Translating Freedom: Visualising Transformation in Rwanda
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: English Language and Literature
Abstract
How can a country express the complexities of life after genocide? In Rwanda, twenty years after the violence that killed up to a million people, writers, artists, filmmakers and journalists have been working hard to communicate difficult choices made by the government, local organisations and civilians whilst reconstructing the country. Much has changed: a generation of young people have grown up since 1994, and Rwanda has experienced unprecedented economic success. However, internationally the country is still primarily associated with the moment of genocide.
In August 2012, the AHRC "Translating Freedom" network hosted a workshop in Kigali to discuss how life after genocide is mediated through transitional justice processes and the arts. One key issue emerging from our conversations was Rwandans' lack of control over images of their country circulating internationally. Photographs of Rwanda are predominantly taken by visiting outsiders and very few Rwandan photojournalists and artists have access to international networks.
In response to this gap, King's Cultural Institute have funded a photography workshop in Kigali in November 2013. Facilitated by Nigerian photographer Andrew Esiebo and Magnum photojournalist Dominic Nahr, Rwandan participants will be mentored in developing their own unique narratives.
The "Visualising Transformation in Rwanda" project will enable these images to reach a wide international audience through an exhibition at Somerset House, curated by culture and genocide specialist Dr Zoe Norridge, Rwandan artist Christian Nyampeta and Autograph ABP Director Mark Sealy MBE. The exhibition will coincide with the twentieth anniversary of genocide in Rwanda and will constitute the first exhibition about life after genocide by multiple Rwandan photographers to be shown internationally.
Somerset House, with its central London location and extensive marketing networks, offers an ideal platform for bringing together new audiences. The famous courtyard is a respectful setting for commemoration activities and the exhibition will introduce visitors to previously unseen images that reflect upon the past and celebrate change since genocide.
One of our key objectives for the exhibition is to connect people who commission photography with Rwandan photographers. Too often, international NGOs, media organisations and gallery spaces send international photographers to Rwanda to take images for fundraising and awareness raising campaigns, news stories and exhibitions. By engaging with Rwandan photographers directly these commissioners could support local artists whilst also gaining unique insights into life after genocide.
The ways in which a country represents itself influence national identity, international relations, tourism and global public perceptions. But often in the aftermath of violent conflict, governments, foreign aid agencies and NGOs focus exclusively on development priorities such as health, poverty reduction and education. By foregrounding the role of the arts in changing national and international perceptions, we will contribute to a growing body of evidence about the ways in which artists can assist with post-conflict recovery through our policy briefings.
Collaborations are vital to the success of the entire project. The curation is a partnership between King's, Autograph ABP and Rwandan artist Christian Nyampeta. In Rwanda we are working with Carole Karemera (Ishyo Arts), John Mbanda (The New Times), Illume (creative agency) and Inema Arts Centre, amongst others.
This exhibition has the potential to demonstrate that Rwandans can set research agendas, that impact activities resulting from research can affect international creative industries, and that universities can play an active role in highlighting global inequalities. Above all, it will ensure that Rwandan-authored narratives commemorating the twentieth anniversary of genocide are seen internationally.
In August 2012, the AHRC "Translating Freedom" network hosted a workshop in Kigali to discuss how life after genocide is mediated through transitional justice processes and the arts. One key issue emerging from our conversations was Rwandans' lack of control over images of their country circulating internationally. Photographs of Rwanda are predominantly taken by visiting outsiders and very few Rwandan photojournalists and artists have access to international networks.
In response to this gap, King's Cultural Institute have funded a photography workshop in Kigali in November 2013. Facilitated by Nigerian photographer Andrew Esiebo and Magnum photojournalist Dominic Nahr, Rwandan participants will be mentored in developing their own unique narratives.
The "Visualising Transformation in Rwanda" project will enable these images to reach a wide international audience through an exhibition at Somerset House, curated by culture and genocide specialist Dr Zoe Norridge, Rwandan artist Christian Nyampeta and Autograph ABP Director Mark Sealy MBE. The exhibition will coincide with the twentieth anniversary of genocide in Rwanda and will constitute the first exhibition about life after genocide by multiple Rwandan photographers to be shown internationally.
