BME Artist Database
The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) commissioned the Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales (BVSNW) in 2005 to create a database of Black Minority Ethnic Artists practising in Wales. The ACW already has a comprehensive database of artists practising a number of different art forms, however the database is not specific to either multicultural art or BME artists.
Therefore, the use of this specific database which promotes multi cultural arts will not only help to promote the arts and the artists but also promote cultural diversity by showing the wider audience the impact of multiculturalism on society and how present day society has been enriched by the influences of multiculturalism. This can particularly be seen, for example, in popular music, dance and street art. Currently there are many artists in Wales who practice in virtual isolation simply because they have been unable to promote themselves fully to the wider audience and who do not have the support of a national organisation to either help develop themselves professionally or promote themselves.
This database is aimed to help identify those artists and the art forms they practice to a wider audience thereby assisting with their professional development as well as the promotion of their culturally specific art forms. It is also aimed to help identify the training and development needs of those artists and the ways in which funding bodies can tailor their grants to assist artists in their professional development.
This database enables the wider audience such as schools, community centres, local authorities and festivals to identify artists and their specific art forms; many festivals, community activities and events are themed to be culturally specific and this arts database links artists to their specific art forms. For example, if someone needs to find Capoiera dancers, then this database can help. The benefits to the artists are quite simply that they are being promoted to a national audience, in fact with the use of the web to an international audience, the database will give them a free marketing platform.
Another benefit is that it also makes funding bodies aware of these artists, which could make life easier when applying for funding for their own projects, also if people are trying to develop ideas and are not quite sure what they want, the database could help them identify those needs. For example, people may not be aware that Alpana is an Indian art form and if they are trying to do a project about India, the database will identify art forms and artists related to India.
All kinds of art forms that are currently being delivered by BME artists in Wales are listed on this database. For further information and if you are interested in contributing to this database, then please contact Nicky Delgado on 02920 440 188 or by email to: n.delgado@bvsnw.org.uk