News Archive - Jukebox Collective

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This St David’s Day 2025, we launched our very first online merch shop , a celebration of contemporary Welsh heritage.

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The collection is a continuation of our ffasiwn project, a creative collaboration with Bleak Fabulous that presents a reimagination of traditional Welsh costume as envisioned through the lens of Jukebox Academy.

Read more about our ffasiwn project here

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The merch collection builds on the original ffasiwn project, which first launched in 2021. For this special drop, we curated a limited-edition range featuring illustrated t-shirts, postcard packs, poster artwork, and a printed zine — each piece inspired by the original photography and creative work from the project.

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We worked with Cardiff-based Ice Cream Embroidery to produce four t-shirt designs, all featuring hand-drawn illustrations by Jukebox Academy students. Each drawing was created in direct response to imagery from the project, offering a further interpretation of Welsh identity through the eyes of young people.

Dydd Gwyl Dewi postcard packs were also released to mark this special day in Welsh tradition

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To bring the merch to life, we worked with photographer Siria Ferrer Sainz-Pardo and textile artist Ophelia Dos Santos, capturing the merch in a photoshoot at local creative studio, Teddy’s Place.

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Alongside the online shop, we partnered with St Fagans National Museum of History to launch a month-long pop-up exhibition on St David’s Day. Showcasing the imagery and merch from the project, the pop-up welcomed over 17,000 visitors throughout March.

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This project was made possible through the generous support of Amgueddfa Cymru / Museum Wales, Arts Council Wales, and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Visit the online shop here

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St Davids Day outdoor campaign reimagining Welsh traditions in partnership with buildhollywood

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This Dydd Gwyl Dewi / St David’s Day 2025, we launched an outdoor campaign reimagining Welsh traditions. The campaign was delivered in partnership with BUILDHOLLYWOOD, creative street advertising specialists that place creativity in the heart of our cities.

In collaboration with Bleak Fabulous, we launched the large-scale billboard campaign across Cardiff and Swansea, taking over 51 sites showcasing a series of editorial images created alongside the young people of Jukebox Academy.

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The collaboration, inspired by the iconic Welsh hat, saw the students rework this traditional piece with guidance from Welsh costume designer Ffian Jones.

The work was photographed by Clémentine Schneidermann and creatively directed by Charlotte James. Presenting a reimagining of traditional Welsh costume, weaving personal heritage into designs. With elements like the red woollen cloak, paisley shawl, and Pais a Betgwn creatively reworked, reflecting connections between the past and present. The result was a series of culturally resonant interpretations brought to life on BUILDHOLLYWOOD billboards.

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“This rendering of Welsh pride and identity is an editorially impressive and emotionally accomplished collaboration, showcasing the power of national identity as it really is; a movement of inclusivity, joy, and heartfelt connection.” wrote Elsa Monteith in her feature for BUILDHOLLYWOOD

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The project also ties closely to our wider body of work around identity and belonging. As explored in our latest feature with Buildhollywood “This is Wales”, the campaign builds on years of creative development with young people through our community and Academy programmes. From our base in Butetown, a historic neighbourhood once known as Tiger Bay, the same neighbourhood that inspired our short film Of Us for the British Library’s Beyond the Bassline exhibition, and where so many of our stories begin.

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These images are part of that same work. As Jukebox Collective’s Strategic Director Lauren Patterson put it,

“These visuals shouldn’t be seen as a challenge — they’re a creative interpretation of tradition. This is Wales.”

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We’re proud that we were able to showcase the work in the public sphere, on bus stops, corner walls, and across the fabric of two cities.

Huge thanks to BUILDHOLLYWOOD for sharing that vision and to all the creatives who helped bring it to life.

Find out more about our collaboration with Bleak Fabulous here

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Callout freelance project coordinator to join Jamii project team

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Call out – Freelance project coordinator

We’re looking for a freelance project coordinator to join our Jamii project team

Jamii is a series of creative workshops for African & Caribbean communities in Cardiff. Exploring wellness through music, poetry, movement & our relationship with nature and each other. Curated by Jukebox Collective and delivered in partnership with SSAP Wales

Info:

FREELANCE

2 month contract

10 days work

Immediate start

Fees based on experience

Send CV & expression of interest to lauren@jukeboxcollective.com

Application deadline: 7/5/2025

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Beyond The Bassline recognised at Museums + Heritage Awards and Cultural Enterprise Awards

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Beyond the Bassline: 500 years of Black British Music has been shortlisted for best Temporary or Touring Exhibition of the Year (budget more than £80k) at the Museums + Heritage Awards.

