Kiota Bristol
A collective of Performance Artists from the Global Majority
Join us for KIOTA: A Collective For Performance Artists from the Global Majority (PGM) in Bristol, showcasing PGM Creatives from various Artistic disciplines. The performances are always followed by networking opportunities, which is an important part of our work. This is a Solidarity Space that celebrates PGM excellence! All are welcome to support the quarterly shows at The Wardrobe Theatre. Buy your tickets for the next Showcase below!
Our Story
Founded in 2018, Kiota Bristol was started by Spoken Word Poet Shagufta Iqbal and Vocal Artist, Improviser and Producer, Aisha Ali. It was borne out of a conversation around the alienation created by often being the only PGM in Theatre and Arts Spaces in Bristol.
Shagufta talked about her experience with the Bristol Black Writers, whose support radically transformed her art and changed her voice as a Poet as she no longer was catering to a white audience and had amazing mentors.
Aisha felt they were constantly having to explain their experience to the people they worked with and wanted a space to grow as an artists where that wouldn't be necessary. They were also very struck by the racial divide in Theatre Spaces in Bristol and wanted to tackle that.
With the support of The Wardrobe Theatre, Kiota Bristol had its first show in February 2019 with great reception! The various performances and panel discussion tackled racism, issues of identity and the pain of assimilation. It was abundantly clear that this space was very much needed in Bristol.
Kiota Bristol now have quarterly showcases at The Wardrobe Theatre and are passionate about decolonising Arts Spaces in Bristol. We welcome you to JOIN THE CAUSE as either an ally or an artist.
Our Mission
At Kiota Bristol, our aim is to tackle decolonisation of Arts spaces in Bristol recognising that colonialists created the social construct of Race and Racial Hierarchy to be able to control and exploit colonies around the world and that this still affects how we view the world, ourselves and therefore how we interact with the spaces we encounter. The painful divide caused by the creation of Racial Hierarchy has gone on for long enough. It's time for us to confront this colonial hangover and move towards a bridge where the reality of all of our experiences are not ignored or denied. Art and performance are powerful ways to tell our stories, share our visions for the future and heal our wounds. Let's do it together!
Kiota Bristol are committed to creating original collaborations between PGM artists of different disciplines who wouldn’t ordinarily have the chance to work together to see how their artistic practise evolves. We are building this Solidarity Space to offer an opportunity to share, learn and network with other PGM creatives whether emerging, established or anything in between!