Somerset House, with its central London location and extensive marketing networks, offers an ideal platform for bringing together new audiences. The famous courtyard is a respectful setting for commemoration activities and the exhibition will introduce visitors to previously unseen images that reflect upon the past and celebrate change since genocide.
One of our key objectives for the exhibition is to connect people who commission photography with Rwandan photographers. Too often, international NGOs, media organisations and gallery spaces send international photographers to Rwanda to take images for fundraising and awareness raising campaigns, news stories and exhibitions. By engaging with Rwandan photographers directly these commissioners could support local artists whilst also gaining unique insights into life after genocide.
The ways in which a country represents itself influence national identity, international relations, tourism and global public perceptions. But often in the aftermath of violent conflict, governments, foreign aid agencies and NGOs focus exclusively on development priorities such as health, poverty reduction and education. By foregrounding the role of the arts in changing national and international perceptions, we will contribute to a growing body of evidence about the ways in which artists can assist with post-conflict recovery through our policy briefings.
Collaborations are vital to the success of the entire project. The curation is a partnership between King's, Autograph ABP and Rwandan artist Christian Nyampeta. In Rwanda we are working with Carole Karemera (Ishyo Arts), John Mbanda (The New Times), Illume (creative agency) and Inema Arts Centre, amongst others.
This exhibition has the potential to demonstrate that Rwandans can set research agendas, that impact activities resulting from research can affect international creative industries, and that universities can play an active role in highlighting global inequalities. Above all, it will ensure that Rwandan-authored narratives commemorating the twentieth anniversary of genocide are seen internationally.
Planned Impact
Who will benefit from this research and how?
Rwandan nationals
This project stems from a need identified by Rwandan participants at the Kigali "Translating Freedom" workshop in August 2012. As such, a key group of beneficiaries are Rwandans themselves - both in Rwanda and in the diaspora - who are keen to see Rwandan-authored images of their country circulating on the international stage, which will be achieved through our exhibition. Our curation will be grounded in ongoing dialogue with Rwandan stakeholders and we will seek coverage in the Rwandan as well as the UK press. We are in discussions with the Aegis Trust and SURF Survivors Fund to reach the widest possible audience in the UK (and Northern European) Rwandan diaspora.
Rwandan photographers
This exhibition offers a unique platform for Rwandan photographers to access international networks and markets. Copyright for the images will remain with the photographers and we will provide contact details for potential buyers. Most importantly, through our private view and workshop, photographers' work will be seen by international professionals who commission photography in Rwanda, opening up future opportunities.
UK cultural gatekeepers
We are organising a workshop to connect professionals who commission photography for NGOs, international media and exhibitions with Rwandan photographers based in Rwanda. This will assist commissioners in working directly with Rwandans and ultimately offers an opportunity to save money by working with photographers in-country rather than paying travel costs for international photographers.
UK NGOs and government agencies
Our policy briefing document resulting from the workshop and exhibition will provide information about and guidance on the need for international support for the arts in post-conflict societies. Highlighting a gap in current funding patterns, the briefing will hopefully support international agencies in changing existing practices, with photographers and service users in country further benefitting from any change.
UK public
This exhibition will bring new material to the UK general public, enriching visitor understanding of life in Rwanda after genocide. The central London location, free entry, and Somerset House marketing will assist in reaching the largest possible audience. Media activity around the exhibition (facilitated by our PR agency and Dr Zoe Norridge's ongoing links with Radio 3) will extend the reach of the project.
Curators
This will be the first exhibition that Zoe Norridge and Christian Nyampeta have curated. Mentored by Mark Sealy and supported by the King's Cultural Institute, both curators will gain invaluable experience relevant to their ongoing work with Rwanda.
Students
Undergraduates and graduate students stand to benefit from visual work that has not been seen in the UK before, offering both context for the study of post-genocide societies and material for research in its own right. The exhibition period covers both term-time and school holidays - offering potential for the involvement of school students and their teachers.
