Advancing Inclusive Artistic Collaboration in partnership with British Council

This June, Upstage Limited has launched Cross/Connect, a new multidisciplinary programme that brings together artists from Kenya and the United Kingdom to explore inclusive approaches to artistic creation.

Supported by the British Council through the UK/Kenya Season Legacy programme, Cross/Connect is founded on the belief that accessibility and inclusion should not only shape how audiences experience the arts, but also how artistic work is conceived, developed, and presented. 

Artists with and without disabilities will collaborate alongside dancers, musicians, photographers, fashion designers, technologists, and digital artists, creating opportunities for creative exchange across disciplines and perspectives.

Over the coming months, Upstage will deliver four major projects exploring contemporary social themes through inclusive artistic practice. These include a mixed-ability contemporary dance performance examining the human impact of climate change; a creative residency exploring assistive technologies as tools for artistic expression; an adaptive fashion project bringing together designers, models, and technologists to reimagine inclusive design; and a multidisciplinary music concert centred on themes of peace, coexistence, and shared humanity.

The programme also strengthens creative exchange between Kenya and the UK through Upstage's ongoing collaboration with The Work Room in Glasgow. UK-based artists and creative advisors are supporting the development of the projects, fostering knowledge exchange and creating opportunities for long-term artistic partnerships.