Africa Nile - The Curator
Behind Affy Nomad the Artist is Africa Nile the Curator. With over 20 years of experience in the creative industries and a rich history working with leading arts charities, I am a dynamic cultural producer, outreach strategist, and project manager dedicated to creating inclusive, socially impactful programmes. My work spans across audience development, safeguarding, mentorship, and event production — all driven by a deep commitment to empowering underrepresented communities.
Mission Statement
I began my journey as a child performer — starring as Young Simba in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre and touring nationally with Young Voices alongside artists like Lemar and Joss Stone. As an actor, I built an extensive portfolio that included voiceover work, roles in British television shows, theatre performances on iconic stages and international film credits.
My foundation in performance and music production underpins my creative thinking today. I hold a BSc in Music Technology and continue to support emerging talent through Block Legacy, a platform I founded to inspire future leaders through arts and culture.
As someone whose most powerful life lessons were shaped through the arts, I’m passionate about creating new pathways for future leaders that empower the next generation of leaders. My passion lies in connecting people, ideas, and organisations to build meaningful, long-lasting impact — and I’m always looking to collaborate with those who want to be the difference.
CREDITS
Lewisham Community Space - Lead Coordinator
- Programme & Space Coordination – Supported the planning, coordination, and delivery of diverse hub services and events across indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Strategic Relationship Building – Cultivated strong partnerships with community leaders, local organisations, and businesses to expand reach and create new opportunities.
- Targeted Community Outreach – Designed and implemented outreach strategies to engage underrepresented and diverse communities across the borough.
- Communications & Promotion – Managed digital and print communications (social media, newsletters, etc.) to maximise visibility of services and programmes.
- Volunteer Leadership – Recruited, trained, and managed volunteers to enhance community participation and ensure effective event delivery.
- Monitoring & Evaluation – Captured and analysed engagement data to assess impact, inform strategy, and present insights to senior management.
- Event Management – Planned and executed inclusive community events including forums, festivals, workshops, and awareness campaigns.
Fairbeats Music - Project Coordinator
- Delivered inclusive music and cohesion programmes for children and families from asylum seeker, refugee, and local communities across South London.
- Coordinated weekly music and wellbeing sessions for SEN, refugee, and asylum seeker children in partnership with Katherine Low Settlement (Clapham) and AFRIL (Lewisham).
- Fostered long-term relationships with participants, families, and local residents, creating safe and nurturing creative spaces.
- Recruited, trained, and supported volunteers and music leaders, facilitating regular debrief sessions and reflective practice.
- Managed and strengthened partnerships with community organisations, stakeholders, and local networks to support project delivery and sustainability.
- Ensured culturally sensitive safeguarding and inclusive practices were embedded across all programmes.
Rugby Portobello Trust - Music Coordinator
- Designed and led the evening music programme for young people aged 15–21, supporting creative development, confidence, and life skills through music.
- Delivered tailored 1:1 mentoring sessions, providing pastoral support and creative guidance to young people, including those from PRUs, SEN backgrounds, and children in care.
- Facilitated group music studio sessions, teaching songwriting, music production, recording, and live performance skills.
- Curated the Amplify music project — a youth-led initiative providing a platform for emerging talent, creative collaboration, and industry engagement.
- Created and implemented a dynamic curriculum blending technical music skills with emotional literacy and personal development.
- Maintained high safeguarding standards and trauma-informed practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all participants.
- Built partnerships with external facilitators and arts organisations to expand opportunities and pathways into the creative industries.
Royal College of Art - Outreach & Events Coordinator
- Led the design and delivery of the institution’s Access and Participation Plan, aligning with national widening participation targets and institutional equity goals.
- Developed and managed a thriving Outreach Student Ambassador Programme to foster peer-led engagement and increase representation in higher education.
- Produced and facilitated architecture workshops for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 5 students, delivered in schools and colleges across London to promote early engagement in creative disciplines.
- Spearheaded the development and execution of a comprehensive outreach strategy to strengthen relationships with underrepresented communities and local stakeholders.
- Recruited for and coordinated RCA workshops and exhibitions as part of the Great Exhibition Road Festival, increasing visibility and public engagement with RCA’s work.
- Cultivated and sustained high-level partnerships with external organisations, schools, and community networks to support access and participation initiatives.
- Led on the development of audience segmentation, targeting, and outreach planning for RCA Show 2024, enhancing audience diversity and engagement.
- Acted as the lead Outreach representative for RCA at major public events, including London Fashion Festival, Wandsworth Arts Fringe, Terra Carter, and the Great Exhibition Road Festival.
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival - Outreach & Audience Development Lead
- Designed and led audience development and outreach initiatives across Thamesmead, Abbey Wood, and Deptford, focusing on inclusion, cultural equity, and community empowerment.
- Built and maintained strategic partnerships with local councils, governing bodies, youth centres, churches, resident groups, and community organisations to expand engagement.
- Developed and implemented a targeted promotional strategy to increase awareness and participation among underrepresented communities.
- Curated and produced a wide range of accessible creative workshops, ensuring cultural relevance and inclusivity for diverse local audiences.
- Recruited, trained, and managed a team of 15 volunteers and 4 Youth Ambassadors, empowering local voices and fostering leadership within the community.
- Acted as primary liaison for external facilitators and freelancers, ensuring high-quality delivery aligned with GDIF values and project goals.
- Monitored and evaluated workshop outcomes, using data insights and feedback to continuously refine outreach strategy and meet project KPIs.
