By Megan Evans, News Editor
All profits and donations from FUZE Bristol’s ‘Utopia’ event have been donated to Bristol-based charities Black South West Network and Art Refuge.
FUZE Bristol, a student-run creative collective, presented their ‘theatrical fashion musical’ earlier this month in Lakota Gardens.
A diverse cast of models and performers, many of whom are students at the University of Bristol, made up just a portion of the ‘genuinely inclusive cast and crew’ that also included the event’s organisers and female and black-owned businesses in the pre-show marketplace.
This year, the recipients of the show's profits are the Black South West Network, and Art Refuge, two charities based in the Bristol area.
Black South West Network is a BAME-led organisation that delivers race equality work, with a focus on ensuring fair representation in the creative sector.
A number of the charity’s projects use the arts to bring people together, for example their Intangible Cultural Heritage Project works to develop, preserve and exhibit the cultural heritage of African Caribbean, African, and South Asian communities in Bristol.
BSWN have stated, ‘we are delighted the event was such a success and we are grateful for [FUZE] donating to us as this money will be used towards improving the building we just began to manage, to make it accessible to local black-led business, organisations and communities for cultural and business purposes!’
Art Refuge uses art therapy to support the mental well-being of people displaced due to conflict, persecution and poverty, with a team of artists and art therapists delivering therapeutic programmes.
The organization is based in Bristol but offer support across the UK and abroad.
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On their plan for using the donation, Art Refuge has stated: ‘our trustees and CEO are keen for the amount raised to be reinvested directly into delivering front line projects with displaced people and those who support them, and as you know we have minimal infrastructure so every pound counts.’
FUZE’s values of creativity, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, with the show focused on ensuring ‘that everyone in the audience could see themselves and their values on stage and throughout the organisation,’ have made the group winners of Bright Network’s national Diversity and Inclusion award.
On finding Utopia: A review of FUZE Bristol’s 2021 show
The group annually puts on the UK’s largest music, fashion and dance show, with all profits and proceeds going to charity.
Featured image: FUZE / Kayleigh Gresty Photography / Scherry Visuals
Did you attend the FUZE 'Utopia' show?
