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GET
lIT!

​Afri-Co-Lab invites you to Get some Literature into your life at GET LIT!
Thursday 20th February
Doors open at 6.30 pm

GET LIT! is our monthly literary offer building on the legacy of our fabulous author talks with @WhatSarahReadNext.

 

GET LIT! is as wild and multi-faceted as we are - think author talks with a workshop twist, poetry readings, creative writing sessions, speaking Shakespeare workshops we are going to explore literature in all its forms.

 

These events are created for everyone, we want them to be inclusive, participatory and fun!

GET LIT!

With Richard Phoenix and Jess Mabel Jones:

DO YOUR OWN THING

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Thursday 20th February

Doors 6:30 pm | Event 7 pm

We are kicking off GET LIT! with a large dash of local brilliance. We are thrilled that local interdisciplinary artist and disability activist Jess Mabel Jones will be talking to ANOTHER FAB local artist, activist, musician, and writer, Richard Phoenix, about his book Do Your Own Thing.

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Together, they are going to get into disability history, share an intro to arts company Heart N Soul, reflect on their vast inclusive practices, open conversations about DIY work practices and, of course, dig into Richard’s book DO YOUR OWN THING, creating an interactive conversation so we can all figure out how to put all of this into practice- sharing tools so you can do your own thing!

 

It’s gonna be fun- it’s gonna be a riot, and the snack game is gonna be rad!​
 

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BOOK A TICKET

We operate a sliding fee scale to make our events as accessible as possible:

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£15 ticket - PAY IT FORWARD

This cost a bit more, but supports us to offer our concessionary tickets

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£10 ticket - STANDARD

This is the full rate

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£5 ticket - LOW WAGE

This is our rate for those who are low or no waged if you need it, please use it.

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do your own thing

Do Your Own Thing is a full-length work of non-fiction detailing his experiences of the best underground arts scene you’ve never heard of—Do Your Own Thing, a project run by learning disability arts organisation Heart n Soul. Looking at the transformative potential of working to support creative young people make the music and art they want to, this book contributes essential new voices, reflections and considerations to the established ideas of ‘Do It Yourself’ culture. Phoenix’s book, written with a disarming and idiosyncratic voice, asks what our often reductive understanding of DIY aesthetics might mean in light of questions about access, support and who gives permission to whom to make art, guiding us through the kind of project only spoken about in funding reports and transforming it into a polyphonic, collaborative and joyful work of art.

JESS
MABEL JONES

Jess has been making art for over 15 years. It’s taken place in theatres, in communities, on screen, in cabaret bars, on the street and at festivals, all over the world. Her work is eclectic, visually dynamic and always a bit of a party. Much of Jess’ work has been in the scene of disability arts and her activism in access and inclusion have led her to become an Access Coordinator for TV and film; a role that addresses the underrepresentation of DDNA people in front of and behind camera. Jess’ work has played venues and platforms that include, Barbican, TATE, Southbank Centre, Soho Theatre, Machynlleth Comedy Festival, Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago, Huangpu Theatre Shanghai and Sydney Opera House. She is a Total Theatre Award winner and a recipient of Scope Media Moment, Scope Inclusive Workplace, RTS Best Inclusive Practice and RTS Special Award for contribution to TV. www.JessMabelJones.com

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Richard phoenix

RICHARD PHOENIX is an artist working in London and the South East whose practice involves painting, writing, music and support. Recent projects include ‘Before You Die You’ve Got To Dance’ solo exhibition at Project 78 Gallery, St Leonards-on-Sea (2025), ‘Capturing Surroundings’ Bandung, Indonesia a collaboration with Angkasa Nasrullah Emir and Tab Space, facilitated by Art Et Al (2024), ‘The Spinners’ a solo exhibition at Flatland Projects (2023), prize winner in the Exeter Contemporary Open (2023) and exhibiting in the John Moore’s painting prize (2023). Published the full-length work of non-fiction ‘Do Your Own Thing’ (2023) and the pamphlet ‘D.I.Y. as Privilege: A Manifesto’ (2020), both with Rough Trade Books. An artist-in-residence within Tate’s Schools and Teachers department, alumni of Conditions Studio Programme in Croydon and Flatlands Studio Programme in Bexhill-on-Sea. He has worked with learning disability arts organisations and individual artists and musicians since 2006 as a facilitator, collaborator and project co-ordinator and has been Associate Artist for Heart n Soul since 2015. He has also been involved within the UK’s D.I.Y. music scene for many years being in the bands Sauna Youth, Monotony, Child’s Pose, The Steal and Captain Everything!, among others.

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