- Developed innovative insight-gathering tools to engage marginalised voices and inform long-term strategies around health and social justice.
- Delivered impactful programmes designed to reduce inequality and elevate those most affected by health, economic, and social disparities.
World Heartbeat Music Academy - Mentoring Programme Coodinator
- Designed, launched, and led the Mentoring Programme from the ground up, supporting young people’s personal and professional development through targeted, high-quality mentoring.
- Sourced and secured bespoke external opportunities for young people, including creative placements, industry exposure, and professional development pathways.
- Built a network of industry professionals and secured volunteer commitments for mentoring hours, expanding access to role models and sector expertise.
- Authored the Mentor/Mentee Handbook and developed comprehensive training materials rooted in the organisation’s Theory of Change and Mentoring Quality Framework.
- Drafted contracts for external mentors and freelance contributors, ensuring clarity and compliance with safeguarding and organisational standards.
- Delivered tailored 1:1 mentoring sessions with peer mentors, offering reflective support and leadership coaching.
- Designed and facilitated mentoring workshops, equipping mentors with tools and strategies to provide impactful, youth-centred support.
- Led monitoring and evaluation of the full mentoring programme, capturing outcomes and adapting delivery based on feedback and impact metrics.
- Represented World Heart Beat at external peer learning networks, forums, and strategic partnership meetings.
- Developed and executed an outreach and engagement plan to grow participation, particularly among underrepresented and marginalised communities.
- Built and sustained collaborative partnerships with community groups, education providers, and local stakeholders to enhance programme reach and sustainability.
Blueprint For All - Senior Project Manager
- Led the coordination and delivery of multiple national career development programmes across London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Newcastle, empowering young people aged 9–25 from underrepresented and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Designed and facilitated high-impact creative workshops under the Pathways to Professions programme, supporting youth engagement and employability within the creative industries.
- Successfully managed relationships with a diverse range of external partners, facilitators, and freelancers to ensure high-quality, inclusive delivery across all programme sites.
- Oversaw logistical planning, administration, and financial management of multiple funded programmes, including budget tracking, invoicing, and reporting.
- Led on the monitoring of project KPIs and outcomes, ensuring programmes met funder requirements, strategic goals, and meaningful youth engagement benchmarks.
- Recruited, line managed, and supported the development of two junior team members, providing mentorship and fostering a collaborative team culture.
- Directed recruitment campaigns for three new staff roles, including application review, interview planning, and onboarding.
- Coordinated youth-led events and showcases, offering platforms for participants to perform, present, and celebrate their creative work.
- Championed inclusive programme design and delivery, ensuring access and representation remained at the core of Blueprint for All’s youth engagement strategy.
Wac Arts - Lead Facilitator
- Designed, launched, and led the SoundLab project—an after-school music and artist development programme for young people aged 16–22 from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Scaled the programme into a funded summer initiative backed by Camden Council, delivering multiple six-week projects to cohorts of 25 students with consistent youth engagement and measurable outcomes.
- Facilitated and curated weekly artist development sessions focused on music production, performance, songwriting, and creative expression.
- Recruited, contracted, and managed freelance creative facilitators, ensuring high-quality, youth-focused delivery aligned with safeguarding and access standards.
- Oversaw all administrative duties including Mailchimp campaigns, phone and email communications, data entry, and workshop documentation.
- Developed personalised learning agendas and tracked individual creative and professional development for participants.
- Led targeted outreach and recruitment drives to engage hard-to-reach youth, ensuring accessibility and relevance of all projects.
- Built partnerships with local arts organisations to expand opportunities and offer participants free access to external activities and cultural experiences.
- Acted as lead safeguarding officer on-site, maintaining a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all young people involved.
Battersea Arts Centre - Assistant Facilitator
- Supported the planning, delivery, and evaluation of weekly Agency sessions for up to 20 young people (aged 15–25) from marginalised and underrepresented backgrounds.
- Worked closely with participants to develop, refine, and present their entrepreneurial or community-focused project ideas to a panel of funders and investors.
- Delivered 1:1 mentoring and creative coaching to help young people build confidence, structure ideas, and prepare for professional presentations.
- Facilitated icebreakers, energisers, and participatory activities that built trust, group cohesion, and a sense of ownership among participants.
- Assisted in the coordination and facilitation of youth-led projects, contributing to session planning and adaptive delivery.
- Led on youth outreach and recruitment initiatives, successfully engaging new participants from diverse communities.
- Captured evaluation data and insights through detailed meeting minutes, reflective feedback, and post-session reviews to support impact reporting.
- Contributed to a programme that prioritised youth voice, self-determination, and social impact, providing young people with the tools to lead change in their communities.
Roundhouse Trust - Youth Engagement Officer
- Elected Chair of the Roundhouse Youth Advisory Board, representing the voices of young creatives and influencing organisational strategy at one of the UK’s leading creative institutions.
- Led strategic planning and consultation sessions with internal departments to enhance the experience, wellbeing, and access for young people across the Roundhouse’s programmes.
- Coordinated and facilitated outreach initiatives at community festivals, peer-led groups, and public Q&As to strengthen youth participation and visibility.
- Acted as a key liaison between young people and senior staff, presenting ideas, insights, and recommendations to shape inclusive programming and policy.
- Maintained and built relationships with external partners to expand collaboration opportunities and champion youth-led creativity.
- Spearheaded recruitment drives for NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) engagement projects, increasing access and impact among underrepresented groups.
- Delivered talks, panel discussions, and public speaking engagements, advocating for the power of youth voice within the arts and creative industries.