their career to the next stage.
The Our Voice Bursary 2023 aims to support two artists of the Global Majority, for one year, to take their career in the arts to the next stage and to make further connections in the arts sector in Wales.
The two bursary recipients will be chosen through an open selection process searching for those with great passion for their art-form and a clear vision of what they want and what they need to achieve it.
Successful recipients will be supported for one year (August 2023 - August 2024) in the following ways:
Awen Cultural Trust will support recipients’ development in the areas of: programming, outdoor arts, and technical and venue management.
One week of space (workspace and/or studio space) at an Awen Cultural Trust managed venue.
12-months of mentoring from Awen Cultural Trust.
Support from Krystal S. Lowe throughout the year in application and CV writing, offering feedback on ideas, how to find jobs and opportunities, and in connecting recipients with people in the arts sector to support ongoing career development.
A public showcase of their work-in-progress in Our Voice 2024 sharing produced by Krystal S. Lowe.
And a £500.00 Bursary to support expenses and time away from work to develop their art-form.
There is also potential for bursary recipients to take part in work placements throughout the year.
The 2023 Our Voice Bursary recipients are Plamedi Santima-Akiso and Naseem Syed.
A brown-skinned woman holding onto her long brown braid in front of a greenish background.
Credit: Jukebox Collective
Plamedi Santima-Akiso is a Congolese-born, Wales-based dance artist and choreographer specialising in African Dance through her dance company Afro-Jam Cardiff. Her work focuses on educating about African cultures whilst enabling dancers to explore various Afro-dance styles and develop their technique. Plamedi has recently performed at Afro Fest Bristol, Dathliad Cymru-Affrica festival, Butetown Carnival, Diversity in Space and Style, London, and featured on ITV Wales.
“Being selected for this bursary has been very encouraging and eye-opening in terms of finding out about the possible opportunities and support that are available for creatives and business owners like me. What is great about this bursary is the fact that it does not only focus on financial support but instead focuses on every other aspect of support which are crucial for the development of the artist.”
A light brown-skinned woman standing in the middle of a tree with colourful flowers.
Naseem Syed is a proud Welsh, Iranian, socially engaged visual artist. She is passionate about craftivism, community and spreading kindness through creativity. Through her pom-pom activism recently seen at Riverfront Newport, WMC Cardiff and Between the Trees Festival Bridgend, Naz has celebrated Persian culture whilst raising awareness of the injustice against women in Iran, challenging people to explore the concept and act of kindness.
“This all means so much and I am so grateful to have the support of Our Voice Network and Awen. For me it has been a time of shift and change. I am grateful to be able to explore my true passion and purpose as an artist. Our Voice is about the time to be brave and develop my practise on a deeper level.
The bursary is vital to enable and empower creatives to be able to take some time, gain support to be able to grow, share and collaborate. I can’t wait to get started and look forward to connecting with everyone. ”
“It is such a privilege to step into the second year of this incredible bursary programme. The year I spent connecting with and supporting the development of the 2022 Our Voice Bursary recipients was a joy and I look forward to the incredible steps forward Plamedi and Naseem will take in their creative journey. I am so grateful to Awen Cultural Trust for standing beside Our Voice Network as we aim to empower, support, and equip artists of the Global Majority as a means of addressing the inequity in the arts. Through this partnership, I hope to see many opportunities for further connection and development for us all.”