Academic beneficiaries
The primary academic beneficiaries of this exhibition will be international researchers examining representations of life after genocide in Rwanda. Whilst the project focuses on photography, it will also appeal to academics exploring literature, film, theatre and dance within the wider context of memorialisation and identity in Rwanda. In addition, it has appeal for academics working on cultural responses to other genocides and scholars specialised in African art, and the politics of representation more widely. The exhibition will also be relevant for social scientists researching memory, transitional justice and reconstruction after genocide.
Rwandan nationals
This project stems from a need identified by Rwandan participants at the Kigali "Translating Freedom" workshop in August 2012. As such, a key group of beneficiaries are Rwandans themselves - both in Rwanda and in the diaspora - who are keen to see Rwandan-authored images of their country circulating on the international stage, which will be achieved through our exhibition. Our curation will be grounded in ongoing dialogue with Rwandan stakeholders and we will seek coverage in the Rwandan as well as the UK press. We are in discussions with the Aegis Trust and SURF Survivors Fund to reach the widest possible audience in the UK (and Northern European) Rwandan diaspora.
Rwandan photographers
This exhibition offers a unique platform for Rwandan photographers to access international networks and markets. Copyright for the images will remain with the photographers and we will provide contact details for potential buyers. Most importantly, through our private view and workshop, photographers' work will be seen by international professionals who commission photography in Rwanda, opening up future opportunities.
UK cultural gatekeepers
We are organising a workshop to connect professionals who commission photography for NGOs, international media and exhibitions with Rwandan photographers based in Rwanda. This will assist commissioners in working directly with Rwandans and ultimately offers an opportunity to save money by working with photographers in-country rather than paying travel costs for international photographers.
UK NGOs and government agencies
Our policy briefing document resulting from the workshop and exhibition will provide information about and guidance on the need for international support for the arts in post-conflict societies. Highlighting a gap in current funding patterns, the briefing will hopefully support international agencies in changing existing practices, with photographers and service users in country further benefitting from any change.
UK public
This exhibition will bring new material to the UK general public, enriching visitor understanding of life in Rwanda after genocide. The central London location, free entry, and Somerset House marketing will assist in reaching the largest possible audience. Media activity around the exhibition (facilitated by our PR agency and Dr Zoe Norridge's ongoing links with Radio 3) will extend the reach of the project.
Curators
This will be the first exhibition that Zoe Norridge and Christian Nyampeta have curated. Mentored by Mark Sealy and supported by the King's Cultural Institute, both curators will gain invaluable experience relevant to their ongoing work with Rwanda.
Students
Undergraduates and graduate students stand to benefit from visual work that has not been seen in the UK before, offering both context for the study of post-genocide societies and material for research in its own right. The exhibition period covers both term-time and school holidays - offering potential for the involvement of school students and their teachers.
Academic beneficiaries
The primary academic beneficiaries of this exhibition will be international researchers examining representations of life after genocide in Rwanda. Whilst the project focuses on photography, it will also appeal to academics exploring literature, film, theatre and dance within the wider context of memorialisation and identity in Rwanda. In addition, it has appeal for academics working on cultural responses to other genocides and scholars specialised in African art, and the politics of representation more widely. The exhibition will also be relevant for social scientists researching memory, transitional justice and reconstruction after genocide.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Zoe Norridge (Principal Investigator) | |
| Paul Gready (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Norridge Z
(2018)
Photography, Film and Visibly Wounded Genocide Survivors in Rwanda
in Journal of Genocide Research
| Title | Rwanda Photography Workshop |
| Description | Three-Day Photography Workshop in Gisenyi (Rwanda) exploring intergenerational memory. Facilitated by Zoe Norridge and international photographer Brendan Bannon with four Rwandan photographer participants: Mussa Uwitonze, Jean Bizimana, Claudia Ingabire and Gadi Habumugisha. Funded by the Children of Political Violence AHRC grant and drawing on networks formed during the AHRC funded "Rwanda in Photographs" exhibition (Translating Freedom). |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Impact | As a result of the workshop the four photographers produced photo essays with accompanying text by Zoe Norridge (drawn from research interviews). Brendan Bannon is seeking to place these photo essays with the international media. We currently have some interest from the New York Times Lens Blog. |
| Title | Rwanda in Photographs Exhibition |
