News Archive - Jukebox Collective

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Three new 5-week courses.
Free to join.
Limited spaces.
Ages 13+.
If you’re into acting, singing or dance, this is for you.

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Acting with Kate Wilson

Learn how to:
Create strong self-tapes
Improve performance technique
Build confidence on camera
Develop characters
Good for beginners and anyone wanting to get better at auditions and screen work.

APPLY NOW

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Singing (Female Only) with Lily Webbe

Focus on:
Vocal technique
Performance skills
Finding your sound
Singing in a supportive space
Open to females aged 13+.

APPLY NOW

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Dancehall with Zhane

Work on:
Dancehall foundations
Choreography
Musicality
Stage presence
High energy. Open level.

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Editorial & Creative Launches

We started the year with the launch of our Jukebox Collective x Bleak Fabulous zine — a collaborative editorial series with Jukebox Academy students. Held at The Sustainable Studio in Cardiff, the event brought together emerging creatives, families, and industry representatives around photography, styling, and creative storytelling.

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Community & Wellbeing Workshops

Our Jamii programme continued to grow with a series of creative wellness workshops designed for African & Caribbean communities in Cardiff. We explored mindfulness, writing, natural wellness, and cultural traditions like designing Ludo boards, using creativity as connection and care.

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We also hosted Jamii Day in the summer at Grange Pavilion, bringing together multigenerational communites to celebrate health, culture, movement, and shared play — from mindful sessions to jerk-making and dance.

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Of Us — Film & Performance Went International

2025 was a major year for our short film Of Us (directed by Liara Barussi), continuing its journey beyond its British Library debut. We premiered the film in Wales with a screening and Q&A at Chapter Arts Centre, featuring conversations with the creative team and cast. Jukebox Collective

Internationally, Of Us featured as part of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in Marrakech — its first global screening, spotlighting the film within a wider programme celebrating contemporary African creativity. Jukebox Collective

In Brussels, Jukebox Collective presented a live performance and screening of Of Us at Bozar, blending movement, sound and film within a multidisciplinary event focused on Black joy and storytelling. Jukebox Collective

Back in Europe, Of Us was exhibited at the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam as part of the Not My Soul exhibition, placing our work in a dialogue with global histories of resilience and creative expression.

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Collaborations & Campaigns

For St David’s Day 2025 we teamed up with BUILDHOLLYWOOD on an outdoor campaign that reimagined Welsh tradition through editorial imagery created with Jukebox Academy students. The large-scale billboard takeover across Cardiff and Swansea wove heritage and creative reinterpretation into the public sphere. Jukebox Collective

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On the global stage, we led creative direction for visual content showcasing Llio James’s handwoven designs at Wales Day during the Osaka Expo, blending craft, movement and cross-cultural storytelling. Jukebox Collective

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Castings

This year included opportunities such as casting work for the Nike x Patta campaign, where Jukebox Collective contributed casting for the dancers.

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Academy

Our Summer Schools Pop Up Tour brought music and dance workshops into primary schools across Cardiff, offering pop-up performances and creative experiences for young people in local communities.

At Jukebox Academy we celebrated the launch of the Kolleidoscope EP, marking a milestone for our music students as they shared their first collective release.

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Our film Of Us, directed by Liara Barussi, is featuring in Not My Soul, an exhibition at the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam, presented in partnership with the National Slavery Museum.

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Not My Soul explores stories of slavery, law and freedom, tracing connections between antiquity and Suriname. The exhibition shares insights into how Roman law influenced later systems of enslavement in Suriname, and on how enslaved people across both periods lived, resisted, and sought freedom.

Through archaeological artefacts and objects from the Surinamica collections, Not My Soul re-examines histories that have too often been told from the perspective of those in power from emperors, plantation owners to colonial rulers. Instead, this exhibition centres the humanity, creativity and resilience of those whose freedom was taken from them.

Contemporary artworks sit alongside ancient objects, offering new ways to see and feel this shared history. Our film Of Us stands among these works, a poetic reflection on identity, memory and collective experience alongside artists including Kathryn Smith & Pearl Mamathuba, Sarojini Lewis, and René Tavares.

