ALL SHADES OF BROWN 2026

The Midlands’ Leading Conference for Black, Brown & Global Majority Creatives

All Shades of Brown 2026 returns on 5th February 2026 at The Venue@DMU as the Midlands’ essential arts conference for Black, Brown, and Global Ethnic Majority creatives. Designed for artists, filmmakers, performers, curators, educators, students, producers, and creative entrepreneurs, this event delivers practical industry insight, professional development, and powerful networking opportunities to help creatives build sustainable and impactful careers.

Hosted in Leicester’s vibrant cultural hub, the conference directly addresses the challenges faced by underrepresented creatives working both inside and outside major cities. Whether you’re an established practitioner or growing your creative practice, you’ll gain the strategies, contacts, and knowledge needed to thrive within the Midlands’ expanding creative industries.

What Makes All Shades of Brown 2026 Unmissable?

This conference goes beyond conversation to offer expert-led panels, hands-on workshops, and in-depth discussions focused on overcoming systemic barriers, navigating identity and representation, and understanding what it takes to build a long-term creative career in the Midlands.

Attendees can also engage with networking spaces, creative showcases, stalls, and collaborative breakout sessions, creating a dynamic space where artists, organisations, and industry leaders come together to build real opportunities.

Who Should Attend?

While the event centres the voices and experiences of Black, Brown, and Global Ethnic Majority creatives, everyone committed to inclusive, equitable, and future-focused creative industries is welcome.

Expect to walk away with:

Clear insight into the systemic forces shaping the creative sector
Practical tools for building sustainable and inclusive careers
A stronger network of collaborators, galleries, and cultural organisations
Renewed motivation, clarity, and creative direction

Accessible Ticket Options

To ensure the event remains accessible without compromising professionalism, we offer Student & Emerging Talent Tickets as a reduced-rate option for students and early-stage creatives who are committed to developing their practice. All attendees receive full conference access.

Join Us on 5th February 2026

If you’re passionate about diverse storytelling, creative equity, and strengthening the Midlands’ creative ecosystem, All Shades of Brown 2026 is the event for you.

Join us at The Venue@DMU for a powerful, transformative day that celebrates identity, challenges inequality, and amplifies creative voices across the region.

Secure your ticket today and be part of shaping the future of inclusive creativity in the Midlands.

All Shades of Brown the Creative Conference

On a vibrant day in February, Leicester became a kaleidoscope of colour, culture, and creativity as we hosted All Shades of Brown, an extraordinary and first of its kind creative conference celebrating the rich tapestry of Black and Brown artists in the East Midlands. But the event was so much more than just a conference, it was a powerful reminder of the often overlooked contributions Global Ethnic Majority creatives make, and of the wealth of artistry the Midlands can offer!

Held at DMU’s The Venue, the day brought together visual artists, designers, filmmakers, performers, and cultural workers for a full programme of learning, connection, and celebration. The atmosphere? Electric. The energy? Unmatched.

From the moment the doors opened, the building pulsed with creativity. Panels and keynotes hosted by cultural leaders like Pogus Caesar, Gaylene Gould, and Saziso Phiri shared stories of perseverance, artistic integrity, and building careers in spaces not made for us. Topics ranged from funding and sustainability to accessibility and mentorship, giving attendees both inspiration and practical tools to thrive.

In the workshops, knowledge flowed freely. From Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE’s pitch masterclass to Kino Bino’s guide to navigating the animation industry, every session was about empowerment. How to create, how to sustain, and crucially, how not to go broke while doing it.

And it wasn’t just talk. Live performances ran throughout the day, including Black Victorians, a powerful blend of dance and historical storytelling; Create Not Destroy, an evolving live art piece; and Apittame Arts with Imani Wenham’s striking poetry. When talking about Carnival, Donna Briscoe-Greene reminded us that culture and business are not mutually exclusive, they’re intertwined.

The exhibition space showcased stunning works from Midlands-based artists, each one a reflection of heritage, imagination, and voice. Meanwhile, the marketplace buzzed with creatives selling art, sharing ideas, and making real connections. The sense of empowerment was strong, whether chatting at stalls, diving into 1-1 surgeries with Art Reach and Arts Council England, or meeting future collaborators.

All Shades of Brown was a seed planted in fertile ground, rooted in solidarity, watered by collaboration, and growing into a future where all creatives, of all shades, can thrive.

To everyone who showed up, shared, supported, and inspired: thank you. You made this moment unforgettable.

Check out the All Shades of Brown overview video !