Manifesto for Black Futures will explore the multiplicities and power of Black lives, what Black futures look like, and how we can continue creating spaces celebrating the richness of Black lives.
Novelist and screenwriter Catherine Johnson has been commissioned to write the manifesto, and artist Michael Salu has been commissioned to produce an artistic response to the manifesto, which will be revealed after the manifesto address. Curator Debo Amon will lead the roundtable discussion post address and art reveal.
Speakers include:
Catherine Johnson has been published for over thirty years. Her books for young readers have won awards, including Young Quills and Little Rebels, and have been nominated for the Carnegie Medal. She has also written for film, including Bullet Boy, television, and radio – her work has been nominated for Prix Italia and the Imison award, and written for one Video Game, I Am Dead. A born and bred Londoner she currently lives on the south coast at Hastings.
Michael Salu is a British-born Nigerian writer, artist, filmmaker, editor, and creative strategist with an interdisciplinary practice. His written work has appeared in literary journals, magazines, art and academic publications, and as an artist, he has exhibited internationally. He has extensively researched technology’s impact on culture, including numerous essays and talks with organisations like 5×15. He runs House of Thought, an artistic research practice and consultancy focusing on bridging creative, critical thinking, and technology, and is part of Planetary Portals, a research collective. His book, Red Earth, was published by Calamari Archive in October 2023.
BLACK TO THE FUTURE is an Afro-Futurist celebration of outstanding Black artists, a space for visionary imaginings to thrive, founded, directed, and curated by Irenosen Okojie.
A limited number of tickets are FREE for Royal Society of Literature Members and Fellows.
BLACK TO THE FUTURE is founded, directed, and curated by Irenosen Okojie.
This event is produced by Black to the Future and is in association with Christie's. Income generated from tickets serve as a donation to Black to the Futures.