Emerging Futures: The Virtual + Spatial Imagination
MAIA centres its work around four main pillars: justice, care, access and joy. As a mission, with these at the centre, these pillars must also shape the structures of the spaces in which MAIA works. This is why establishing YARD and developing our proposal for ABUELOS has been so essential to our practice. It is also because of these developments that we are fortunate to have been awarded the Emerging Futures Award. Thanks to this funding, we are excited to launch The Virtual Imagination and The Spatial Imagination, two initiatives which explore new narratives surrounding space - who owns it, shapes it, has access to it; how might we begin to reimagine and build new environments that serve and nurture our communities?
As we entered Lockdown 3.0, it became apparent that one of the most vital spaces in 2021 would continue to be the virtual. Virtual spaces have become increasingly important for our communities (such as the Black community and the D/disabled community) who often feel ignored, erased or harmed in the public realm. While there are obvious benefits of online connectivity when it comes to organising and activism, we wanted to examine other kinds of already growing communities that are carving out safe spaces for themselves online in a quest for joy.
What a blessing, therefore, to partner with Mikayla Jones, a gamer who’s as passionate about the artistry and happiness that is found in games as she is about connecting with the people she meets through playing them. As part of our goal to connect people in MAIA’s Virtual Imagination, Mikayla has curated ‘Game Like Your Joy Depends On It’, two Saturdays that will reclaim space and opportunities for communities who are currently not well represented in the gaming/tech industry, whilst also creating a Midlands-based community of gamers who identify as women/non-binary folk of colour. We’ll be connecting with and learning from representatives from incredible organisations such as Black Twitch UK, Black Girl Gamers and Game Assist.
Lockdown has also made us all acutely aware of the physical spaces that we’re confined in. Many social justice organisations and practitioners have had to radically rethink how they can support their communities from a two-metre distance. MAIA decided, therefore, to host The Spatial Imagination, a convening which recognises and platforms the wealth of expertise from over 30 community-rooted artists, designers and cultural workers who are working to reclaim, reimagine and create safer, more joyful and equitable spaces. There, we’ll also be exploring the role of art and culture in place, particularly as while marginalised cultural workers are typically the source of a place’s rich artistic output, they are the least likely people to be given access to decision-making power and resources.
We’ll be hearing from artists and practitioners such as Caleb Femi, Tobi Kyeremateng, Farzana Khan and Ama Josephine Budge (to name just a few) who will be sharing insights, widening knowledge production and imagining new landscapes in which spaces and places are rooted in social justice.
Come and join The Virtual Imagination on the 16th and 23rd January, and The Spatial Imagination on the 29th and 30th January. Tickets are tiered and we can’t wait to welcome your energy, visions and ideas.