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Launched in 2002, the awards are a major recognition in the museum world, celebrating projects that push the boundaries of how history and culture are shared with the public.

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The exhibition has also won Best Publication for their accompanying book Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music at the Cultural Enterprise Awards for this year. The book is edited by Paul Bradshaw and features an introduction by exhibition curators Dr. Aleema Gray and Mykaell Riley.

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This award highlights excellence in publications created by cultural organisations, and is a testament to the team’s ability to capture the spirit of the exhibition onto the written page, translating centuries of history, creativity, and resilience for audiences everywhere to experience.

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This time last year, the exhibition opened at the British Library, a historic moment as the first major exhibition to document 500 years of the rich musical journey of African and Caribbean people in Britain. Amongst the sound archives, artefacts, and performances on display, is our short film Of Us, directed by Liara Barussi.

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As the Welsh partner in the exhibition, our film shared an untold perspective into one of the UK’s oldest Black communities, based in Tiger Bay in Cardiff, and gave audiences a glimpse into an often forgotten part of Black British history.

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Thank you to Dr Aleema Grey and the British Library team for opening up this collaboration and curating an exhibition that shares the rich musical journey of African and Caribbean people in Britain. And congratulations to everyone involved, the artists, curators, researchers, and storytellers who brought it all to life.

Photos by Jim Stephenson

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Jukebox Collective leads creative direction for film content showcasing handwoven blankets by Welsh designer Llio James for Wales Day in Osaka Expo

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Jukebox Collective Artistic Director, Liara Barussi, led the creative direction of film content showcasing handwoven blankets by Welsh designer Llio James.

Llio James is a contemporary hand weaver reinterpreting traditional design aesthetics in today’s language. For this project she developed handwoven blankets inspired by Welsh and Japanese traditions

Through movement direction, casting, and creative development, we brought Llio’s beautiful designs to life, blending heritage, craft, and dance into a playful love story told through unspoken moments of connection.

The work is being exhibited on 29 April 2025 at the first Wales Day in Japan, where Wales will take the spotlight at the UK Pavilion at the Osaka Expo. A showcase of Welsh culture, creativity and global connections, marking the 10th anniversary of the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

As a global leader in sustainable development, Wales continues to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Expo’s future-focused theme, ‘Come build the future’.

The event will also feature traditional music, dance, technology and sustainability, marking a key moment in the Year of Wales and Japan, a year-long programme celebrating the cultural connections between the two nations.

This work was commissioned by Wale Arts International, Visit Wales & Welsh Gov.

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Get creative this Easter! Jukebox Collective delivers special workshops in dance and singing

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We’re delivering a special programming of dance and music workshops for kids (7-11s) and teens (12-16s) this Easter term-break.

Dance workshops exploring street dance styles like hiphop, dancehall, popping and afro, as well as an advance Litefeet workshop with Jodanna

Plus a singing workshop with Cardiff’s fave R&B girlie Lily Webbe!

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Ely

Tues 15 & 22 April

Kids mixed ability 1-2pm

Teens mixed ability 2-3pm

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Butetown Pavilion

Thurs 17 & 24 April

Kids mixed ability 2-3 pm

Teens beginners 3-4 pm

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Llanrumney Hub

Fri 25 April

7+ Mixed ability 4-5pm

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Tremorfa – Star Hub

Fri 25 April

7+ Mixed ability 1-2pm

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All dance workshops are £5 per session

https://app.classfit.com/Studio/28852

Drop us an email for more info !

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R&B signing workshop with Lily Webbe

Curious about signing or want to take your sound to the next level? Join us for this special session with our fave r&b singer Lily Webbe (Source), and get into the groove of rhythm and soul. In this 2-hour workshop we’ll be exploring vocal training, song writing, and performance techniques. Open to girls ages 16+

5-7pm 17 April 2025

The Atrium, University of South Wales, CF24 2FN

Girls ages 16+

FREE

Complete this sign-up form to register

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Litefeet workshop with Jodanna

Litefeet is a street dance style that originated in the mid-2000s in the streets and subways of Harlem NYC. It fuses elements of hip-hop, breakdancing & house, and is known for its fast footwork, energetic movements, and cool tricks

Challenge your creativity and skills and show us how lite you can get!

