Opal22 Archives

Jule Mckinnon

2 July 2025

Opal22 is proud to offer a range of expertly designed Black History Month workshops, courses, and training opportunities for both students and teachers.

We provide both ready-to-go sessions and fully tailored programmes, workshops, and teacher training sessions to suit your school’s curriculum and timeline. For your convenience, these services are available both in person and online.

We believe every young person deserves access to accurate, well-informed education and our team of knowledgeable, experienced facilitators are here to deliver exactly that. From the Black Tudors to contemporary change makers, Opal22’s work highlights the vital contributions, stories, and experiences of Black Britons across the centuries.

Partner with us to make your Black History Month provision impactful, inclusive, and expertly delivered.

Reach out to us at info@opal22.co.uk for more information.

Let’s teach Black History correctly!

Windrush Tea Party

Jule Mckinnon

23 June 2025

The windrush Tea Party

On the sun-dappled afternoon of June 21st, we came together for a celebration that felt like a warm embrace from history itself. Our Windrush Tea Party, held in the heart of Leicester, was more than just an event. It was a tribute. A tribute to the strength, resilience, and enduring joy of the Windrush Generation and the community they built.

We celebrate Windrush not only to honour the past, but to root ourselves in the legacy of those who paved the way. Those who arrived with suitcases full of dreams and hearts full of hope. Those who faced hardship and hostility, yet still made home, built community, and gave so much to Britain’s culture, economy, and soul.

This year’s tea party was bursting with energy, laughter, and the sweet scent of Caribbean food in the air. From the music, to the stall holders, to the smiling attendees, the day was alive with colour, rhythm, and love. Elders were treated like royalty as they sipped tea, nibbled rum cake and shared stories. Children played fair-style games, learned about Windrush history, and created joyful noise that echoed through the park.

We had live performances that moved us to our feet including the spoked words of Imano Ahiro and Poetic Lili, the gospel sounds of EAGA choir, and, of course, the incredible talents of Tann-I Browne. There were craft stalls, dominoes, raffle’s, a plethora of fiid choices, all narrated by our incredible host, TV’s John Simmit.

But beyond the bunting and the music, the heart of this celebration was community. Seeing generations of elders, parents, and children come together in joy reminded us why we do this. Because remembrance is resistance. Because celebration is healing. Because our stories deserve centre stage.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who came, danced, laughed, donated, and helped make this event what it was. To our volunteers, performers, food vendors, and community partners: thank you. You brought the spirit of Windrush alive.

As we look to the future, we carry the legacy of our elders forward. We honour the past, celebrate the present, and make space for new voices.

Windrush is not just a story but is a living, breathing force. And on June 21st, under the summer sky, we felt it in full bloom.

International Women's Day

Jule Mckinnon

9 March 2025

Talk Dirty, Paint Pretty: A Night For Us

Black Women Take Over Abbey Leisure Centre For A Night Of Laughter!

On March 7th, Leicester’s Abbey Sports & Leisure Centre transformed into something beautiful and rare: a space curated by Black Women just for Black women to be bold, outspoken, unfiltered, and celebrated for it. Talk Dirty, Paint Pretty wasn’t just a celebration of International Women’s Day. It was a full-body exhale. A space to laugh, cry, paint, reflect, and above all, to be.

We opened the night with the words of Cheri Gillings, whose poetry danced between power and vulnerability, speaking to the complexity of Black womanhood with every verse. Then came Just Between Us Girls, an unfiltered panel conversation where nothing was off limits. Sex, softness, rage, joy, resilience. Our guest speakers we laid it all on the table, and the audience loved it. It was like a kitchen table convo with your aunties, sisters, and best friends.

Next, we got messy, in the best way. Every guest was handed a canvas and invited to paint whatever came to mind (and plenty of things came to mind!)

We closed the night on a high with comedy icon Sharifa Butterfly, who brought the house down. Her humour hit all the right nerves and had the room laughing with every punchline. If joy is a form of resistance, we were revolutionary that night.

Talk Dirty, Paint Pretty wasn’t just an event. It was a love letter. A creative call to arms. A reminder of why Black women-led events are so vital, because everyone deserve’s spaces where they are centred, celebrated, and completely unfiltered.

To everyone who came: thank you for your presence, your power, and your paint-splattered joy.

We’re not done. Not even close.

Check out the hightlights reel here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIBvcZJNbFd/?hl=en

All Shades of Brown

Jule Mckinnon

2 March 2025

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 !