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2Funky Arts to research cultural impact of black music record stores
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 5 July 2023
Leicester-based 2Funky Arts has secured lottery funding for a research project that will explore the cultural impact of UK independent record stores, past and present, that specialise in black music. The aim is to use the research to produce educational resources as well as a website, publications and a podcast.
The 2Funky Arts organisation – a social enterprise that is, and I quote, “dedicated to advancing and celebrating arts and music of black origin” – grew out of a record shop itself. Founder Vijay Mistry ran 2Funky Records in Leicester from 1997 to 2012, setting up 2Funky Arts in 2007.
On the new research initiative – called The Record Store Project – 2Funky Arts explains: “For the Windrush generation and black diaspora, the early independent UK record store was a music-fuelled vehicle for resistance against systemic racism. Such sites became fertile ground for new music and cultural ecosystems that shaped society’s relationship with black music”.
“The Record Store Project”, it adds, “is seeking personal stories that illuminate black, African and Caribbean experiences. Oral histories, film and audio and photographic memories will be compiled to create an educational resource, a publication, website and podcast series”.
2Funky Arts is working with the Sound/Image Research Centre at the University Of Greenwich and Manchester-based talent development organisation Brighter Sound on the project.
Mistry says: “2Funky Arts has been planning The Record Store Project for around four years, in conjunction with DJ Simon ‘Schooly’ Phillips, who will work on our heritage documentary. We are THRILLED to have received funding for such a culturally significant project”.
“Thanks to National Lottery players”, he adds, “we will be able to research this fascinating history and will be working with volunteers and practitioners from across the country to present oral histories in inspiring formats”.
Anyone wanting to get involved with or contribute to the project can sign up here.