6-8pm 23 April 2025

Butetown Community Centre, Cardiff

Ages 16+

Tickets: £15 + group discounts available

Sign up now on Classfit

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Jukebox Collective presents Of Us live performance at Bozar Brussles

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Jukebox Collective presented a screening of short film Of Us and a live performance at Bozar (Brussels) for multidisciplinary event ‘Bozar All Over the P(a)lace’.Directed by Liara Barussi, set to soundscape Omi, and featuring Jukebox Academy.

The event was curated by Brussels-based Afrocentric collective Som·m·e Of Us. Themed around Black Joy and delivered as a response to the When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting exhibition by South Africa’s Zeitz MOCAA, showing at Bozar till 10 Aug 2025.

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Jukebox Collective debuted live performance Of Us, Directed & Choreographed by Liara Barussi, set to soundscape Omi by Felix Taylor & Melo-zed. The piece connects movement, migration and water symbolism to honor the legacy of Wales. Translating stories rooted in everyday life and the emotions and histories we inherit, sharing Of Us as a celebration of African heritage, preserved traditions and the collective memory carried by the ocean and beyond.

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Starring Gui Pinto, Teaghan Scanlon, Elizabeth Oredola, Akeylah Hinton, Karim Mohamed, Venice & Monet Williams from Jukebox Academy. Produced by Lauren Patterson, Movement Assistant by Darnell Williams, Tailoring by Spare Me, and BTS filming by Daniel Attoh. Partnerships and performance supported by Wales Arts International.

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The evening also brought together other multidisciplinary creative collectives from across Europe and beyond, showcasing performances, music, and films. Including Irish poet and playwright Felispeaks presenting a poetic dialogue with selected works from the When We See Us exhibition, accompanied by movement performances by local dancers.

“One unexpected thing I learned was that Belgium has a large black community, which I didn’t expect. It was really cool to see that cultural presence.” Said cast lead Gui Pinto

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Timiss, a grassroots organisation centred around street culture, sharing two performances, Ksaaraland by artists Israel Ngashi & Dikàay, and Iter by Magdelaaine Hodebourg, a multi-disciplinary exploration weaving together dance, science fiction, storytelling and Afrofuturist aesthetics.

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Multidisciplinary black-led Swiss collective OKRA showcased the film Everyday Blackness (2024), Directed by Akwasi Glenn, & DJ Ka-Raba. The film was commissioned by Kunstmuseum Basel (Basel, Switzerland) also in response to the When We See Us while it was showcased there.

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Closing off the evening was a DJ-set by DJ Ka-Raba. The 2 hour set showcased electronic sounds from the Global Majority and diaspora communities.

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Creative opportunities for Welsh creatives, curated by Jukebox Collective

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Dazed Club and Mason & Fifth are offering 8 emerging artists a two-month residency starting mid-June.

More info here

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Google Creative Lab is inviting exceptional creatives to apply for a one year paid gig and collaboration.

Find out more here

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Enter your video for a chance to attend and be screened at the Shiny Uncommon Showcase. Rare opportunity to get new work in front of industry leaders.

More info here

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The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE) supports visionary creative entrepreneurs over 18 who are driven by a mission to build and sustain social value through their creative enterprise.

Find out more

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Women Make Music supports the development of outstanding women, trans and non-binary songwriters and composers of all genres and backgrounds at different stages of their career.

More info here

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FLAMIN Productions aims to support the most exciting, innovative and challenging moving image projects with development and production finance.

Find out more

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Reel Impact. Funding for Black and Global Majority professionals and organisation in the TV and Film industry

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!

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Creative wellness workshops for African communities in Cardiff with SSAP

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We curated the first 4 workshops of jamii 2, creative wellbeing workshops for African communities in Cardiff, delivered in partnership with SSAP funded by National Lottery Community Fund Wales

Through the workshops we explored mindfulness and meditation, poetry and writing, natural wellness remedies, and used arts and crafts to celebrate heritage. The workshops were hosted in Cardiff and were attended by over 50 participants, including young children, teens, creatives, families and elders.

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‘Jamii’ means community; our sense of togetherness and the mutual support and strength we draw from each other

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Mindfulness

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Led by Adjua on 15 Dec 2024 at Unity Room, this workshop invited attendees to participate in vocal group meditation and harmonies.

Starting with an intro into the history and the psycho-psychological benefits of meditation, moving on to a breathing exercise, participants were encouraged to find their voice and access deeper vocal frequencies in harmony, as Adjua played bass loops. Ending the workshop with conversations and music sharing, everyone left feeling grounded and more relaxed.

