The Spaces Between, a two-day celebration of global Black creativity in London launching the first in-person festival…
Where Are The Black Designers? is a volunteer-run nonprofit that campaigns on behalf of Black creatives, seeking recognition across the industry for underrecognised voices with the aim of fostering a genuinely supportive community.
In an industry where just 3% of designers identify as Black (according to the 2019 AIGA Design census), WATBD has become one of the leading platforms for next generation talent through its series of high-impact projects and initiatives. For 2025, it’s launching a new dimension to its community-focused output: a unique in person festival.
Set to become a must-attend event for Black creatives and their allies, The Spaces Between is a two-day celebration of Black creativity featuring leading voices from the global creative sector.
Taking place a week after Notting Hill Carnival, a landmark event in the cultural calendar from the British Caribbean community, the programme will add to the vibrancy of Black creativity in London with a series of talks from industry-leading creatives, workshops, a makers market, club and jazz nights, and a relaxed space to recharge.
The wide-ranging lineup will feature visual artists, musicians, designers, creative directors, leaders of prominent cultural organisations and more, with topics of conversation including designing spaces to cultivate community, collectively and the importance of curiosity.
Confirmed participants include: Erwin Hines, artist, designer and creative director, Heba Tabidee, founder and director of Space Black, Jojo Sonubi, co-founder No Signal, Recess and Black in the Day, Lakwena, visual artist, Ritesh Gupta, designer and founder of Useful School, Scott Shigeoka, award-winning author and Shanice Mears, co-founder The Elephant Room.
Hosted in a much-loved multi-arts venue in Hackney, EartH, the festival builds upon WATBD’s many previous events, including its 2020 online-only festival, a rallying cry for community during the Covid pandemic. The debut of WATBD’s first in-person festival will connect creatives across geographies, cultures and disciplines, amplifying creatives from the city’s energetic neighbourhoods and beyond.
As London is one of the UK’s major hubs for Black creative voices, WATBD saw the city as the natural hub for its first two-day celebration of Black creativity. Set in Dalston, a beating heart of London with a rich history, the festival aims to amplify and honour its many stories and communities that call it home.
From Saturday 30 – Sunday 31 August 2025, at multi-arts venue EartH in Hackney, London, tickets now available: www.thespacesbtwn.com
