Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Every two months, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum will support a local artist with a micro-commission to develop new work which can be shared digitally.
Coventry-based spoken word poet John Bernard is the first recipient of this funding and has used it to create this short, spoken word poetry film looking at the perception of people of colour and how this affects young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He said: “To be the first recipient of this funding is incredible. It is an absolute privilege to partner up with a place that has been instrumental in my growth as a creative; a place where I recorded my first piece of music. Pertaining to the piece I wanted to examine the lived experiences of people of colour in a way that was inspired by Wallace Stevens work whereby something can be viewed in multiple ways. Additionally, in most cases we tend to view people the way we are and not necessarily the way they are. I want to also acknowledge Fred Maganga (Videographer), Kudzai Zvomuya, Paneshe Malunga, Lethubuhle Mathema (instrumentalists) for bringing the piece to life.
The Herbert worked with arts organisation Maokwo - who aim to address the issues that minoritised artists and communities face – to shape this micro-commissioning project.
Every two months, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum will support a local artist with a micro-commission to develop new work which can be shared digitally.
Coventry-based spoken word poet John Bernard is the first recipient of this funding and has used it to create this short, spoken word poetry film looking at the perception of people of colour and how this affects young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He said: “To be the first recipient of this funding is incredible. It is an absolute privilege to partner up with a place that has been instrumental in my growth as a creative; a place where I recorded my first piece of music. Pertaining to the piece I wanted to examine the lived experiences of people of colour in a way that was inspired by Wallace Stevens work whereby something can be viewed in multiple ways. Additionally, in most cases we tend to view people the way we are and not necessarily the way they are. I want to also acknowledge Fred Maganga (Videographer), Kudzai Zvomuya, Paneshe Malunga, Lethubuhle Mathema (instrumentalists) for bringing the piece to life.
The Herbert worked with arts organisation Maokwo - who aim to address the issues that minoritised artists and communities face – to shape this micro-commissioning project.
