The Curious Minds Anti-Racism Group (ARG) consists of people of colour who have previously worked with or are new to the organisation. These individuals' life experiences help to inform the choices our organisation makes.
Curious Minds is committed to being an anti-racist charity. We aim to use the personal insight shared by our ARG members to gain new perspectives and to make more inclusive decisions going forward. Our work together is ongoing.
Amina Atiq
Photo credit: Robin Clewley
I am a Yemeni-scouse published poet, award-winning community activist and performance artist. A BBC Words First 2019 Finalist and Young Associate for Curious Minds. Poet in Residence for Queensland Poetry Festival 2020-21 and for Metal Southend.
I am currently working on a solo show, Broken Biscuits, which revisits my grandmother's 1970s Yemeni-British household. In 2020, I produced a short documentary, Unheard Voices, commissioned by DadaFest, which told the stories of Yemeni shopkeepers in Liverpool. Unheard Voices was later broadcasted on Belgees TV and translated in Arabic. I am also working on a new online and print project, Scouse Pilgrimage, commissioned by Unity Theatre.
Publications can be found at Speaking Volumes and Cordite Poetry Review amongst others.
I am currently working on a solo show, Broken Biscuits, which revisits my grandmother's 1970s Yemeni-British household. In 2020, I produced a short documentary, Unheard Voices, commissioned by DadaFest, which told the stories of Yemeni shopkeepers in Liverpool. Unheard Voices was later broadcasted on Belgees TV and translated in Arabic. I am also working on a new online and print project, Scouse Pilgrimage, commissioned by Unity Theatre.
Publications can be found at Speaking Volumes and Cordite Poetry Review amongst others.
What made you get involved in this group?
I have been passionate about social justice and equality since the age of 15, when I was unfairly convicted because I defended myself against a hate-crime. This rooted in me an activist, to make a change in my work and the people I work with. It begins with education. As a Young Associate for Curious Minds and a freelance creative, I was excited when this group was proposed and curious about how we could makes changes internally and have these conversations openly.
What do you hope this group will achieve?
I hope we can achieve together the mission that Curious Minds has set out: ‘Our vision is for an equal society…’. This might sound like a dream we'd all want to achieve! However, we have to start somewhere. I believe that, as well as holding organisations accountable for their lack of inclusiveness, we have to credit organisations like Curious Minds who have made the committment to listen and make changes internally and externally. We have a collective responsibility to ensure we create a safe space to talk about racism openly and, though these conversations can be difficult (due to our own lived experiences of racism), this task team has a vital role to play in Curious Minds' journey.
I have been passionate about social justice and equality since the age of 15, when I was unfairly convicted because I defended myself against a hate-crime. This rooted in me an activist, to make a change in my work and the people I work with. It begins with education. As a Young Associate for Curious Minds and a freelance creative, I was excited when this group was proposed and curious about how we could makes changes internally and have these conversations openly.
What do you hope this group will achieve?
I hope we can achieve together the mission that Curious Minds has set out: ‘Our vision is for an equal society…’. This might sound like a dream we'd all want to achieve! However, we have to start somewhere. I believe that, as well as holding organisations accountable for their lack of inclusiveness, we have to credit organisations like Curious Minds who have made the committment to listen and make changes internally and externally. We have a collective responsibility to ensure we create a safe space to talk about racism openly and, though these conversations can be difficult (due to our own lived experiences of racism), this task team has a vital role to play in Curious Minds' journey.
Blue Saint
I am Daniel Sebuyange, known professionally as Blue Saint and commonly known to many as Blue - a Liverpool rapper, singer-songwriter, spoken word poet, producer and designer, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
I was a part of Writing on the Wall’s Liverpool Young Writers at the ages twelve to sixteen, winner of The Poetry Society’s SLAMbassadors Award at fourteen, a BeMOBO nominee at the age of fifteen, winner of Merseyrail Soundstation 2014 at the age of twenty.
A prize celebrating breaking new talent in the Liverpool music scene, and have recently featured in the Liverpool Echo's “30 under 30: The young people changing the face of Liverpool in 2020”.
I was a part of Writing on the Wall’s Liverpool Young Writers at the ages twelve to sixteen, winner of The Poetry Society’s SLAMbassadors Award at fourteen, a BeMOBO nominee at the age of fifteen, winner of Merseyrail Soundstation 2014 at the age of twenty.
A prize celebrating breaking new talent in the Liverpool music scene, and have recently featured in the Liverpool Echo's “30 under 30: The young people changing the face of Liverpool in 2020”.
What made you get involved in this group?
I have always had a great passion for making major positive changes in the spaces and communities I find myself in. Wworking with Curious Minds would allow me to further these goals on a much larger scale.
As Curious Minds is an Arts Council England Bridge Organisation, I believe that working with them can ensure positive large changes are created in the cultural education sector across the North West region, and hopefully are also emulated or mirrored on a national scale.
What do you hope this group will achieve?
I hope to engage in great dialogue and activities that produce solutions for the problems faced in the cultural education sectors, and for these same solutions to have an incredible and effective impact on many communities.
I also hope that this group shall help in furthering anti-racism by continuously looking at, addressing and tackling racial issues multifactorial levels from institutional and covert racism to those more overt.
I have always had a great passion for making major positive changes in the spaces and communities I find myself in. Wworking with Curious Minds would allow me to further these goals on a much larger scale.
As Curious Minds is an Arts Council England Bridge Organisation, I believe that working with them can ensure positive large changes are created in the cultural education sector across the North West region, and hopefully are also emulated or mirrored on a national scale.
What do you hope this group will achieve?