| Description | Rwanda in Photographs: Death Then, Life Now. An exhibition curated by Dr Zoe Norridge and Mark Sealy MBE, presented by the Cultural Institute at King's, supported by the AHRC. The exhibition took place March 21st to April 30th 2014 in the Inigo Rooms, Somerset House East Wing, London. Marking the twentieth anniversary of the genocide in April 2014, Rwanda in Photographs was the first group show outside of Rwanda of work by professional Rwandan photographers. It also featured an installation by Rwandan artist Christian Nyampeta and images by three international photographers. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Impact | The exhibition: * Received 4,998 visitors * Attracted a wide range of press coverage including print, online, radio and television reviews in the UK, US and across Africa * Hosted six public events * Included a professional workshop designed to change international commissioning practices * Was the only international exhibition to foreground work by Rwandan photographers during the twentieth commemoration of genocide |
| URL | http://autograph-abp.co.uk/exhibitions/rwanda-in-photographs |
| Title | Split/Mixed Performance |
| Description | First UK performance of a one-person play written, directed and performed by Rwandan theatre practitioner Ery Nzaramba. The narrative explores his own journey through genocide and how he negotiates his Rwandan identity in an international setting. We invited Ery to stage the performance in the round in the largest room of the gallery, surrounded by images from Rwanda. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Impact | Ery Nzaramba was initially hesitant to perform such personal work in front of an audience which included members of the Rwandan diaspora. He reported that the discussion afterwards was profoundly encouraging for his artistic practice and that he is now is now rethinking where he can stage his work in future. Performing the work in the round was a new and productive development that will influence future performances. |
| URL | http://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/culturalinstitute/showcase/past/pp/1314/talksevents/Rwanda-events-prog... |
| Description | This follow-on funding grant for impact and engagement resourced the exhibition "Rwanda in Photographs: Death Then, Life Now" in the Inigo Rooms, Somerset House East wing. Alongside the exhibition we ran a series of public events and a professional workshop. Four of our key discoveries from this grant were: 1) There is an enthusiastic audience for Rwandan authored images. In the UK this audience included members of the public (both from the UK and overseas), members of the Rwandan diaspora, photographers working internationally, and practitioners and academics engaged with issues relating to post-genocide Rwanda. UK and international media (including Times Higher, CNN, Vox Africa, Arise TV and Thomson Reuters) were willing to engage with the work but placing images with UK broadsheets was much more challenging. 2) This said, there is little international will to seek out Rwandan authored images, even during special periods such as the twentieth commemoration of genocide. Ours was the only exhibition in the UK and overseas, tied to commemoration, that featured work by Rwandan photographers. There is a great deal of work to be done raising awareness of the importance of authorship in the visual field for Rwanda and other post-conflict countries. 3) Viewing work by Rwandan photographers increases perceptions of Rwandans as intrinsically human. We now have robust quantitative data showing that encountering such work changes attitudes across groups. This will be extremely helpful when making the case for funding other artistic interventions and projects to support changes to commissioning practices. 4) Factors driving the commissioning of international photography are highly complex. Whilst most professional photo editors and agencies who attended our professional workshop expressed willingness to commission Rwandan photographers, our conversations showed these professionals still perceive barriers in accessing and trusting local photographers. Policy briefings alone are insufficient to address these issues. Instead, coherent training schemes (developing both artistic and business skills), infrastructural change (better access to high speed internet connections and web resources), the development of a local and regional photographic culture, increased professional representation (agencies and festivals) and changes to commissioning practice (longer lead times, greater development of regional staff) are required for long-term change to be achieved. |
| Exploitation Route | A large number of people will play a role in taking forward the findings from our exhibition and related events. 1) Rwandan photographers had the opportunity to meet international cultural gatekeepers at the UK professional workshop. They have taken these networks back to Rwanda. Resulting projects include: discussions about professional representation by two photo agencies (Majority World, Plus 25); strengthening of Rwandan professional associations and networks; additional training offered by Laura Pohl (who attended our professional workshop) around business management and photo editing; Kigali Slideluck photography showcase running in Rwanda in November 2014. 2) Rwandan artists and members of the diaspora in the UK were inspired by the work and will hopefully initiate further artistic projects exploring Rwandan authorship in an international context. We are still in discussions with artists who were directly (Ery Nzaramba, Christian Nyampeta) and indirectly (Ishimwa Mhimanyi) involved. 3) We have now established a key network of photo editors and agencies committed to commissioning Rwandan imagery, if ongoing barriers can be resolved. Some members of this group have undertaken individual projects involving training and mentoring (Save the Children, Grow Movement, Carol Allen Storey, London College of Communications). 4) PI Dr Zoe Norridge is applying for an AHRC Leadership Fellowship to complete her own monograph to communicate the findings from the exhibition and initiate further network collaborations supporting long-term change in the development of a photographic culture in Rwanda and revisions to current international commissioning practices. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Other |
