Kwanzaa Collective UK is an artist-led company championing Black, Brown and Global Majority creatives in Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Through creativity, collective activism and collaboration we leave the community more beneficial and beautiful than we inherited it. We create art and programmes that place racially marginalised people at the core of arts and heritage spaces as leaders, creatives, artists and audiences. The companies’ activities directly benefit Black, Brown and Global Majority communities and creatives in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Stoke-on-Trent is recognised as an area of low engagement in the arts. People living in Staffordshire and the surrounding areas benefit from an increased programme of arts and culture. Art improves wellbeing and brings people together physically and culturally through its capacity to tell stories, inspire reflection, and form connections that transcend differences. Kwanzaa Collective reaches individuals who may not otherwise engage in arts activity as well as support local Black, Brown and Global Majority artists to thrive in the area. During the financial year Jan 2025-April 2026, the companies activities benefited the community in the following ways: Artist Empowerment. *We championed, empowered and supported Black, Brown and Global Majority creatives, building opportunities and spaces that encourage their creative growth. This included organising and supplementing attendance at conferences ‘Beautiful Futures Summit’, Outdoor arts UK conference in Stoke, All Shades of Brown For Creatives Conference, Work made by Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent artists conference at PMAG, IWD conference at Port Vale Football Club and The Carnival Queen competition in Derby. *We recorded 11 musicians – enabling them to have high-quality videos for potential clients. * We signposted artists to new opportunities, connecting the with the art scene in North Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. We employed and advocated for a large number of artists and Creative Producers. This increased their self-esteem, enabled them to gain new skills and networks whilst connecting with the art scene in North Staffordshire. * We held over 10 socials for our creative community helping Black and Brown people’s wellbeing and reducing social isolation. *We created, curate and produce high-quality artwork and performances that empowers Black, Brown and Global Majority artists and communities. We worked with V&A Wedgwood and 11 arts and heritage partners to run events and diversify their programming. Over 100 people, including community members took part in the Six Towns Afro-Caribbean carnival parade, Black Victorians at The Brampton Museum and Art Gallery had over 500 visitors and over 1200 visitors came to the 3rd Black History Celebration, many of whom took part in a wide range of workshops. *Art and theatre improves wellbeing and brings people together physically and culturally through its capacity to tell stories, inspire reflection, and form connections that transcend differences. During Stoke-on-Trent’s Centenary celebrations we are particularly proud of the clay workshops with a visiting artists and advisory work for the British Ceramics Biennial. We also supported programming Magical Bones and A Hip-Hop Opera and created a full show of Blessing in Burslem with the New Vic Theatre. We deepened our connections with the council through our work for the city’s digital heritage trail, The People’s Parade and I AM A WOMAN AND SISTER PROGRAMME that saw us commission renowned glass artist Chris Day to make a response to the Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion. Young People’s Empowerment *We believe it is important to make space to celebrate diverse cultures and histories. Through our work we empower and support young people from all background through making, moving, listening, creating and sharing skills. In this financial year we made costumes with Asha refugee families in the run up to the Centenary People's Parade, We delivered workshops in three primary and secondary schools in the run up to Six Towns Carnival and ran family focused programmes with Black History Celebration and Black Victorians. Wellbeing *We inspired Black and Brown people to prioritise their wellbeing and hosted 11 walking adventures in green spaces in Stoke-on-Trent.

The company’s primary beneficiaries are Black, Brown and Global Majority Creatives, young people and communities in Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding areas. Other stakeholders include our wide range of strategic and cultural partners that include Black-led organisations such as Culture&, place-based organisations such as Wild Edge Arts and art venues such as V&A Wedgwood, Potteries Museum and Art Gallery and Brampton Museum. The directors of the company are Staffordshire based artists who are well connected and have lived experience of the challenges faced by creatives and Black and Brown people. We meet with our creative community bi-monthly. We asked them to share how the organization has been important for them personally and for the community. The meetings mean that our programmes are co-created alongside them, and they are given regular opportunities to voice how the organization can best meet their needs and aspirations. From this we identified that our creatives needed dedicated time to create and more opportunities to show their work. We created a monthly KC create hours online for creatives to dedicate time to their creative practice in company. In addition, our focus on creativity in 2026 enabled us to put our members’ creativity at the forefront of our programming. At every event we collect feedback from our audience, so we have a clear idea of who attends, what they enjoy and what can be improved. We debrief with our artist teams and ask Creative producers to complete an event evaluation form too, so we have observed feedback and reflections too. We debrief with partners and they have written testimonial letters documenting how our work has impacted the community and their organisations. We collect data such as footfall and visiting numbers, so we know that our programmes more than double visitor numbers. We document our events with photographs and film so we know what audiences think and can share this. Our work is widely reported in the media raising the profile of the artists, organisation and area.

The aggregate amount of emoluments paid to or receivable by directors in respect of qualifying services was £7558.94. There were no other transactions or arrangements in connection with the remuneration of directors, or compensation for director’s loss of office, which require to be disclosed.

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration