About Us! Artists' Scratch Showcase

Audiences are invited to give feedback and ask questions in a safe, communal space to help lift up artists. The performances are interwoven with poetry and hosted by curator and lead scratch artist Awate.

All artists chosen for this Scratch Showcase are women or non-binary people, and two special guest artists perform as part of our futuretense gig series supporting emerging artists.

This event is open to all audiences wanting to experience work in its initial stages of development, and applications to present work were open to artists aged over 18 from a global majority background (or tackling the subjects of diaspora and migration), whether you’re a writer, musician, dancer, filmmaker, designer or anything in between.

Artists presenting works-in-progress are Chakira Alin, Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, Oishi Dutta, Shivani Sen, Torera Sotinwa and Natsuko Yonezawa.

In the past we have had films inspired by Greek mythology, stylists presenting their original textile designs, stand up comedy, powerful rap music, innovative piano performances and short plays reflecting on the trans experience.

After presenting at our Scratch event, artists have gone on to embark on their first UK music tours, had their short films presented at the BFI London Film Festival, secured options from high-profile TV production companies, started their own regular comedy nights and found lasting connections with other artists in the audience or presenting alongside them.

This Scratch Showcase is a collaboration between Awate, Counterpoints Arts and the Southbank Centre.