| Description | Our exhibition and associated events had economic and social impact in both the UK and overseas. Impact included: 1) Directly communicating the complexities and achievements of Rwandans twenty years after the genocide to visitors through the London exhibition, international media coverage and international talks. 2) We now know that communicating such complexity through a visual medium increases positive attitudes towards Rwandans. We have yet to explore the long-term impact of this attitudinal change but it is likely to include reduced prejudice and increased support of international collaborations amongst the UK public. 3) Connecting Rwandan photographers with international networks, generating possibilities for international professional representation, further training and commissioned work. This has an economic impact for all professional photographers working in Rwanda. 4) Mapping the ground for changes to the commissioning of photographs of Rwanda by international cultural gatekeepers. This is a long-term project with the potential for significant impact to the ways in which Rwanda is visually represented internationally, changing public perceptions, creating economic opportunities for Rwandans and potentially offering cost savings for NGOs and government departments working in Rwanda. 5) Bringing together stakeholders from a range of different fields including transitional justice, publishing, film, politics and NGOs to appreciate the importance of authorship in visual images of Rwanda. These interdisciplinary conversations across disciplines and professions (both academic and practitioner) will hopefully change the ways in which participants commission and use photography in their own practice. 6) Students, academics and members of the public participating in exhibition events had the opportunity to engage with Rwandan cultures in a manner that is usually impossible outside of Rwanda. Again, we hope this will change the questions they ask about visual authorship both professionally and personally. We know from our evaluations and anecdotal conversations that the events were certainly enjoyable and thought-provoking. 7) King's College London was able to develop a significant partnership with Autograph ABP that has potential to grow as we extend the work on the visual representation of Rwanda. This has a potential impact on the ways in which academic-creative collaborations are perceived within both institutions. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
| Description | Photography Professional Workshop |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Impact from this professional workshop is still evolving. We brought together photo editors, photo agencies, curators, international and Rwandan photographers to discuss why NGOs, news agencies and cultural organisations don't commission work from local photographers in Rwanda (and the wider East African region). We circulated a summary document reflecting the findings of these discussions that will soon be available on the Autograph ABP website. We also intend to seek further funding to explore key issues identified. Participants agreed to work towards changing commissioning practices which has the potential to: change public perceptions of Rwanda, increase income for Rwandan photographers and save money for NGOs. |
| Description | AHRC Image Gallery |
| Amount | £4,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2014 |
| End | 04/2014 |
| Description | AHRC Leadership Fellowship |
| Amount | £252,927 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/P00492X/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | Care for the Future: Development Grant |
| Amount | £43,953 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/M006115/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2015 |
| End | 11/2015 |
| Description | Autograph ABP |
| Organisation | Autograph ABP |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | PI Dr Zoe Norridge, worked in collaboration with Autograph ABP on the curation and promotion of the exhibition 'Rwanda in Photographs: Death Then, Life Now'. We also organised a joint workshop with photography professionals. Since 2014 Mark Sealy MBE has continued to advise on Zoe Norridge's collaborative photography projects in Rwanda. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Mark Sealy MBE, Director of Autograph ABP, offered curatorial advice and support throughout the development and execution of the project. |
| Impact | Exhibition (complete) Workshop (complete) Policy Briefing (in progress) Yes this is multi-disciplinary. Autograph ABP is a charity that works internationally in photography, cultural identity, race, representation and human rights. I am an academic based in English and Comparative Literature researching cultural responses to genocide. The exhibition and associated events brought together the fields of photography, literature, human rights and development. |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Goldsmiths, Psychology |
