Open to All Possibilities
HELEN MURPHY & NICK PELLING visit the start of the ‘open house’ at the Afri-Co-Lab
The Afri-Co-Lab, at Marine Court, is opening its doors to all in the Hastings and St Leonards community every Wednesday. The idea behind these ‘Open House Wednesdays’ is to encourage people just to drop in, but the deeper and more ambitious aim is to create, as Lilian Babirye says, “a black-run space for black and global majority communities and white allies.” We went along on the inaugural Wednesday.
Lilian, and her sister Anna Maria are the co-founders of Afri-Co-Lab, although they are quick to point out that their organisational structure is essentially “flat” and two other women, Deanne Naula and Theresa Adjorlolo, might be said to be part of a powerful quartet of black female directors. The space that they have created has been deliberately set up in such a way as to allow all sorts of diverse activities to occur.
FREEDOM RIDES
At one level it is a place to have a chat and use the free wi-fi, but the sisters explain that they have put on a varied range of events. The cleverly converted shop has made room for art workshops, dance and yoga classes, performance pieces, book readings and even life drawing. They have also organised free coach trips – borrowing the famous Civil Rights label of ‘Freedom Rides’ – to cultural events elsewhere, such as their recent trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the ‘Africa Fashion’ show. The next ‘Freedom Ride’ will be to the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne, to see the ever-controversial Turner Prize exhibition. Impressively, these visits to galleries are carefully pre-planned, in order to maximise what the gallery experience can offer. For example, the trip to the V&A came with a talk from the exhibition curator. As Anna Maria says, “we want people to feel special on these rides.”
There is also, quite deliberately, a political aspect to their work. Anna Maria says that she thinks there is a growing sense of a “movement” developing in Hastings that is determinedly anti-racist. She has commented before that people of colour experience “micro-aggressions” as they go about their day-to-day life. The Lab is above all somewhere warm and welcoming which seeks to help to “break down barriers”.
A VIP VISIT
We were certainly struck by the relaxed and good humoured atmosphere. This was undoubtedly helped by the presence of local legend Claudine Eccleston, who had cast herself as “Veronica, a visiting Jamaican dignitary”. Lady Veronica gave us some splendidly profound words as she cut the tape to declare the Open House to be properly “open.”
The two sisters bring different talents to the table. Anna Maria trained in theatre and performance while Lilian studied fashion but now describes herself, among many other things, as a “textile artist.” Between them they are something of a dynamic duo. There has clearly been a great deal of hard work behind the establishing of this community resource. Anna Maria said that when they first took on the lease of the building, the pandemic was still on and lockdown made a community centre seem almost impossible. Indeed, she admits that some thought it was very “risky” and possibly even “foolish.” But their gamble has undoubtedly paid off and now the community has what they describe as a “living, breathing resource.” A great achievement. Do drop in and check for yourself.
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