DAN team at an exhibition

Image by Urmilla Kerslake. DAN/ DIASPORA! team at the opening of the Out of Many exhibition.

Client: Diverse Artists Network

The ask: Produce a 10-day, multi-venue festival across Bristol and the South West region, to celebrate cultural diversity through the arts.

Outcome: As the lead producer for DIASPORA! 2026, I devised and implemented the application process, managed sizable budgets, made programming decisions and worked with a complex range of stakeholders to deliver a huge and varied festival programme of over 100 events. More than 600 marginalised artists were platformed in over 40 venues across Bristol and the Southwest region, in just 10 days. A needed celebration of global culture and inclusion in a context of increasing political division.

“It was a pleasure to work with Jess as our Producer for DIASPORA! 2026. The festival received an excellent response from audiences and stakeholders alike, which would not have happened without Jess’s professionalism, creativity and collaborative approach.”

― Deborah Baddoo MBE, Company Manager, Diverse Artists Network

DIASPORA! is a biennial, multi-venue festival that takes place across Bristol and the South West region. Produced and presented by the Diverse Artists Network, it’s all about celebrating marginalised talent and the many global cultures we have in our city (and beyond).

Following a successful pilot in 2024, DIASPORA! 26 was double the size, bringing ten full days of all the artforms you can think of - dance, music, theatre, DJs, crafts, film, poetry, exhibitions and much more - to a jam-packed programme of 100+ events.

Working very closely with DAN’s small but mighty team, some of Bristol’s most iconic venues and a range of incredible partners, I was the lead producer of this huge, non-profit festival.

DIASPORA! 26 is supported by Arts Council England, The Hugo Burge Foundation, Quartet Community Fund and Ujima Radio CIC.

  • Artist & writer Ros Martin (right) leads a Red Dress Day workshop in Totterdown. Image by Dan Shroff

  • Playwright & actor Rene Katiisa performs at Five Women, One Show - part of Compass Presents' A Love Letter to Broadmead. Image by Laura Crouchley

  • Stand-up comedian Cosmopolitan Seychellois performs at Five Women, One Show - part of Compass Presents' A Love Letter to Broadmead. Image by Laura Crouchley

  • Poet & writer Muneera Pilgrim performs at Five Women, One Show - part of Compass Presents' A Love Letter to Broadmead. Image by Laura Crouchley

  • Artist Sachin Babbar leads a dance workshop for Desi Day at Arnolfini Arts. Image by Urmila Kerslake

  • Dances of DIASPORA! at Dance Out, RWA. Image by Khali Ackford/ KoLAB Studios

  • Makaani Arts Hosts: Spirit of SWANA at Trinity Arts Centre. Image by Urmila Kerslake

  • Voices of Diaspora exhibition launch at The Island. Image by Urmila Kerslake

  • DJ & Producer Indian Man leads a workshop for Desi Day at Arnolfini Arts. Image by Urmila Kerslake

  • Live Fusion Band for Desi Day at Arnolfini Arts. Image by Urmila Kerslake

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Seeta Patel Dance: Anatomy of Solidarity