ALL SHADES OF BROWN 2026

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

All Shades of Brown 2026 returns on Thursday 5 February 2026 at The Venue @ De Montfort University (Leicester).

This is the Midlands’ essential creative industries conference for Black, Brown, and Global Majority creatives, and for anyone serious about building a more equitable, sustainable cultural sector. Produced by Opal22 Arts and Edutainment, the one-day conference brings together artists, filmmakers, performers, curators, educators, students, producers, funders, and creative entrepreneurs for practical insight, professional development, and meaningful connection.

The event features a headline keynote from pioneering artist Keith Piper (BLK Art Group) and high-impact panels with senior sector voices, including Abid Hussain (Diversity Director at Arts Council England) and Jennifer Francis (Museum Director at Turner House), making this a rare chance to learn from the people shaping the UK creative sector.

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Why This Conference Exists

The creative industries remain deeply unequal.

Only 10% of UK creative industry jobs exist across the Midlands, while almost 30% remain concentrated in London. For creatives outside the capital, especially Black and Brown creatives, this imbalance translates into reduced opportunities, underfunding, and exclusion from decision-making spaces.

In one of the UK’s most diverse regions, including cities such as Leicester, Birmingham, and Nottingham, Global Majority creatives are forced to navigate both geographic marginalisation and systemic inequality.

All Shades of Brown exists to challenge this imbalance.

What You’ll Get From the Day

This is not a passive conference.

Expect:

Expert-led panels and workshops tackling systemic barriers and regional inequality
Honest conversations about identity, authenticity, and creative survival
Practical tools for building long-term creative careers in the Midlands
Direct access to cultural organisations, funders, and sector leaders
Networking spaces designed for real connection, not surface-level exchange

You’ll leave with clarity, contacts, and momentum.

All Shades of Brown centres the experiences of Black, Brown, and Global Majority creatives, while remaining open to anyone committed to inclusive, future-focused creative industries.

Tickets & Access

Reduced-rate Student & Emerging Talent tickets are available to ensure access for early-stage creatives. All tickets include full conference access.

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If you care about who gets funded, who gets seen, and who gets to build a sustainable creative career in the Midlands, this is a room you need to be in.

5 February 2026

10am – 5pm

The Venue @ De Montfort University, Leicester

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 !