Reactivating sounds of Blackness

About

Celebrated British Jamaican photographer and artist Vanley Burke launches the first live iteration of his new outdoor sound installation, Reactivating sounds of Blackness, in Handsworth Park, Birmingham, on Sunday 02 April 2023.

Working with artist Gary Stewart and community interest company, Museum X, Reactivating sounds of Blackness takes people on a journey through a fusion of layered sounds and conversations exploring Black culture and intangible heritage in Britain.

The free outdoor experience from 15:00-17:00 on Sunday 02 April also explores the changing culture within Black communities, particularly in Vanley's hometown of Birmingham.

Experienced as a sonic trail through Handsworth Park in Birmingham, Reactivating sounds of Blackness includes recordings of interviews by Burke, as well as everyday sounds of Blackness and intangible heritage designed to activate memories and emotions from the listener.

Artist Gary Stewart is known for his innovative site-specific works creating art that can be encountered in public spaces drawn from popular culture, everyday ephemera, archives, history, and mythology.

Reactivating sounds of Blackness is presented as part of Meeting Point, a year-long, artist-led research project with leading contemporary arts agency, Arts&Heritage (www.artsandheritage.org.uk), to explore how artists can expand our understanding of intangible heritage.