CURATORSHIP

Counterspace's cultural strategy by Cristina Morales

Counterspace | 2019 – Present, International. Counterspace is the first decolonial platform mapping cultural activism worldwide. It offers collectively shaped decolonial toolkits and a global directory of cultural activism browsable by continent, praxis, and social construct. Inspired by Beuys’s social sculpture, it links countercultural experiences with radical culture shakers creatively decolonising culture, to inspire collective change. Departing from creativity as the source that any human being has, and via these unlearning and relearning toolkits, Counterspace aims to co-create new collective knowledge production pools in circulation addressed to individuals, collectives, and institutions while self-organising, exploring horizontal relationships, unlearning and relearning personal and community development, with a decolonial and hence intersectional, decentralised, and holistic approach.

Founding Curator / Producer | Researcher. Curator. Editor. Decolonial Labs Facilitator. Communication. Funding. Key achievements: Founding the first global decolonial platform mapping social practice art and cultural activism, launching and facilitating the first community-led international Decolonial Lab, and organising a global network that bridges neocolonial and hierarchical divides in a fragmented identity politics landscape. Awarded an artist fellowship at the Design Science Studio (2021-2022) to develop Counterspace as part of the Regenaissance Movement.

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Disability Arts Online | 2021- 2022, UK / International. Disability Arts Online is a UK-based non-profit with a unique global role championing ‘disability art’ from a differently-abled-led perspective rooted in the disability arts movement. The Onyx pilot project established a UK-wide, intersectional artist-led collective formed by Priya Mistry, Alexandrina Hemsley, Kuli Kohli, Ngozi Ugochukwu, Jacqui Adeniji-Williams, Ashokkumar Mistry, and Omikemi. The collective articulated its own leadership and was commissioned to create a debut publication, culminating in a launch event at Autograph ABP, London, supported by media such as Primary and gal-dem. The publication is stocked in galleries, radical bookshops, and cultural organisations across London and the UK. Onyx members also worked as freelance publication editors and artist mentors, delivering development webinars and one-to-one sessions. The collective produced and commissioned accessible artist presentations for a global audience.

Project Manager | Co-planned the project with artists and CEO. Coordinated and co-facilitated online and live collective meetings, handling communication between artists, core team, finance, marketing, and partners. Managed the completion, editing, design, and delivery of the publication within timeline and budget. Produced the launch event in collaboration with artists and DAO, ensuring schedule and budget adherence. Researched mentors and partnerships. Recruited external facilitators, editors, and mentors for artist development in liaison with the CEO. Provided artist support alongside DAO. Oversaw administration, financial monitoring, and evaluation reporting with the CEO. Key achievement: Fostering intersectional diversity in the disability arts sector by facilitating the foundation and launch of the UK’s first intersectional, artist-led collective in this niche.

Haringey Arts | 2016 – London, UK. Haringey Arts was a community interest company developing the converted living/working warehouse district of Haringey in North London. It connected local creative talent through events, workshops, and collaborations, raising the profile of the area. Between 2008 and 2018, it engaged over 70,000 people, raised over £100,000 to commission collaborations between local artists, and created 35 new projects that helped artists reach broader audiences, contributing to the recognition of the area as a creative asset. Partnerships were established with local organisations such as Bernie Grant Arts Centre, West Creative, Clear Village, and Manor House Development Trust. The ‘Village Fund’ remains available to residents at Cara House, Catwalk Place, Overbury Road, and Arena, supporting projects that benefit neighbours, the neighbourhood, and community identity.

Co-curator | Co-curated commissioned artworks for warehouse-related projects. Managed social media for Tottenham Warehouse District, including website updates and newsletters. Co-curated art programmes for Haringey primary schools with Haringey Arts artists. Key achievements: Democratising art by creating alternative circuits. Developing a creative neighbourhood platform led by artists displaced by gentrification. Fostering contexts of care and intersectional spaces for community development.

Black Cultural Archives | 2015 – London, UK. Black Cultural Archives is the first public institution collecting, preserving, and celebrating the history and culture of people of African and Afro-Caribbean descent in the UK. Still a nationally unique archive and heritage centre in Brixton, South London, it was founded in 1981 by historian and educator Len Garrison. Beyond the archive, BCA provides dedicated learning spaces alongside a programme of remarkable exhibitions and events.

