Drumbeat-Heartbeat

Drumbeat is about long-term partnerships, where collaborating groups operate as equals regardless of their status in the cultural world.  The better known and stronger groups of today were also new and weak at some stage in their history!

Partnership entails an agreement to work together on the following actions:

• sharing in artistic policy development and its implementation,
• working on development projects,
• supporting audience development,
• marketing and
• taking part in productions.

Drumbeat’s core values are:

• trust and respect for people,
• celebrating their diversity and
• investing in the development of supporters and collaborators.

A key focus for Drumbeat-Heartbeat is audience research and development as much as production and performance. We will be investing in audience development and further information will be provided soon.

In the meantime I am pleased to confirm that the partners who have confirmed their interest in working on this project are provided below. The names of their own organisations are given in brackets:

Kalwant Ajimal, Founder and Executive Producer (Mirador Culture)

Somesh de Swardt, Artistic Director for Drumbeat-Heartbeat (Drumjam)

Harkirat Rayatt and Shammi Rayatt(Chakardar)

Jean M Lutete, (African Culture Arts & Sport Network)

Mick Chapman, (Essex Corps of Drums)

Charles Boyenga, (Congolese Music Association)

Felix Joseph, (Newham Steel Band)

Further partners are to be announced.