WePresent takes over Peckham with a free, three-day Spring arts festival
From short films and photography to artist manifestos and mentoring sessions, the free Peckham takeover the emerging artists shaping contemporary creativity. The post WePresent takes over Peckham with a free, three-day Spring arts festival appeared first on BRICKS Magazine.
Black News 
HEADER IMAGE Abdulaziz Al-Hosni – (2024) فاتي العمر
This weekend, WePresent, the award-winning arts platform from WeTransfer, is bringing a three-day creative takeover to South London with its Spring Show at Copeland Gallery. Running from 8th til 10th May, the free public programme combines exhibitions, film screenings, talks, DJs, publishing projects and artist-led mentoring across a packed weekend in Peckham.
At the centre of the programme is “On Belonging”, a group exhibition exploring identity, community and creative connection through the work of artists from WePresent Selects, the platform’s ongoing initiative spotlighting emerging talent from around the world. Since launching, the series has featured more than 1,000 artists across over 120 countries, building a global network of creatives working across photography, film, illustration and visual art.
(2024)
The exhibition brings together work from artists including photographers Hidhir Badaruddin, Abdulaziz Al-Hosni, Hajar Benjida, Hashim Nasr, and Ana Flores, textile artist Yamuna Forzani, and painter Darcy Whent, alongside creatives from the UK, China, Singapore, Iraq, Lithuania, Ireland and beyond. Across photography, painting and textile work, the exhibition explores everything from queer identity and masculinity in post-military Singapore to overlooked Black cowboy communities in South Carolina and Texas, female bodybuilding culture in Kerala, Andean women preserving heritage through fashion, and the friendships built around street cricket in Saudi Arabia.
Elsewhere, a purpose-built cinema space will screen WePresent’s acclaimed short film commissions throughout the weekend, featuring work from directors including Aneil Karia, Amrou Al-Kadhi, and BAFTA-winner Akinola Davies Jr. A dedicated library space will also showcase the platform’s publishing projects, including NOUR, a poetry collaboration with Mustafa, and Holy Ohio, the sold-out photography title by Nadia Lee Cohen.
Alongside the exhibitions, the weekend programme includes free talks, portfolio reviews and mentoring sessions for students and emerging creatives, with exhibiting artists offering feedback and advice directly to attendees. Daily DJ sets will be hosted by Balamii, alongside food and drink, and a a pop-up shop featuring exclusive artist collaborations across clothing, stationery and homeware, with proceeds going to charity. Visitors can also pick up the latest issue of WePresent’s magazine – which features cover artwork from the exhibiting artists – while stocks last.
To see the full event schedule and book your free ticket, head to Eventbrite.
Friday 8th – Sunday 10th May 11AM – 7PM
Copeland Gallery, Unit 9, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Rd, London SE15 3SN
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The post WePresent takes over Peckham with a free, three-day Spring arts festival appeared first on BRICKS Magazine.
