Join us for a free 2-part online workshop, designed and delivered by Faiths Forum for London, exploring how to build meaningful, sustained, and mutually-beneficial relationships with diverse minority ethnic and faith communities.
Part 1 will explore ‘Engaging with Confidence – The Arts & Faith Communities‘ (28th April)
Part 2 will explore ‘Tackling Racism & Islamophobia in Cultural Organisations‘ (19th May)
(Please note: there is a separate registration form for each session so please be sure to sign up for both Part 1 and Part 2 if you want to attend both sessions.)
Flourishing Lives and the Anti-Racist Action Group (ARAG) in Arts & Wellbeing invite you to our latest free online discussions exploring anti-racist action and inclusive practice in arts & wellbeing services. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Faiths Forum for London, who will be leading these two sessions.
Part 1: ‘Engaging with Confidence – The Arts & Faith Communities’ (28th April)
Despite growing awareness of diversity and inclusion, many arts and wellbeing organisations continue to face challenges in effectively engaging diverse minority ethnic and faith communities. Barriers often include limited cultural understanding, lack of representative leadership, inaccessible programming, and historical mistrust.
This structured, reflective, and action-oriented session will help to provide organisations with practical strategies and frameworks to address these gaps and embed equity into their artistic and operational practice.
- Increase understanding of structural and cultural barriers to engagement.
- Explore principles of culturally responsive practice and inclusive programming.
- Support organisations to build long-term, trust-based community partnerships.
- Provide practical tools for outreach, co-creation, and audience development.
The session will include:
- Context setting: Equity, representation, and power in the arts sector
- Understanding community: Mapping stakeholders and listening practices
- Building trust: Long-term relationship development vs. project-based engagement
- Co-creation and shared leadership models
- Inclusive marketing and communications strategies
Delivery Approach
Outputs and Outcomes
Participants will leave with:
- A clearer understanding of barriers and opportunities in their local context
- Practical engagement tools and frameworks
- Increased confidence in building equitable partnerships with faith communities.
Part 2: ‘Tackling Racism & Islamophobia in Cultural Organisations’ (19th May)
This will be an interactive session addressing racism and Islamophobia, and following on from the previous session.
Organisations play an important role in shaping narratives, representation, and community belonging. However, structural inequalities, unconscious bias, and Islamophobia can affect who is represented, who participates, and who feels welcome in cultural spaces.
This session will provide participants with the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools to recognise and challenge racism and Islamophobia, and to develop more inclusive practice.
This session will:
- Increase understanding of racism and Islamophobia
- Explore how bias and exclusion can appear in organisational culture, delivery and decision-making
- Develop practical skills for responding to discriminatory behaviour and language
- Support organisations to reflect on their current practice and identify areas for improvement
- Encourage concrete actions that promote inclusion and equity in spaces
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the workshop participants will be able to:
- Identify how racism and Islamophobia can manifest within organisations
- Recognise microaggressions, stereotypes, and structural barriers affecting people and audiences
- Reflect on how representation and power influence participation
- Apply practical approaches to challenge discriminatory comments or behaviour
- Identify steps their organisation can take to foster inclusive and equitable arts practice
Workshop Format
The session will be highly interactive and reflective, combining:
- Short presentation
- Small group discussions
- Action planning considerations
The format is designed to encourage open dialogue while providing participants with practical strategies they can apply in their organisations.
Delivery Approach
- The workshop will be delivered using a facilitative and participatory approach that recognises participants’ existing knowledge and experience.
- The session will create a supportive learning environment where participants can reflect on their practice, share experiences, and explore constructive solutions.
- The focus is on learning, reflection, and practical change, rather than blame or criticism.
These sessions are for any individuals or organisations that are interested in developing anti-racist action in their working practice – everyone is welcome! Join us to share ideas and advocate for inclusive practice and anti-racist action across the arts and wellbeing sector.
About Faiths Forum for London
Faiths Forum for London empowers religious communities representing nine world faiths to work together for a better London. They are a widespread network of faith communities which are devoted to working with key stakeholders to influence policy and improve the city’s places of worship. Through their work with municipal and national government bodies along with other NGOs they seek to promote open dialogue and greater faith literacy. Representing both hundreds of local faith institutions and prominent community leaders in London they bring them together to improve social relations and deliver positive change.
About The Anti-Racist Action Group in Arts & Wellbeing:
The Anti-Racist Action Group in Arts & Wellbeing is a group of representatives from arts, wellbeing and race equality charities – including Flourishing Lives, HEAR Network, Race Equality Foundation, Decolonising the Archive, and Southwark Culture Health and Wellbeing Partnership – who partner with ethnically and culturally diverse organisations, facilitators, community groups, participants and people to share their knowledge, expertise, learning and lived experience to support the wider arts and wellbeing sector to explore anti-racist action, and develop wider engagement in the arts and mental health. The aim is to facilitate conversations, deepen understanding and identify opportunities for change.
This 2-part discussion is part of an ongoing series of workshops and roundtables kindly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and The Rayne Foundation which support Flourishing Lives and the Anti-Racist Action Group to explore a range of topics, issues and anti-racist actions to help advocate for inclusive practice across the arts and wellbeing sector.
Supporting people to participate:
We recognise it can sometimes be hard to attend even free events if you’re self employed or work part time, if you are a volunteer for a project or are the only person working in a community organisation, so we are offering a limited amount of financial support to ensure everyone who wants to attend is able to. For this 2-part workshop we can offer a £50 bursary to five participants at each of the 2 sessions (10 bursaries in total across the 2 sessions). Unfortunately funds are limited so we can’t support everyone, and will be allocating on a first come first served basis once the criteria is met. When you register for the workshop you will have the option to apply for one of the bursary places. On review we will be in touch with those who have been successful in receiving the financial support.
Date:
Part 1: Tuesday 28th April 2026, 11am – 1pm BST
Part 2: Tuesday 19th May 2026, 11am – 1pm BST