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“This was such a lovely safe space, I really felt like I could trust my voice and tap into that energy”- said Nimat

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Belonging

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Led by Emmanuel Sugo and hosted at Unity Studio on 18 Jan 2025, this workshop invited writers, lyricists, musicians & poets to explore connections between mental health, identity, and belonging. Using poetry as a tool to express emotions and forge connections.

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During the workshop, participants took part in a series of creative writing challenges. Each prompting an exploration of home through creative wordplay. Including word associations, speed poetry writing, song writing, and storytelling exploring what home means to them, how places and people inform their sense of belonging.

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“I loved it! It got me thinking about home and writing in new ways” – Said singer Lily

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Awaken

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Hosted by Tenesia and Danny from Earth To Earth Organics at Grange Pavilion on 19 Jan. Participants were guided in creating two natural remedies that promote whole-body wellness: a nourishing body butter with infused oils and a wellness tea blend.

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Splitting the workshop into two stations, bodybutter and the tea blend. Danny led the bodybutter station, where participants worked with raw shea butter, whipping it until it was light and fluffy, then mixed it with their own combination of lavender, calendula, and rosemary oil infusions.

For the tea blend station, Tenesia explored various types of dried herbs and leaves explaining each of their health benefits, before participants were able to create their own tea blends, which included sorrel, soursop leaves, moringa, and chamomile.

At the end of the workshops each participant filled out an individual affirmations card and left with a box of their newly created remedies.

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“I’m so excited to show my friends my bodybutter that I made, it smells so good!” – Said Chyna aged 7

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Ludo

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Hosted by Albert Vale (The Real Ting) also in Grange Pavilion on 19 Jan, this family workshop had participants split into groups of 4-5 to design their own Ludo board expressing their family’s unique cultural heritage and flag, which included Jamaica, Yemen, Nigeria, St Kits and others.

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“I really enjoyed the workshop. And it means so much to me as I hope this ludi board will be in my family for generations.” – Said Aisha

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More workshops are planned for Jamii 2 in 2025 – Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about them

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Of Us features in 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair Marrakech installation curated by Nataal

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154 Contemporary African Art Fair Marrakech presented special project We, Maji an immersive digital installation by Nataal. The installation featured a presentation of Jukebox Collective’s short film Of Us Directed by Liara Barussi, accompanied by soundscape Omi by Felix Taylor and Melo-zed. Launching the first international screening of the film. Presented at DaDa Marrakech between January 30 – February 2, 2025, alongside a programming of events, exhibitions and gatherings across the city celebrating contemporary African art.

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This year for its 6th edition, 1-54 Marrakech hosted a dedicated programming of specially curated content, events, and partnerships. Featuring more than 30 galleries from 15 countries within the African continent, showcasing curated pieces by emerging and established artists from across the continent at DaDa and la Mamounia.

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Highlights from the fair included Tate acquiring Blank stare (2021), an oil painting by Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo, whose work mostly consists of portraits of Black figures, often against brightly coloured backgrounds and using his signature finger-painting style.

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Special projects were also programmed, including Nataal’s We, Maji, an immersive digital installation bringing its latest digital issue to life. Curated by Marie Gomis-Trezise, the installation featured works by Togo Yeye for Vlisco; Anil Padia, showcasing archive Yoshita1967; Bubu Ogisi & Shitanda for IAMISIGO; Silvana Trevale, Tansi Makele, Vincent Frédéric-Colombo and Morgane H. Gomez presented ‘Camadas de Nós’ (Layers of Us), a short film and photo series for C.R.E.O.L.E.; and Libyan alt rapper Khakikid by Paula Trojner; Tied together in a meditation on water and the movements, myths and memories that draw people to shore.

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“It’s been an incredible journey curating an experience that celebrates water as a central force connecting stories across Kenya, Rio, Dublin, Togo and beyond” said curator Marie Gomis-Trezise

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The installation also featured a presentation of Jukebox Collective’s short film Of Us Directed by Liara Barussi, accompanied by soundscape Omi by Felix Taylor and Melo-zed. Launching the first international screening of the film as it makes its way to Wales and Belgium later on in the month.

“Seeing Wales and our talent reflected within the contemporary African art space was a really significant moment,” says Film & Movement Director Liara Barussi

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Visit our instagram page for more highlights from our time in 154 Marrakech