Poetry that changes us - and join Shake! in August

Poetry that changes us – and join Shake! in August

We are not idealists. We know that art alone does not make the revolution. But we are not fools. We know that revolution is impossible without the art. Frente Popular, Dario Santillan Platform was invited to take part in the recent ‘Footprint Modulation: art, climate and displacement‘. This was a multi-site exhibition and season of...
Find out about Shake's new youth-led research collective and its new work on public space, young people and 'violence'

Find out about Shake’s new youth-led research collective and its new work on public space, young people and ‘violence’

Shake! is excited to launch its youth-led research collective. It starts from questions about power that come up time and again as we make and remake Shake! Why are we young people always the objects of ‘research’ and ‘policy’? And why young people of colour in particular? We are not interested in being described, explained, being told...
Shake! takes on #StatesOfViolence

Shake! takes on #StatesOfViolence

This is a guest post by poet  and Shake! facilitator Zena Edwards. You can find more information about the next Shake! intensive course (16-20 February 2015) and how to apply here, and find Zena on Twitter: @ZenaEdwards Shake Youth Arts and Activism project has a new intensive course brewing. From Monday 16th February, we shall be...

DIY 11: 2014 Call for proposals

Want to run training for artists on race & intergenerationality?  In partnership with LADA we are making a call for proposals on the following theme: Let Go Of The Shore* Shake! seeks proposals on live art, intergenerationality and race. You are invited to devise a project that brings together artists committed to thinking and making...
The showcase that “Emboldens” and shakes the “Energetic Apathy”

The showcase that “Emboldens” and shakes the “Energetic Apathy”

Since I joined Platform in July, I have seen the high-spirited Farzana passionately preparing for the “Shake! – Young Voices in Arts, Media, Race & Power course”, organising its different activities and coordinating with other facilitators (Ed, Zena and Sai) in order to make it even better than the previous sessions. The third  course  was...
Official: Shake! Showcase at least 18% better than Glastonbury

Official: Shake! Showcase at least 18% better than Glastonbury

BLOG from Platform’s youth project Shake!, first posted 28.6.13. Gender issues get a lot of discussion here at Shake! so it was with interest that we saw this article today on the representation of women on the line-up at festivals. We thought it only fair that we checked ourselves and with a hasty count-up and...
'Oil City' ends, and Shake! youth showcase this Sunday

‘Oil City’ ends, and Shake! youth showcase this Sunday

Today’s the last day of Platform’s performance ‘Oil City‘ – the spy-thriller for the post-Occupy age. I went last Thursday with the same bare information as any non-Platform person would have. For the past two weeks, at 9am, 1pm and 5pm, audiences of 6 people have been taken on an intense and beautifully crafted set...
Who shook the Shakers? The influences behind the upcoming arts, race, media and power course

Who shook the Shakers? The influences behind the upcoming arts, race, media and power course

This February sees a new session start for the Shake! course on arts, media, race and power. Over five days young people will have space to imagine what justice looks like, experiment with new ideas, learn new tools, such as practical hands-on techniques in spoken word, online media, film/video and music technology. There will also...
Fundraising gets edgy - report back from the Edge Fund launch

Fundraising gets edgy – report back from the Edge Fund launch

Two days before the launch of the Edge Fund last December, there was a panic to find a bigger venue at Tonybee Hall because so many people wanted to go. The organizers seemed surprised and happy as no doubt their experience of launch parties is to book a small room to make it looked packed....
Don't throw activist histories away: Huntley Conference on Arts & Activism, Culture & Resistance

Don’t throw activist histories away: Huntley Conference on Arts & Activism, Culture & Resistance

18th February, London There were over a 100 artists, activists, community workers, young people, archivists & conservators, educators, parents, grandparents, policymakers. We were taking part in talks, creative “Groundings” sessions, a parallel youth conference, music & poetry performances, from the fabulous El Crisis, younger talented artists, and the more experienced, discussing race and power, creativity and...
Conviction of two of Stephen Lawrence's murderers: a new chapter

Conviction of two of Stephen Lawrence’s murderers: a new chapter

To see what Platform’s youth, arts and activism project Shake! has to say at this significant moment, and also going back over the months to when we started the project at the Stephen Lawrence Centre in Deptford in August 2010, start here. Shake’s young people make change happen through poetry, music, comment, actions, discussion, and performances, supported...
Britain on Trial - one of the particpants writes....

Britain on Trial – one of the particpants writes….

(Gloria Dawson came along to our Britain on Trial event, organised as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science. Here she writes about her experiences of the day. You can follow Gloria on twitter @g_dawson) I was really excited to go along to ‘Britain on Trial,’ partly because I didn’t know what to expect...