Rooting the work in her home region and hosting city, Bennett pays homage to the pioneering BLK Art Group and its legacy and influence on the art scene and her practice more personally. Bennett's multifaceted work will comprise of local gatherings, photographic public billboards and a short film displayed on digital live sites across Wolverhampton, Coventry and Birmingham.
Feeding into the film and photographic billboards will be a series of intergenerational community gatherings, a core element of the artist's broader practice. These gatherings aim to bring local groups together to discuss themes around Commonwealth, colonialism and race, intersecting with the work and archive of the BLK Art Group. These groups, the discourse and ideas generated are a catalyst to support and inform the narrative for the stills and film. This three-strand commission will culminate in a festival co-curated by the gatherings' participants and the artist, offering an opportunity to watch the film together and celebrate.
Curators: Ian Sergeant, Marlene Smith
Gymnasts: Akaiah Kofhi Kelly-Grossett, Renaya Eloise Kelly-Golding
Gymnast coach: Stacey Perry
Chaperones: Joshal Kelly, Sharena Kelly
African Caribbean Community Initiative Wolverhampton
Dawn Anderson
Eileen Bennett
Icyline Brown
Inez Deans
Millicent Douglas
Shaheen Ellis
Paulette Grant
Shirley Grant
Enid Johnson
Gabrielle Lewis
David Osamudiamen
Abigail Osamudiamen
Comfort Oyelumade
Lorna Samuels
Keisha Riley
Mervin Riley
Kya Shakespeare
Marlo Shakespeare
Talia Shakespeare
Taskforce is Root Connecting Communities Coventry
Lebron Agyeman
Krisandra Agyeman
Martin Asamoah
Stephanie Asiedu
Stephan Asiedu
Elisebeth Boating
Shemaiah Boating
Jeremy Paul Boating
Patricia Osei-Bonsu
Eugene Osei Bonsu
Florence Gwatirisa
Evadne Headley
Abena Oppon
Daisy Oppon
Jalil Seale
Judy Seale
Adeniran Timilehin
Lewin Yeboah
Lloyd Yeboah
Leonna Yeboah
Director of Photography: Jermaine Edwards
1st AD: Lauren Gee
1ST AC:Todd Franklin
2nd AC: Chris Keenan
Gaffer: Hollie Mapp
Spark: Matt Glaz
Sound Designer: Trevor Mathison
Editor: Daniel Alexander
Colourist: Cam Sander at Dan Moran Colour
Sound Recordists: Alexander Rhule Martin, Stanley Wong, Arthur Turner
Make up and Set Design: Surjit Simplay
Production Assistant: Halina Edwards
BTS Photographer: Kate Green
Production Supplies: Panovision, Mediadog
Insurance: Performance: Film and Media
Catering: Khandi Catering
Producers: Beverley Bennett, Lauren Gee, Sima Gonsai
Directed by Beverley Bennett
Generously supported by Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
For more information visit birmingham2022.com, and Nation’s Finest, Putting Down Roots and Birthing project website.
Special thanks to
Larry Achiampong
Katrina Andry
Neruma Ankti
Craig Ashley
John Cohen
Benjamin Cook
Louisa Davis
Sherrie Edgar
Michelle Elwell
Bobbie-Jane Gardner
Caz Hildebrand
Lubiana Himid
Sabrina Jezo
Claudette Johnson
Cheryl Jones
Elaine Lillian Joseph
Davinia Gregory-Kameka
Jasleen Kaur
Jennifer Martin
Kim McAleese
Olugbemi Moronfolu
Bernice Mulenga
Marguerite Nugent
Alice O’Rourke
Cara Pickering
Keith Piper
Jenny Porter
Mark Rhodes
Carolina Rito
Martin Robert
Alida Rodrigues
Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf
Ian Sergeant
Amy Smart
Edwin Smith
Marlene Smith
Sylvia Theuri
Carol Thompson
Lisa Vandy
Barbara Walker
Rehana Zaman
Coventry University
Flatpack
The Herbert Gallery Art Gallery and Museum
Jack Arts
Sandwell Flyers
Wolverhampton University
Wolverhampton Art Gallery