Kamitan Arts would like to thank Vestalia Chilton (KCAW Director) for believing in our vision, to partnering with us and opening the platform for us to share with you a piece of our world, experiences and expertise as grassroots life-long artistic ambassadors for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC).
Kamitan Arts (KA) have been proud partners of the Kensington and Chelsea Art Week KCAW on the Poetry Corner front for a number of years now. KA are a Kensington and Chelsea-based performing arts and heritage non-profit that has been active in the community since the early 2000s, focusing on creative arts, heritage, and healing projects. We use the performing arts to raise awareness of humanitarian issues and cultural identity, specialising in bilingual ‘Word, Sound ‘n Power’ projects, including inter-generational rap-poetry workshops and productions by and for local artists and community members. One of our most impactful and transformative initiatives in our community emerged as an immediate response to the Grenfell fire, is the ‘Poetry 4 Grenfell’ project. The ‘P4G’ project includes a multi-lingual book, an award-winning short film. The workshops and the resulting book served as a creative outlet to amplify the voices of traumatised inter-generational local residents, the bereaved, and activists, both from Ladbroke Grove and Latimer, as well as wider empathetic communities, preserving their memories through written and oral testimonies as a lasting living legacy.
KA has worked across the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) from North to South, with a focus on Poetry, the Spoken Word, or what we like to call ‘Word, Sound ‘n Power’ for two decades, (although it’s our 6th year as a C.I.C), collaborating with many stakeholders including local Art practitioners, such as the redoubtable Junior Tomlin (part of the KCAW board), organically incorporating art and live music as well as movement into our Poetry projects. Over the years we have built many relationships with fellow local professional artists, arts and culture organisations and venues within RBKC and beyond.
KA has exhibited and recited poetry and art backed with live music at a number of venues including: ‘The Tabernacle’s Gallery’ for our ‘Poetry 4 Grenfell’ book exhibition, Octavia’s The Reed, The Mosaic Rooms, The Saatchi Gallery, the Design Museum, the National Theatre and Opera Holland Park with our ‘Poetry on the Steps’ open-air series pilot during the Summer of 2023. KA has hosted and performed Nationally and Internationally at notable venues including The Bush Theatre, Hackney Empire, The Royal Festival Hall, the Sawy Culture Nile Theatre, Egypt, The Azhar Park Theatre, Egypt, Cairo American College, Egypt, Beit El Fenoon, Sudan, The Lyric, The Chelsea Theatre, The Man in the Moon Theatre, Circo Voador, Bahia, Brazil and many Art and Cultural Galleries and spaces Globally. Last year KA had the pleasure of hosting KCAW’s ‘Poetry Circle’ at the Kensington arcade, to the backdrop of Lebanese Prof. Georges Kachaamy ‘Unconscious’ exhibit launch.
This year Kamitan Arts’ role in the Poetry Corner within KCAW is expanding, as the main local diverse Poetry-focused partner organisation that has collaborated, promoted and supported the vision of the festival for numerous years, we are committed to building and growing this partnership more coherently, whilst welcoming and celebrating our authentic and unique multi-lingual and multi-disciplinary inter-generational poets from RBKC.
KA will lead on the selection process of the Poetry open call amongst KCAW Board members and will host a series of Poetry Circles throughout the North and South of the Borough.
Keep an eye out for an intimate Poetry soft launch evening at Empress Salon on Sat 22nd June 6pm which KA is co-hosting, “Music, Poetry & Chai” on Fri 28th June at The Khalsa Jatha Gurdwara with ‘The Everyperson’ Pyramid installation by G23LAB and the return of last year’s iconic pilot of “Poetry on the Steps” at Opera Holland Park on Sat 13th July 12pm with an eclectic array of local bi-lingual poets and musicians! https://operahollandpark.com/productions/poetry-on-the-steps/
As long-standing grassroots performing arts and heritage organisation,
with a Poetry focus, that is based in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, it is only an organic progression to be chosen for this vital role which we do not take lightly. In the spirit of equity, as we continue to advocate for more value, investment and better representation of local multi-cultural and under-represented poets and artists from the forever ‘changing landscapes’ of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; the heart and home of the festival.
By KCAW 2025, KA envisages commissioning local poets to create poetry that responds to some of the successful artwork commissions within the art trail of KCAW.
Princess Emmanuelle, Founding and Artistic Director of Kamitan Arts, lifelong RBKC resident, international bilingual rap-poetess, choreographer and creative healing facilitator.
@KamitanArts @Poetry4Grenfell www.KamitanArts.com
“A great sense of pride to be among talented individuals making a change and promoting poetry and spoken word in the local community “
“I love being part of Kamitan Arts’ events and was honoured to be invited. The great mix of people, high level of contribution, opportunity to read my material and hear others. This event was particularly important as the first steps to a partnership with Holland Park Opera and a showcase to accentuate the vital importance of grassroots inclusion”
“To be part of a movement that is making changes to the community and empowering others to fulfil their dreams by paving and providing a platform “
Kamitan Arts CIC always delivers outstanding and truly inclusive community-based events in the Borough and, occasions further afield. The fully diverse culturally broad multilingual poetry opportunities both in performance and in print, bringing in both skilled and novice poets, are a prime example of Kamitan Arts CIC’s excellence. Debbie Golt FRSA, Award-winning broadcaster and arts consultant, Former RBKC Arts Officer
I would gladly recommend them, it’s good to see people from different walks of life, ethnicities and creative backgrounds come together to enhance wellbeing through art, sound and poetry; especially when representing and highlighting local RBKC talent. Junior Tomlin, Design illustrator, graphic artist , afrofuturist , mosaic designer, KCAW Board
“I feel how strong the local community of Kamitan Arts is, which is so heart-warming. Connection through art!
Mounique Foulger – Senior Associate Producer, OHP.
As the Director of Kensington + Chelsea Art Week and Art Trail, I support the work of Kamitan Arts. Their dedication to wellness, arts, creativity, and professionalism in the realm of the spoken word and the performing arts, is outstanding. It is also important to highlight that Kamitan Arts was born locally. The organisation focuses on working with local people and producing locally relevant, authentic work dealing with local issues at the very source.
Vestalia Chilton, Director, Kensington & Chelsea Art Week + Art Trail, Director, Do Good Factory.
Kamitan Arts invites you to submit a poem for Kensington and Chelsea Art Week’s Poetry Corner Open Call by 30th April to have a chance of your poem being selected to be viewed on RBKC art gallery windows throughout KCAW 2024! Also chance to recite in a Poetry Circle amongst professional artists hosted by grassroots local org. Kamitan Arts!
Submit your poem here: www.kcaw.co.uk/poetryopencall
Kamitan Arts partnering on KCAW’s Poetry Corner and hosting the Poetry Circle in 2023 at the Kensington Arcade for the opening of Prof. Georges Kachaamy’s Unconscious exhibit.