I hope to engage in great dialogue and activities that produce solutions for the problems faced in the cultural education sectors, and for these same solutions to have an incredible and effective impact on many communities.
I also hope that this group shall help in furthering anti-racism by continuously looking at, addressing and tackling racial issues multifactorial levels from institutional and covert racism to those more overt.
Mahboobeh Rajabi
I am an Iranian Digital Artist, Theatre Maker, Filmmaker, Writer and Producer. I came to the UK at the age of 21 and have a Directing theatre Associate's Degree. I have been been working with different art organisations in the UK such as CAN, Commonword, Pankhusrts Centre, MIF, DWAN, CIWA - as well as working internationally with European Cultural Foundation in 2017 and being invited to speak at a the World Health Organisation Health and Migration Webinar. I was also awarded with MIF Jerwood Creative Fellowship in the same year.
My passion is giving voice to untold stories through my art and I have been focusing on Human rights, especially Woman's Rights, in the past 3 years.
My passion is giving voice to untold stories through my art and I have been focusing on Human rights, especially Woman's Rights, in the past 3 years.
In 2018 worked working on Travelling Heritage Bureau (THB) in partnership with CAN and Digital Women Archive North (DWAN). THB project was focused on international women visual artists and they have created works for different art galleries across Manchester, plus a pop up performance 'Still I Rise' at The Manchester Art Gallery. In 2020 I worked with different universities as an Artist, such as Leeds University and Cultural Institution as part of 'Beyond Measure' project and Manchester University on 'Girlhood' Project. Since 2018 I have also been working with Commonword; as Digital Literature Coordinator - developing the first Digital Literature Map of Manchester working on Commonword's archive of over 40-years of literature history in Manchester - and with women in Rochdale, as the facilitator and creative producer to 'The Voices of Women of Rochdale' project.
What made you get involved in this group?
The reason why I joined ARG was the importance of acting against any racism in the system. I have been working towards stopping Racism every since I came to the UK, and have myself experienced different levels of it. It’s important for me to not be quiet and also to support any actions that will help to stop racism against people of any background. I was so excited to join the ARG and to be able to work with different professional characters from the North West. All action is valuable and can make a change. For me, joining the ARG was a way to act against racism with a fantastic team and in a great organisation that values anti-racism. Curious minds is about education and this is where any change starts.
What do you hope this group will achieve?
I hope to establish a practical legacy against racism and share our values and model - to show the perspectives that need to be looked at, challenges that need to be overcome and voices that need to be heard in order to truly celebrate diversity and beautiful difference. In this group we are looking at how we can have equal opportunities and observe any barriers that stop us to be equally diverse. I hope we can be a model that inspires other organisations; so we can have even more diversity in the system.
What made you get involved in this group?
The reason why I joined ARG was the importance of acting against any racism in the system. I have been working towards stopping Racism every since I came to the UK, and have myself experienced different levels of it. It’s important for me to not be quiet and also to support any actions that will help to stop racism against people of any background. I was so excited to join the ARG and to be able to work with different professional characters from the North West. All action is valuable and can make a change. For me, joining the ARG was a way to act against racism with a fantastic team and in a great organisation that values anti-racism. Curious minds is about education and this is where any change starts.
What do you hope this group will achieve?
I hope to establish a practical legacy against racism and share our values and model - to show the perspectives that need to be looked at, challenges that need to be overcome and voices that need to be heard in order to truly celebrate diversity and beautiful difference. In this group we are looking at how we can have equal opportunities and observe any barriers that stop us to be equally diverse. I hope we can be a model that inspires other organisations; so we can have even more diversity in the system.
Niparun Nessa
I am a secondary Maths teacher and also deliver PSHE lessons and training. I have recently changed from full time teaching to part time and supply from September to enable me to spend more time on my freelance work. I deliver creative, aerial and circus arts workshops and classes to young people and adults. I deliver antiracism and equalities training to educators. I am also the community engagement officer for the Octagon Theatre in Bolton and an Education Worker for Show Racism the Red Card. I also voluntarily support a regional and national black educators network and international solidarity networks which started through the National Education Union and am an ambassador for the Steve Sinnott Foundation.
Zi Lan Liao
Zi Lan Liao is the Chief Executive of Pagoda Arts and one of the leading exponents of Chinese music. Her busy career on the international concert circuit has resulted in her being the most widely heard and best appreciated performer on the Gu-Zheng instrument worldwide.
Zi Lan is deeply committed to making the music of her native country known in the West and has a rare talent for sharing her insight into its cultural setting and spirit.
Zi Lan is deeply committed to making the music of her native country known in the West and has a rare talent for sharing her insight into its cultural setting and spirit.
Sameed Rezayan
Sameed Rezayan is Head of Creative Learning at Manchester International Festival and has extensive experience in creative engagement and arts development.
Sameed describes himself as a Hip Hop Archaeologist and has been active for many years as a music producer, DJ and radio host. He is passionate about the power of creativity and education to transform lives.
Sameed describes himself as a Hip Hop Archaeologist and has been active for many years as a music producer, DJ and radio host. He is passionate about the power of creativity and education to transform lives.
Mustafa Hassan (Board Member)
Mustafa is a member of Curious Minds' Board of Trustees. He is a Psychology graduate, with a passion for mental health and community based initiatives.
Mustafa works as Area Youth Lead for North, Central and East Manchester for Manchester City Council. In this role he focuses on developing partnerships and helping to enhance organisations that provide services to and for young people.
His interests include sport, healthy wellbeing and community integration.
Mustafa works as Area Youth Lead for North, Central and East Manchester for Manchester City Council. In this role he focuses on developing partnerships and helping to enhance organisations that provide services to and for young people.
His interests include sport, healthy wellbeing and community integration.
