Community
Voices…
‘Black Lives Natter provides an essential space and service for the Black community at a time when such a provision is sorely needed due to increased racism in education, policing, nursing and on the street.’
— Tony Warner Founder of Black History Walks“Black Lives Natter addresses many needs within the artistic community. It takes a holistic approach towards nurturing and championing a vibrant wealth of talent, creating platforms for it to be shared. It provides opportunities of support, visibility and celebration for people of colour and enriches the cultural landscape as a result.”
— BLN Community Voice‘BLN offers a rare opportunity to find, craft, and understand my voice. Not only helping connect and build community space for many forms of creative expression. This type of space is the backbone to artistic growth. Just to have somewhere to go. To be a more vulnerable version of yourself and to find acceptance. This is a human need
— SpeakEasy Partipant‘Black Lives Natter CIC and the SpeakEasy programme have become essential parts of my artistic and personal journey. Spaces like these are incredibly rare: places where Black creativity isn’t just welcomed, but truly centred, celebrated and nurtured..’
— Josh Olusanya SpeakEasy Resident Artist
News…
Here is where you can find all our community news, castings and info on future projects, opportunities, jobs and ways to get involved whether volunteering, performing or supporting in another way.
We are always looking for ways to grow our community. We have the Donate Campaign, a Community Quilt Project, and castings for Mono-Scratched, and our Community Immersive Project for Black History Month — live performances for 2025/26, and an upcoming GoFundMe. Feeling literary? We are also looking for contributions to our website, bi-annual zine, and a BLN Anthology of poetry. Read below for more information and links to get involved.
Get Involved…
Poetry Submissions
✍🏾 Website, Zine & Anthology
⏳Ongoing submissions
We’re accepting poetry submissions for our website, our bi-annual zine, and the next Black Lives Natter Anthology. Open to Black & Global Majority poets at all stages — beginners or sages welcome. Share your voice, your rhythm, your truths. Submissions will be considered for digital and print publication across BLN platforms.
Page-to-Stage Mono-Scratched
📅 October 2026
📍 Theatre Deli, Studio 12
⏳ Deadline to Apply 31st August 2026
We are casting 6 original monologues for SpeakEasy Mono-Scratched, a collaborative new writing showcase as part of Black History Month,
Six performers. Six monologues. One evening. Black artists — apply with your original 15-minute monologues below.
Black British History Immersive Community Project
‘Today’s creations are tomorrow’s Black history.’
⏳ Deadline to Apply 1st September 2026
Contribute to our Living Archive celebrating Black British history.
Please submit an original audio clip (up to 90 seconds) and a single original image.
Your submission will be part of a creative project shared with the community in October 2026.
Online form coming soon…
Estrella Mabika - Freelance Creative Practitioner
“Black Lives Natter is not a luxury but a necessity for the community especially in these times of social strife, an organisation providing a space that's free/low cost to creatively express yourself when spaces like these are constantly being limited. Black Lives Natter is conducting crucial creative community engagement work”
COMMUNITY QUILT PROJECT
The Fabric of Our Existence
Launching in 2026, The Fabric of Our Existence is a long-term community project made one patch at a time during our monthly SpeakEasy Co’LaB sessions. Black and Global Majority creatives are invited to design unique squares using a shared template and donated materials — stitching, gluing, drawing, collaging, whatever feels right. These will be sewn into quilts, cushions, wall hangings and other soft furnishings used across BLN events and pop-ups. This is a practice of community outreach, cultural care and collaborative making. It draws on rich traditions in Black and Global Majority communities, where patchwork and quilting have long held space for memory work, protest, storytelling, healing and joy.
Donating Materials
We’re now collecting supplies to keep this project going. You can donate:
• Fabric, buttons, thread, ribbon, trims
• Drop off at Theatre Deli — ask at reception and place items in the donation box at Theatre Deli, 107 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 4AF
• Or post items (labelled “BLN Community Quilt”)
• Or email us and we’ll help you sort it
Join the team
We’re looking for two new people to join us and support our busy programme of creative projects and events.
Volunteer…
Community Relations & Outreach Manager
Black Lives Natter is looking for a passionate volunteer to join our team as a Community Outreach / Community Relations Manager. In this role, you’ll help maintain and grow our community networks, co-create collaborative communication systems, and support our production team in connecting with participants and partner organisations.
This is a flexible volunteer role (2–4 hours per month) with a commitment of 6–12 months. It’s perfect for someone community-minded, curious, and eager to support creative engagement. You’ll gain experience in community arts outreach, be part of a grassroots organisation, and contribute to building a thriving, inclusive creative ecosystem. Rolling applications are welcome.
Community Relations & Outreach Assistant
We are recruiting a Community Outreach & Relations Assistant to support our outreach work. This role helps maintain connections, share updates, and strengthen communication with our communities while gaining hands-on experience in community arts.
Bookshop & Archive Assistant
We are looking for a Bookshop & Archive Assistant to support our growing collection of Black History and Literature. You’ll help catalogue, archive, and promote our books while engaging with visitors at events and monthly pop-up sessions.
Donate...
Volunteer your skills to support our community arts organisation. Roles include bookshop assistant, admin, finance, production, stage management, tech, and photography/videography.
DONATE TIME
DONATE MATERIALS
Contribute new or pre-loved books, fabric, sewing supplies, or creative equipment. These donations power our Pop-Up Bookshop and The Fabric of Our Existence community quilt. You can drop off at Theatre Deli, 107 Leadenhall Street, or email us at show@blacklivesnatter.co.uk
DONATE MONEY
Help us fund workshops, open-mics, podcasts, and the development of a microspace and community hub. Every contribution supports free and low-cost creative opportunities. Black Lives Natter CIC is a non-profit community arts organisation.