We sat down for an exclusive interview with Tamsin Ace, director of East Bank, to talk about their first festival The Music is Black.
The Music is Black is free and open to all, with multiple stages across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on the 13th and 14th June, and more events later this year- website here
Black British music has influenced generations of people across the UK and beyond. What has it meant personally to help create a space that honours that legacy so visibly?
The influence of Black British music on the UK is undeniable, and a hugely exciting legacy to celebrate. For East Bank as a cultural hub, we’re particularly well positioned to tell a joined-up story from multiple perspectives. So when we were approached by the V&A East team with their plans for the exhibition The Music is Black, we leapt at the chance to collaborate on an unprecedented scale. This is the kind of statement we wanted to make for East Bank’s first festival – bold, ambitious and open to a multiplicity of voices.
There’s such a celebratory energy running through The Music is Black. What has brought you the most joy while putting the festival together?
The joy of those involved – from the artists to curators, culture workers to the public – is completely infectious. Everyone is fully invested in the festival and the importance of telling this story, which is particularly rooted in east London.
There’s a real sense of collaboration throughout the festival. How inspiring has it been working alongside such a broad group of artists, curators and creatives?
I love meeting people who are making, innovating and imagining. That’s the best part of my role, hands down. And being connected with all these passionate artists is making East Bank come truly alive – that’s an extraordinary thing to witness.
What excites you most about audiences experiencing these artists together in shared spaces across the summer?
That feeling of celebration and congregation is what drives the programme. We’re inviting everyone to join us at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this summer and experience creativity and culture like never before. More than ever, audiences are craving connectivity and joy, so that’s why we wanted there to be something for everyone at The Music is Black Festival from East Bank.
What do you hope people walk away feeling after attending The Music is Black Festival?
To connect with other people, to feel hopeful about the value of culture and to discover a different part of London. We want East Bank and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to be a place that people feel welcome in, to truly build a space where you can celebrate, learn and engage with amazing artists and communities that are rooted in the energy of east London.