Words of Colour
The Immersive Change Agency

Immersive
Immersive
Our Approach
Immersive
Change
Our Objective
Agency
Agency
What we inspire in others and ourselves

Words of Colour, The Immersive Change Agency, creates alternative pathways and sustainable opportunities for writers, creatives, entrepreneurs and communities of colour to thrive, for unheard stories to be told and underrepresented talent to shine.

Launched in 2006, we originate, curate, produce, collaborate and lead on projects that straddle literature, creative industries, academia, research, digital entrepreneurship and creative wellbeing to generate meaningful change.

We have extensive UK-wide partnerships in these industries, from the National Centre for Social Research, Manchester Poetry Library and Contact Theatre, to the Royal Society of Literature, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Southbank Centre and Museum of Colour, among others.

Strategic Pillars

Our strategic pillars are embedded in social change and community engagement as racial and social inequalities persist despite greater global awareness.

So we aim to Catalyse thought leadership for social change and racial equity by co-building a creative knowledge economy and compassionate ecosystems to disrupt linguistic hierarchies and engage underrepresented communities and their solutions.

This is why we Develop compassionate creative interventions to engage Global Majority communities, artists and creatives failed by institutions, and self aware organisations ready to be allies in action.

As not all social change is created equal, we Amplify hidden lived experience narratives to humanise othered communities, inform research and inspire self-reflection for systemic change and sustainability.

To future-proof, we Facilitate intergenerational learning and exchange to inspire and upskill the next generation to confidently address local and global challenges.

Productions

Words of Colour has a production arm that produces films, documentaries, podcasts, photography, branding design, event management and digital engagement. A hybrid documentary on mental health and ethnic inequalities, we directed and co-produced with Synergi-Leeds, will be screened at Seven Arts on 22nd March 2023.

Awards

Among our awards is the NESTA/Observer ‘New Radicals’ Award 2018 for the Synergi Collaborative Centre, a national initiative we co-founded with Professor Kamaldeep Bhui (University of Oxford) and Professor James Nazroo (University of Manchester), the Legacy Awards 2022 (Health and Wellbeing Category) as part of Synergi-Leeds and the HSJ Mental Health Innovation Award 2023 for our creative intervention tool Creative Spaces as part of the Synergi-Leeds Partnership.

Contact us

If you’d like to find out how to potentially collaborate with or commission us, get in touch.

Our Purpose

  • To co-produce, co-curate and co-create for authentic inclusion to take root.

  • To develop British creative talent of colour – in the UK and internationally.

  • To ensure that the intersectional reality of our lives is mirrored on TV, stage, in books, research and policy.

  • To create alternative forms of media and publishing to diversify the creative, literature, publishing and arts landscape.
  • To foster narratives, opportunities and holistic spaces for people of colour to be their authentic selves, realise their potential and own their creativity.

  • To leave a positive legacy for the next generation of creatives, artists, entrepreneurs and disruptors of colour to build upon and/or transform.

Testimonials

  • The Covid Race and Ethnic Inequalities Research Programme

    Having people who understood race in the UK was critical to our work. Words of Colour worked closely and collaboratively with us on a tight schedule with a very involved piece of work, producing nine short films, branding, tailored consultancy, social media management, high impact virtual events, wide media coverage and an overall strategy for strategic and digital communications for a project with 10 university partners and 36 researchers. 

    They were always a pleasure to work with – challenging us and rising to the challenge. They were flexible and resourceful in responding to the urgency of the work and the new conditions required by the pandemic.

    Professor Bridget Byrne
    Director | Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE)

  • Synergi Collaborative Centre | Creative Spaces

    Some of our co-curated Creative Spaces events during the pandemic have included working with people with lived experience or community representatives, alongside system leaders. Joy Francis has ensured that there is an equal power dynamic within the planning team, which has made our contributors feel respected, valued and equally included in the facilitation of the well-attended virtual events.

    I also had the pleasure of working with both Joy and Adrianne McKenzie on the Synergi-Leeds documentary in 2021-2022. I found Adrianne had the right note of professionalism and personability, making the interviews and photoshoots seamless, timely and very easy. You know you have the right dynamic of people around when you feel comfortable and challenged at the same time. I can honestly say that working with both Joy and Adrianne over the past year has been a rewarding experience.

    Delvina Saunders
    Mental Health Ethnic Inequalities Lead (Adults) Leeds City Council | Public Health

  • Literature and theatre collaboration

    Theatre Peckham and Words of Colour found each other through the close alignment of our values and mission. Both organisations believe in the beauty of collaboration and a commitment to inclusive practice. We joined forces to bring the literary world and theatreland together, linking black writers with black creatives to platform an authentic voice. Our journey continues as we move between paper, theatre and film to find the hidden real life stories that can enrich all our lives.

    Suzann McLean
    CEO/Artistic Director, Theatre Peckham