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René Tavares’s Making Memories in front of Memories (2023), from the Schulting Art Collection, depicts a Black family posing before a painting of a cotton plantation: the backdrop evokes the colonial past, but the family does not look back. The work invites reflection on how the past persists, and how new generations negotiate its legacy with strength and dignity.

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Not My Soul invites visitors to look again at the past, to listen deeply, to question, and to see from another perspective. This exhibition places the stories of enslaved people at its heart: people whose freedom was taken from them, yet who, through their work, creativity, care, language, love and resistance, held on to their humanity. It calls us to re-examine history with empathy and awareness, and to find new meaning in voices too long unheard.

https://www.allardpierson.nl/en/calendar/not-my-soul

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Of Us, originally commissioned by Dr Aleema Gray for the British Library.

Credits:

A Jukebox Collective Production

Director: Liara Barussi

Movement Director: Liara Barussi

Producer: Lauren Patterson

DOP: Nathan O’Kelly

Sound Design: An excerpt of ‘Omi’

Created by Felix Taylor and Melo-Zed in Collaboration with Touching Bass

Music supervision by Alex Rita and Tayo Rapoport

Stylist: Lauren Anne Groves

Creative Consultant: Leyman Lahcine

Starring: Jukebox Academy: Gui Pinto, Venice Williams, Monet Williams, Teaghan Scanlon, Karim Mohamed, Fatima Jarju, Ayoola Wonder, Elizabeth Oredola, Perez Rodriques, Rio Rodriques, Quincy Chambers, Akeylah Hinton, Blessing Oredola, Sheighley-Sky

Movement Assistants: Darnell Williams, Naomi Ferne, Patrik Gabco, Millie Campion

Hair Stylist: Trent Jackson

Barber: Isaac Omoyibo

Editor: Pawel Achtelik
Colourist: Sharon Chung

Casting: Jukebox Collective

Stylist Assistants: Eliza Goldsmith, Maisie Edwards

1st AC: Tom Parry

2nd AC: Lewis Morgan
Camera Trainee: Connor O’Kelly

Catering: Lane Locations, Lara Smrtnik
Runners: Tarina Tajul, Samandal Sidig, Elina Lee, Genaya Parris, Angelina Rodriques

Fashion Brands: Miguel Brito, Ahluwalia, Jawara Alleyne, Nym Promprasert, Alexandra Armata, Rains, Danshan, Kiko Kostadinov, Renli Su, Maxine O’Sullivan, Azulmain, Tazmin Porter, Viola Gibellini, Anyi Tang

BTS Photographer: Joe Andrews

Post-House: Avenues

Post-Producer: Amanda Jenkins

Graphic Design: Henny Valentino

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Learn about Ludo, the classic family board game, loved by African and diaspora communities all over the world

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Ludo, though originally invented in India as Pachisi, has become deeply embedded in Jamaican culture across generations and communities.

In Jamaica, Ludo evolved from a simple family board game into a competitive, communal activity, especially popular in homes, street corners, bars, and during social gatherings. People of all ages engage in Ludo, creating a space for conversations, jokes, and friendly rivalries.

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cultural influence

Ludo is a social game, bringing together friends & family.

Homemade Ludo boards are creatively hand-painted on tabletops, wood, or cardboard, showing the resourcefulness and creativity of Jamaican culture.

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in jamaican daily life

Whether played in a shop yard in Kingston or a quiet countryside veranda, Ludo in Jamaica is a cultural ritual that everyone can enjoy

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craft your own ludo board

Hosted by The Real Ting, join us on Sun 29 June 2025 to design your own Ludi board, expressing your unique cultural heritage.

In this workshop, groups of 2-3, will have the chance to customise their own boards, bringing to them their unique culture and creativity. All materials will be provided.

This workshop is curated by Jukebox Collective and delivered as a part of our partnership with SSAP for Jamii Day, a Black-led family event bringing our multigenerational community together to celebrate health, culture and wellness.

