Stand Up For Diversity Thetford

In November 2024 we invited all to the Thomas Paine Hotel in Thetford to a networking event with a difference! Stand Up For Diversity was an evening of three-minute mini-talks and soap-box shout-outs that put a spotlight on diversity in Thetford, Norfolk.

For this event Essex Cultural Diversity Project teamed up with our good friends in Thetford, who we regularly work with to programme the Festival of Thetford & Punjab. People came along to make new connections, find out more about what’s happening in their area, promote their own projects, and collectively celebrate diverse voices involved in the arts today.

“I loved the event and the diversity of the people who turned up. They shared their love of the town regardless of gender, colour or religion, they were passionate about making a difference where they live and I loved that they showed so much pride. Whether they were new to the area or were born and raised there, they just loved shouting proudly about their contribution” Attendee

Speakers (so far)

• Anna Mudeka, Multi-instrumentalist, actress, singer, writer and educator (compere)
• Bob Blogg, the Medusa Project, on accessibility in Thetford
• Cllr Carla Barreto, Deputy Mayor of Thetford
• Emma Booth, Thetford LCEP, on the Colours of Thetford Project
• Melissa Hawker, Ancient House Museum
• Safina Karim and young people from Thetford Academy
• Susanna Lopez, on diversity at Thetford Academy
• Robert Kybird, Breckland Museums Committee
• Queenie B, Drag Queen
• Cllr Stuart Wright, Thetfordian
• The Śūnya Company, on a new play for Maharajah Duleep Singh
• And audience shout-outs!

We also had shout outs from Ieuan Evans from the British Trust for Ornithology, Cllr Hazel McCambridge, who organised the Big Green Fair last year, musician Obase Aboli and Femi Olasehinde from Just Another Label.

About our speakers

Anna Mudeka, Tambai Promotions
annamudeka.co.uk
Anna’s creative practice is focused on storytelling, singing, music and dance, and is driven by a passion to celebrate and share the traditions of Sub-Saharan African cultures. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Anna draws from a wealth of African dance and music traditions, but is particularly inspired by her Shona roots, which has a rich cultural history and identity and is part of the Bantu ethnic group that forms the majority of the population in Sub-Sahara. Anna is the Creative Director of Tambai Promotions, which specialised in Music and Dance rooted in Sub-Saharan Africa through workshops and performances. Tambai are an African Dance troupe made up of some of the most innovative performers and dancers working in African music in the East of England today. It features a talented cast from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Cuba and Kenya.

Bob Blogg, The Medusa Project
www.youtube.com/@TheMedusaProjectThetford
I worked for the BTO as a programmer and database administrator for over a decade, managing their membership database among other things. During that time I was diagnosed with MS and lost the ability to walk, and for the last twelve years or so I have been using mobility scooters as my legs to get around. I soon became aware that Thetford was a prison from the point of view of a mobility scooter user, but whilst I was working I didn’t really have the time to investigate, and whenever I had a holiday I would travel with a friend to a more scooter friendly area where I could explore freely. Fortunately she had a van so I could load up my mobility scooter and we could go. When I retired about three years ago I was determine to look around Thetford and see where you could go on a scooter, in town or out. That’s when the Medusa Project was born. Because my hobby was also amateur film making, the two ideas merged well together. I want to encourage those with limited mobility to trust their scooters and go somewhere new, not just to the supermarket.

Cllr Carla Barreto, Deputy Mayor of Thetford
As a councillor, Carla’s aims are to provide all residents with a voice and make Thetford a place everyone is proud of. Her mission is to encourage residents from the most varied groups in the community to have a positive and active participation in community life.

Thetford LCEP
https://www.thetfordlcep.uk
LCEPs support children and young people to fulfil their creative potential and access high-quality cultural experiences where they live, where they go to school, and where they spend their free time. Partners come together from across sectors, responding to local needs and interests, to drive a more joined-up cultural education offer, share resources, and improve the visibility of cultural education in their local area.

Queenie B, Drag Queen
instagram.com/adzqueenieb
Adz aka Queenie B. A local drag queen who puts on Jury’s Out drag night in the Guildhall complex in Thetford and put together this year’s Thetford Pride.

Cllr Stuart Wright, Thetfordian
Stuart was born in Thetford and has seen many changes to the town over the last 50+ years. A town councillor since 2007 and twice Mayor of the town he has been involved many organisations over the last 25 years; being instrumental in the development of the Dad’s Army Museum, Chair of the local civic society, former school governor, founder of the local amateur dramatic group and secretary of the Thomas Paine Society he has recently overseen the production of In the Footsteps of Thomas Paine exhibition at the Thomas Paine Hotel. Stuart is looking to share his experience of the changes to Thetford over the last half century and share his thoughts for what lessons can be learned to help build a stronger society going forward.