Taking a moment to reflect back on 2024. A special year for us in many ways as we continued to develop creative talent, collaborate with our community, and share our work nationally.
This year we connected with over a thousand students through our community dance and music classes across South Wales, the SHEP programme and our partnerships with Ballet Cymru.
In our multi-disciplinary Academy programme students performed in Reggae & Riddim and Act for Gwyl Parc, took part in multidisciplinary workshops every week, went on trips across the nation, competed in over six dance battles, starred in exhibitions, and grew as creatives.
Our music Academy artists wrote and released their own music, and had their first major gig performing across three venues in one of the UK’s biggest international music showcase festivals, Focus Wales 2024.
Through the Reggae & Riddim festival we connected new generations with their Caribbean roots, partnering with Urban Circle and Jamaican creatives to create a dancehall performance on the main stage featuring Jukebox Academy, alongside Gyption, Lady Leshurr and Tarrus Riley.
Through our short film Of Us, directed by Liara Barussi with soundscape Omi by Touching Bass, and commissioned by the British Library & showcased at Beyond the Bassline Exhibition in London; We explored our ancestral roots and the thread between body, memory and the ocean, honouring the legacy of the one of the oldest Black communities in the UK, based here in our city. The film is now featured on Nowness, and screening internationally in 2025.
Finishing the year with a student curated exhibition and zine launch, wrapping up our three year partnership with Bleak Fabulous, exploring contemporary Welsh identity through the lens of young people in Cardiff. And launch of our creative workshops for the African community in South Wales through our partnership with SSAP for Jamii 2.
Thank you to all our partners and collaborators:
Butetown Community Centre, The Real Ting, Grange Pavilion, SSAP, Ballet Cymru, National Welsh Dance, Urban Circle, Wales Museum, Wales Arts International, the British Library, Arts Council Wales, and our incredible network of Welsh creatives.
More to come in 2025! Wales to the world
