Following Wednesday’s MOBO Awards 2015 nominations ceremony, the MOBO Committee have announced their new ‘Rise With Us’ initiative, a season of cultural and educational events set to take place throughout the lead-up to the Awards themselves.
Coinciding with MOBO’s 20th anniversary celebrations, Rise With Us will lead a new chapter for MOBO, as they look to support various creative industries across film, theatre, fashion and art with a series of curated events up and down the country.
From an in-depth look at urban fashion with their ‘Fresh Dressed’ piece (featuring the likes of Kanye West and Pharrell Williams) to the hard-hitting documentary The Hard Stop (which explores the events surrounding London’s 2011 riots), ‘Rise With Us’ will also feature opportunities for the initiative’s partners (such as PRS and ITV) to deliver inspirational and educational programmes to help develop the next generation of creative talent.
Check out the full schedule of MOBO events below:
28th September: The Creative Diversity Launch Report
In partnership with the Creative Industries Federation, this event celebrates the launch of the “Rise With Us” campaign by announcing shocking findings around diversity in the creative industries in a diversity report.
30th September: MOBO Awards Nominations Launch at Ronnie Scott’s
The annual event that announces the nominees for the MOBO Awards. This year we are also introducing a new award in honour of our MOBO Movement.
1st – 3rd October: Hannah and Hanna play performance at Greenwich Theatre London
A play written in 2001, this story is about the refugee crisis in Kosovo, which still painfully relevant today. Our casting has made one significant change to the way the play is usually presented, with the UK Hannah played by a young black actress, enabling us to explore changing ideas of British identity through ethnicity.
2nd October: Late at Tate at Tate Britain
Enjoy a vibrant mix of music, workshops, talks, special guests and DJs along with a special performance of a MOBO supported artist.
Until 3rd October: The Etienne Sisters at Stratford East
Featuring MOBO Award winner, Allyson Ava-Brown who won Best Unsigned Act in 1998, The Etienne Sisters is a brand new British production set to a contemporary jazz soundtrack that explores what it means to be part of a family today.
7th – 18th October: Film Curation at the London Film Festival
MOBO and London Film Festival personnel will identify 9 films that reflect the MOBO Movement values and represent a breadth of styles, textures and diversity of cultures
– 7th October: Black Girl screening with Borom Sarret
– 8th October: Cronies
– 10th October: Ayanda
– 12th October: The Idol
– 13th October: They Will Have To Kill Us First: Malian Music in Exile
– 16th October: Necktie Youth
– 16th October: Mediterranea
– 17th October: Fresh Dressed
– 17th October: The Hard Stop
8th October onwards: A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes at The Tricycle Theatre
Award-winning playwright Marcus Gardley returns to the Tricycle Theatre following 2014’s critically-acclaimed The House That Will Not Stand. This fresh take on Molière’s Tartuffe, set in a world of fast-food tycoons and megachurches is a wicked new comedy that rocks the foundations of trust, faith and redemption.
10th October: The Labels Fashion Show at The Royal Over-Sea League
An annual independent platform for designers to showcase their work to potential clients and professionals within the fashion & entertainment industry. Its aim is to inspire budding designers by helping them build a brand and a network within the industry, paving a way for their talent and skills to be seen by other creative individuals.
10th October: New Art Exchange Exhibition in Nottingham (Rockers, Soulheads & Lovers Sound)
The launch of a new exhibition at New Art Exchange called Rockers, Soulheads & Lovers: Sound Systems Back in Da Day which explores the golden era of sound system culture from the late 1960s to the early 1980s.
10th October: 10th Annual Huntley Conference at Guildhall Art Gallery (No Colour Bar Exhibit)
An inspirational conference programmed by NextGeneration Youth to discuss the importance of Black British art.
12th October: London Film Festival Sonic Gala at ODEON Leicester Square
A strand gala event hosted by London Film Festival in partnership with MOBO at Vue.
13th October: Miguel Concert at O2 Academy in Brixton
Following his recent sold out London show, Grammy Award winning recording artist Miguel has announced a UK headline tour for October 2015.
14th October: The Women of Kampala at Greenwich Theatre
A one-night concert called The Women Of Kampala, presenting an evening of East African music by 5 Ugandan singers backed by a 7 piece band.
14th – 17th October: Frieze London
An annual art fair featuring over 160 of the world’s most exciting galleries. View and buy art from over 1,000 of today’s leading artists, and experience the fair’s critically acclaimed Frieze Projects and Frieze Talks programmes.
14th – 18th October: Frieze Masters
An annual art fair that brings together several thousand years of art in a unique, contemporary context.
15th – 18th October: Stylist Live
A four-day festival of cocktails, culture, catwalks and conversation hosted by Edith Bowman and Dawn O’Porter.
15th October: Miguel Concert at O2 Academy in Birmingham
Following his recent sold out London show, Grammy Award winning recording artist Miguel has announced a UK headline tour for October 2015.
Until 17th October: Our Country’s Good at The National Theatre
A profoundly humane piece of theatre, steeped in suffering yet charged with hope, Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good (based on a true story) celebrates the redemptive power of art.
17th October: A$AP Rocky & Wiz Khalifa Concert at the O2 Arena
A$AP Rocky & Wiz Khalifa bring their talent to the O2 Arena for a night of great music.
18th October: Miguel Concert at O2 Academy in Manchester
Following his recent sold out London show, Grammy Award winning recording artist Miguel has announced a UK headline tour for October 2015.
20th October: The Black British Business Awards
An awards programme that recognises, rewards and celebrates exceptional performance and outstanding achievements of black people in businesses operating in Great Britain.
23rd October: Otello Opera Show at St. James’s Theatre
Produced by Nadine Benjamin via her company Everybody Can Opera!, this performance of Otello mix opera and jazz to encourage other cultures to join for the evening to celebrate opera and understand it is not just for the upper classes. At the moment, it will involve Nadine, Ronald Samm and Denver Smith.
26th Oct. – 1st Nov: ‘Past, Present, Future: An Ode to Black British Artistry’ Exhibit
S|SPACE° will host an exhibition showcasing a range of young Black British artists. The exhibition is titled ‘Past, Present, Future: An Ode to Black British Artistry’ and will attract various creative industry professionals, as well as educational institutions and general art enthusiasts.
27th October: “Rise with Us” Inspiring Entrepreneurs the British Library
A ‘Movers and Shakers’ evening as part of the British Library’s “Inspiring Entrepreneurs” event series showcasing achievements of black British entrepreneurs across the creative industries. This will also be live streamed.
28th October: Warehouse Fashion Showcase at Flagship Store
For the first time ever, Warehouse is handing over the Oxford Street mezzanine space to 3 MOBO talents to showcase their clothing and will host an evening networking event where they invite their network of fashion insiders.
29th October: Safe Gorton Concert in Manchester
After winning a competition with Island records, members from the Safe Gorton music scheme perform covers of Jessie J’s songs to a crowd of over 250 people.
2nd November: PRS Panel Sessions in Leeds
As part of a nationwide road show, PRS for Music is hosting an industry panel event featuring a Q&A with key industry speakers followed by networking event as part of the reception. Drinks included.
4th November: MOBO Awards in Leeds