| Organisation | Goldsmiths, University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | PI Dr Zoe Norridge asked Dr Keon West for assistance with designing a scientifically robust evaluation process to measure attitudinal change amongst exhibition visitors. She was involved in scoping, designing methodology, implementing, and analysing the data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Keon West, Social Psychologist, designed (and gained ethical approval for) a survey to measure attitudinal change amongst exhibition visitors. He has since transcribed and analysed the data. Dr Norridge and Dr West have designed a further study to investigate what was driving the survey results and plan to publish these findings in a co-authored journal article. |
| Impact | Co-authored journal article - still at draft stage. Yes interdisciplinary: Social Psychology, Photography, Comparative Literature. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Royal African Society |
| Organisation | Royal African Society |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | PI Dr Zoe Norridge contacted the Royal African Society to collaborate in organising and promoting two events linked to the exhibition: * Looking Back, Looking Forward, Great Hall (March 24th 2014) * A Just Response to Genocide? (March 26th 2014) |
| Collaborator Contribution | Royal African Society in collaboration with Dr Phil Clark (SOAS), Dr Nicola Palmer (KCL) and Zoe Norridge, organised speaker panels for these two events. The society also promoted the events to their members. |
| Impact | Two events |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Survivors Fund |
| Organisation | Survivors Fund (SURF) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | PI Dr Zoe Norridge approached Survivors Fund for consultation on a memorial event connected to the exhibition and for advice on sensitivities amongst the Rwandan community in the UK. Survivors Fund was listed as a partner in exhibition materials and a text to donate panel was displayed at the exhibition entrance/exit. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Survivors Fund (SURF) invited speakers to our commemoration event (held in King's College Chapel) and provided speakers. They also connected us to the Rwanda High Commission in the UK and offered advice on procedures for dealing with traumatised exhibition visitors. |
| Impact | Commemorative Event |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Brixton Event: Photofusion |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 'International Women's Day Event: Women and the Aftermath of War', public conversation with Jenny Matthews about her photography, Invited Speaker, Photofusion, London, March 2014. Talk attracted London-based photography activists, international photographers and members of the public with an interest in Rwanda. Connected the international work of Jenny Matthews over the last twenty years with the Rwanda in Photographs exhibition (which included a quilt installation by Jenny Matthews). Brought new audiences to the exhibition. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Convened and chaired "Responding to Crisis through the Arts: Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda" at King's College London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Chaired a panel with Andrew Esiebo, DeLovie Kwagala and Injonge Karangwa exploring how the visual arts responded to COVID in different African Countries. Panel discussion took place online and received an international audience. Formed part of Africa Week, led by the African Leadership Centre at King's. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/events/series/africa-week |
| Description | Event: A Just Response to Genocide? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Panel bringing together NGO Human Rights Activists, lawyers and academics. Event stimulated encounters between panellists and audience members that would not otherwise have happened. Event brought visitors interested in law and human rights into the exhibition space and fostered ongoing interdisciplinary dialogue. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/culturalinstitute/showcase/past/pp/1314/talksevents/Rwanda-events-prog... |
| Description | Event: Finding a Literary Voice in East Africa |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Discussion between Billy Kahora, Managing Editor of the Kwani Literary Network in Kenya and Kate Haines, Director of Material Books, Sussex and Rwanda. Followed by the second UK screening of Grey Matter with a specially recorded Director's Introduction by Kivu Ruhorahoza. Discussion and screening brought cultural materials not widely available in the UK to the notice of academics and members of the public. Discussion prompted the development of a new chapter in PI Dr Zoe Norridge's forthcoming book. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/culturalinstitute/showcase/past/pp/1314/talksevents/Rwanda-events-prog... |
| Description | Event: Genocide Commemoration |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A joint event with Survivors Fund commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide in King's College Chapel. Speakers included genocide survivors and a representative of the Rwanda High Commission. There was live and recorded Rwandan music and a candle lighting ceremony. A reception was held afterwards in the Rwanda in Photographs exhibition. The event brought many members of the Rwandan diaspora into King's College London for the first time. It demonstrated the university's engagement with international collective memory and memorialisation. Many commented on the dignified, warm and diverse nature of the event. The event raised awareness of the photographic exhibition amongst the Rwandan diaspora based in the UK. Many of the Rwandans who attended the commemoration went on to attend subsequent events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/culturalinstitute/showcase/past/pp/1314/talksevents/Rwanda-events-prog... |
| Description | Event: Looking Back, Looking Forward |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Rwanda 1994-2014: Looking Back, Looking Forwards sparked a great deal of interest amongst the Rwandan diaspora community. We were warned of potential protests before the event but in practice it ran smoothly even if the debate was heated. Several of the panel members were invited to talk to Radio 4 in a mobile studio van on the King's campus just before the event. The expert panel generated animated discussion afterwards. Many audience members from the Rwandan diaspora attended the subsequent reception in the exhibition space. The atmosphere notably changed, becoming warmer and more convivial, as we moved from the expert panel conference hall setting to the art space. Rwandans who wouldn't normally have sought out photographic exhibitions visited Rwanda in Photographs because they were interested in the debate beforehand. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/culturalinstitute/showcase/past/pp/1314/talksevents/Rwanda-events-prog... |
| Description | Event: Photographing Rwanda After Genocide |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Expert panel of two Rwandan photographers and two international photographers who have worked extensively in Rwanda. Giving a rare opportunity for UK audiences to hear from Rwandan practitioners who are still resident in Rwanda. Audience were surprised to learn that Rwandans are frustrated by constant international requests to focus on genocide. Curators from Leeds and Bradford attended the talk. We discussed the possibility of touring the exhibition. This hasn't been possible for logistical reasons. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/culturalinstitute/showcase/past/pp/1314/talksevents/Rwanda-events-prog... |
| Description | Exhibition of work from Rwanda in Photographs at King's Engages Africa |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Display of work from Rwanda in Photographs at the international 2-day conference King's Engages Africa. I gave a talk introducing the work at the opening reception and connected the exhibition to my subsequent projects with the Ishami Foundation by inviting Jo Ingabire, co-founder of the Survivors Tribune project (now part of Ishami) to talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Hamwe Festival (Rwanda) Panel on Pandemic Photography |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Participated in panel on pandemic photography with two Nigerian photographers, Andrew Esiebo and Aisha Bada. Hamwe is an in person and online public-facing festival run by the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda to explore connections between the creative industries and global health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://ughe.org/hamwe2021 |
| Description | KCL Cultural Institute Short Film |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | King's Cultural Institute commissioned short films about selected projects to showcase their work with the cultural industries. These haven't yet been marketed to the public but are available to view on YouTube. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/IGRYj9vqzss |
| Description | Lecture for the University of Nottingham AHRC Stories of Change Speaker series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited Speaker for the University of Nottingham AHRC Stories of Change Speaker series, May 2016: "Papaoutai? Postmemory, Intergenerational Absence and Rwandan Artists Today". Open to the general public but a mostly academic audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Ongoing Radio Interviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Most of the media activity associated with the Rwanda in Photographs exhibition is listed under the 'Artistic/Creative Exhibition' entry submitted in autumn 2014. In the past year however, I have continued to participate in conversations about photography on radio that draw on my curatorial work during this grant. These programmes include: * Live photography discussion with Anna Fox, Eamonn McCabe and Philip Dodd, Free Thinking, Radio 3, September 15 2015. * Review of Conflict, Time, Photography at Tate Modern, live studio discussion with Alex Schlacher and Anne McElvoy, Free Thinking, Radio 3, November 27 2014. * Review of Deutsche Borse prize-winner Richard Mosse and his work in DRC, live studio discussion with Matthew Sweet, Free Thinking, Radio 3, May 13 2014. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0144txn |
| Description | Participation in panel at Imperial War Museum panel on Humanitarian Photography |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Participated in a roundtable discussion on humanitarian photography with an international photographer, former NGO photo editor and academics. Audience included photographers, NGO photo editors and academics/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://www.timhetheringtontrust.org/news-and-calendar/2021/09/tim-hetherington-collection-conflict-i... |