About Us

Serendipity – Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, Leicester.  Serendipity’s mission is to centre perspectives from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora, embedded as part of cultural experiences for all.  Serendipity’s programmes include the flagship dance festival, Let’s Dance International Frontiers, Black History Month Leicester and the Annual Windrush Day Lecture. Serendipity have established a legacy; hosting a growing living archive documenting Black arts, heritage and culture, publishing the voices of Black arts practitioners and community activists, nurturing artists to create high quality new work and mentoring young people.

Heritage Manager [Full Time]

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage are looking to recruit a Heritage Manager.

The position of Heritage Manager requires project management across a wide array of areas, from research, consultation with heritage experts, community activists and academics, digital inputting, setting up workshops to gather archive materials, one to one oral histories, curating exhibitions of materials, developing partnerships and devising training courses and educational packs.

A keen interest in the arts and cultural heritage, with particular reference to diversity in the arts, and the recognition of the history and heritage of Britain’s African and African Caribbean communities is essential, alongside a good knowledge of archival practices and methodologies for community engagement.

Deadline: 4 April 2023

See the full Job Description

Please email a copy of your CV and a cover letter to Pawlet Brookes, opportunities@serendipity-uk.com with the job title “Heritage Manager” in the email subject line.

Let’s Dance International Frontiers

Launching each year on 29 April, to celebrate International Dance Day, LDIF brings diversity to the forefront in dance with a festival showcasing new work from local emerging talent to internationally acclaimed companies.  The programme includes a national conference, films, masterclasses, site-specific projects, emerging artists platforms and performances. LDIF+ is our year-round programme of continued professional development offering quality training in diverse dance techniques from around the world.

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Black History Month

Serendipity, on behalf of Leicester City Council, coordinates Black History Month in the city each October. Trailblazing artists and activists from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora take centre stage in a programme featuring film, theatre, dance, lectures and exhibitions. Serendipity’s initiative BHM Live supports and highlights the work of emerging Black artists.  Year round Serendipity coordinates events for International Women’s Day, Windrush Day and BlackChat, a discussion series.

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Unearthed: Forgotten Histories

Unearthed: Forgotten Histories, supported by the Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, seeks to make a structural difference to the recording, documentation and sharing of Black history and heritage in the UK, and to give back hidden histories for everyone to share.  Currently in the development phase, Serendipity will create a digital living archive that encompasses the history of the African and African Caribbean communities across this region, amplify the historical picture and tell stories from a different perspective.

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Black Digital Dance Revolution

Black Dance Digital Revolution is a nationally significant project supported by Arts Council England working with regional partners; Serendipity (Leicester), Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Leeds), Dance City (Newcastle), Dance Umbrella (London) and beyond.  Drawing on the dance heritage of these four cities to develop a programme of digital and physical work including dance films, workshops and artist led residencies.

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Serendipity Connect

Our Membership Scheme brings together artists, practitioners, enthusiasts and industry professionals to create an international community of creatives.  Serendipity Connect allows members to build and strengthen connections through discussions, experiences and exclusive events, as well as offering professional development, research and networking opportunities.

Find out how to join our creative community

 

Publications

Serendipity’s publications are an archive, preserving the legacy of Black arts and heritage.  Many of the publications document history and codified techniques in dance from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora. providing resource for those interested in Black dance.  Many of Serendipity’s titles are also available as eBooks and audiobooks.  Launched in 2020, BlackInk is an annual magazine focusing on arts, heritage and cultural politics bringing physical and digital interfaces together.

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