Relationship & Development Assistant | Supported the relationship and development department in communication and digital marketing. Key achievement: Revealing hidden histories by working on social and political topics through art.

Peckham Platform | 2015 – London, UK. Peckham Platform is a cultural organisation that brings artistic practice and community together to co-create meaningful social art addressing the needs and concerns of those involved. Grounded in its civic mission, PP is committed to co-commissioning, collaborative co-production, and alternative pedagogies, delivering public creative placemaking that fosters civic enquiry and tangible social impact. Its artistic programme aims to be relevant and useful to both artists and communities in Peckham, South London, tackling access inequality, promoting cultural democracy, amplifying marginalised voices, and highlighting overlooked narratives. Active since 2009, PP is a key reference in the UK social art scene.

Social Art Gallery & Learning Assistant | Supported exhibitions such as Twelve by Melanie Manchot, Cuming: a Natural Selection by Janetka Platun, and Doing Nothing is Not an Option: in Memory of Nigerian Writer and Activist Ken Saro-Wiwa by Michael McMillan. Key achievement: Fostering participatory art in the disenfranchised and gentrified neighbourhood of Peckham, South London.

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Interarts | 2014 – Barcelona, Spain / International. Interarts is a private agency operating as a non-profit civil society organisation specialising in human development through culture since 1995. From its headquarters in Barcelona, it carries out international activities through an extensive network of partner organisations and professionals, with offices in Lima (Peru) and Pristina (Kosovo). Its areas of work include cultural cooperation, consultancy, knowledge transfer, applied research, networking, and advocacy.

Curator / Community Organiser | Curated Fomecc – Creative Industries Networking Platform spanning Spain, South America, and West Africa. Responsible for research, content curation, community building, and follow-up. Key achievement: Building tricontinental creative industries networks through community organising.

Ribermusica Festival |  2007-2009 – Barcelona, Spain. Ribermusica is a private foundation with a longstanding commitment to social art, using music as a tool for community cohesion. Operating in La Ribera, one of Barcelona’s historic neighbourhoods, the organisation runs a range of community-based projects—among them, the Ribermusica Festival, which brings live music into unconventional public and commercial spaces.

Cultural Producer | Managed bookings and coordinated site-specific concert venues including shops, libraries, barbershops, parks, restaurants, and hotels for the festival’s 2007, 2008 and 2009 editions. Key achievements: Democratising art by creating alternative circuits and horizontal performances. Fostering contexts of care and intersectional spaces for community development.

HostelArt | 2005-2013 – Barcelona, Spain / International. HostelArt was a groundbreaking platform that created space for arts and culture within the independent backpackers’ hostel niche—specifically within the Equity Point international chain (Barcelona, Madrid, London, New York, Marrakech, Girona, Prague). The project developed a non-profit cultural programme that connected Barcelona-based artists and audiences with hostel guests, offering free monthly events and international art residencies. Partner organisations included: Associació de Sales de Concerts de Catalunya, Tendencias TV, Urbe TV, Scanner FM, Lamono Magazine, El Periódico, Mondo Sonoro, Relevant Urban Music and Art Magazine, Backpackers Meeting Point, Two Market, Cruz Roja, Vida Urbana, Arte en Barcelona, Barcelona Turisme Creatiu, Hace Color, Kasba Music, Festival de Jazz i Música Creativa de Ciutat Vella, Hipnotik Festival, Brasilnoar Festival, Buskers Festival, Difusor, Djs Contra La Fam, Un Techo Por Chile, La Casa Amarilla, Fusic, Imagomundi Artes Plásticas, and Tap Barcelona, among others.

Founding Curator-Producer / Project Manager |  Led programming, organisation, administration, and communications for ninety-six art exhibitions, four hundred concerts, four hundred DJ sessions, four hundred film screenings, two fundraising festivals, a fashion catwalk, one hundred design markets, five live graffiti murals, five hostel decoration projects, and three international art residencies. Key achievements: Democratising art by creating alternative circuits and offering a platform for Barcelona’s multidisciplinary underground arts scene. Fostering contexts of care and intersectional spaces for community development. Inspiring other independent hostels to bring arts and culture to their spaces worldwide.


Featured header image: Fluxus Manifesto by George Maciunas, 1963.