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Dive into the heart of Jamaican cuisine and learn about the origins, traditions and importance of Jerk

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the origins of jerk

Jerk chicken is at the heart of Jamaican cuisine with deep roots in the island’s cultural history. Its origins trace back to the Maroons—descendants of Africans who escaped slavery and formed independent communities in Jamaica’s inland mountainous regions after fleeing Spanish and later British colonisers in the 17th century. These resilient communities developed the “jerk” method as a practical and nourishing way to preserve and cook wild game.

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who are the maroons?

The Maroons of Jamaica were freedom fighters who resisted and fought against colonial oppression. Their knowledge of the terrain, guerrilla warfare tactics, and determination made them formidable opponents and symbols of Black resistance. Through decades of rebellion and negotiation, the Maroons forced the British into peace treaties that granted them autonomy. Their courage not only preserved their own freedom but also inspired broader resistance movements, contributing significantly to the eventual abolition of slavery in the Caribbean. The Maroons remain a powerful testament to the fight for freedom and the enduring legacy of Black liberation.

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the traditional jerk method

Jerk cooking continued to evolve uniquely in Jamaica through the fusion of African and Taíno (the indigenous people of Jamaica) culinary traditions. The original jerk technique involved slow-cooking meat over pimento wood (from the allspice tree) in a pit fire, which infused it with a smoky, aromatic flavor. The Maroons would season the meat heavily with local herbs and spices, then wrap it in leaves and cook it underground—a method that allowed them to prepare meals discreetly while evading colonisers.

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roots & resilience

Jerk chicken tells the story of survival, it represents resistance, ingenuity, and tradition. From its Maroon origins to its modern presence at street stalls and global restaurants, jerk embodies the adaptability and spirit of Jamaican identity. It stands as a symbol of Afro-Caribbean resilience that is celebrated globally. In Jamaica, it remains a beloved national dish, often enjoyed at get-togethers, family yards, street stalls, and events.

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make your own jerk merinade

Join The Real Ting on 29 June 2025 at Grange Pavilion, Cardiff to make your own authentic Jamaican Jerk marinade

Learn about the ingredients, make a blend to take home & finish with a taste of jerk chicken fresh from the jerk pan!

Curated by Jukebox Collective and delivered in partnership with SSAP as a part of Jamii. Creative wellness workshops for African & Caribbean diaspora communities in Cardiff

Limited number of spaces available. Sign up on the day for your slot.

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Black-led family event bringing our multigenerational community together to celebrate health, culture and wellness.

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Jamii Day is a black-led family event bringing our multigenerational community together to celebrate health, culture and wellness.

Expect a mix of peer-led and culturally relevant health, fitness and wellbeing activities, led by facilitators from within our communities. From movement sessions, mindful workshops to performances, Jamii Day shares positive, accessible ways for our people to get together & shape holistic experiences.

Taking place on Sun 29 June 2025 from 11am to 5pm at Grange Pavilion, Cardiff

This all day event is Free to attend and welcomes all ages!

Expect a mix of peer-led and culturally relevant health, fitness and wellbeing activities, led by facilitators from within our communities. From movement sessions, mindful workshops to performances, Jamii Day champions positive, accessible ways for our people to strengthen their mental health, wellbeing and sense of identity.

Reserve your free tickets here!

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jukebox community stage

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Jukebox Community Stage

Featuring Performances, Ludo workshop, Jerk workshop and social dance curated by Jukebox Collective. Yoga, fitness and mental health activities curated by SSAP.

12pm – Dance Performances
3pm – Community Dance Social with Treu Beatz
4pm – Battles

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make your own jerk marinade

Join The Real Ting on 29 June 2025 at Grange Pavilion, Cardiff to make your own authentic Jamaican Jerk marinade

Learn about the ingredients, make a blend to take home & finish with a taste of jerk chicken fresh from the jerk pan!

Curated by Jukebox Collective and delivered in partnership with SSAP as a part of Jamii. Creative wellness workshops for African & Caribbean diaspora communities in Cardiff

Limited number of spaces available. Sign up on the day for your slot.

craft your own ludo board

Hosted by The Real Ting, join us on Sun 29 June 2025 to design your own Ludi board, expressing your unique cultural heritage.

In this workshop, groups of 2-3, will have the chance to customise their own boards, bringing to them their unique culture and creativity. All materials will be provided.

our partners

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Sub-Sahara Advisory Panel (SSAP) was formed in 2009 when a number of African diaspora groups in Wales met to consider how they might collectively advance their common interest in local issues affecting African communities in Wales as well as those in Africa. They apply lived experience, skills, capacity and knowledge found within Welsh African diaspora communities.

This project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and led by SSAP. In partnership with Soul Connect and North Wales African Society

Read about our past Jamii workshops

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Curated work opportunities for Welsh creatives in music, production, project management, and more!

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Digital Content Creator – S4C

S4C seeks a bilingual digital creator to produce compelling content for YouTube and social media.

Find more info here

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Creative Steps Enabler

Join Arts Council Wales to help deliver a funding programme focused on increasing diversity in the arts.

Find more info here

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Arts Development Enabler

Develop arts sector knowledge while supporting delivery teams at Arts Council Wales.

Find more info here

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Technical Apprentice (Stage Bias)

Wales Millennium Centre offers a hands-on apprenticeship for future stage tech professionals.

Find more info here

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Marketing and Communications Manager

Lead creative communications for NoFit State Circus and grow its reach and impact.

Find more info here

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Project Manager – Live Music Now

Help deliver music-based projects and fundraising for one of the UK’s most respected arts charities.

Find more info here

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Project Management Officer – Arts Council Wales

Lead internal project planning and delivery in a key strategic role at Arts Council Wales.

Find more info here

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Fundraising Assistant – Chapter Arts Centre

Support the fundraising team at Chapter to help meet annual targets and build donor relationships.

Find more info here

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Creative Youth Producer – Common Wealth

Join a new youth arts and activism project in Cardiff, supporting working-class young people.

Find more info here

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We know looking for creative work opportunities can be long! Subscribe to our newsletter to get this curated monthly round-up delivered to your inbox eepurl.com/dNIjpQ

Need support with an opportunity?

Drop us an email, we’re happy to help you get started or give some feedback on an ongoing application. We’ve worked with creatives to develop grant applications for performance, music, literature, dance, community projects and so much more!

Cover image: Public Interest – Common Wealth

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Honouring the late Cameroonian curator Koyo Kouoh, a visionary that reshaped global art through African perspectives

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This African Liberation Day, we honour visionary Cameroonian curator Koyo Kouoh, who reshaped global narratives of liberation through culture and art.

Throughout her career, Kouoh worked to centre African perspectives within contemporary art. Through her exhibitions, institutional leadership, and mentorship of emerging artists and curators, she remained steadfast in her belief that African art must speak in its own language.

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Born in Douala, Cameroon in 1967 and raised in Switzerland, Kouoh came to curating through activism, publishing, and organising. In 2008, she founded RAW Material Company in Dakar, which quickly became one of the continent’s most influential independent art spaces, a place for radical thought, artistic experimentation, and community.

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In 2019, she became the Executive Director and Chief Curator of Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town. Under her leadership, the museum shifted from a contested institution to a vital cultural space, with programming that challenged reductive understandings of African art and opened up richer, more nuanced conversations.

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One of her most celebrated exhibitions, When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, embodied this approach. First shown at Zeitz MOCAA and currently at Bozar in Brussels, the exhibition traces 100 years of Black self-representation in painting, weaving together themes of joy, love, spirituality, and resistance.

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“Liberation is not an act of charity. It’s a process of unlearning the assumptions of others, of reclaiming authorship, and shaping the narrative on your own terms.” said Koyo Kouoh

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As part of the Bozar programme, Jukebox Collective was invited to share short film Of Us, alongside a live performance, directed by Liara Barussi. Rooted in the history of Tiger Bay in Cardiff, one of the UK’s oldest Black communities, Of Us translates lived stories into movement, honouring inherited memory, African heritage and traditions carried across the ocean.

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Across every project, Kouoh remained consistent in her message: African art is central to the global story. Whether as the General Commissioner for the 2026 Venice Biennale or creating platforms for artists across Africa and its diaspora, she redefined institutions from within, demanded new frames of reference, and opened doors for generations to come.