October 2024: Black History Month & Community Land Festival
This October, as part of the Black History Month and the Community Land Festival (18 October to 3 November), we’re celebrating the incredible work by local artist Francia Boakye, commissioned by NEA for Where We Stand exhibition, which marks 100 years of community land ownership.
Where We Stand
Where We Stand, an exhibition organised by Community Land Scotland and The Travelling Gallery, presented work by contemporary artists which explored Scotland’s community ownership journey over the last 100 years, told the stories and achievements of the pioneers of community ownership, and asked what we should hope for in the next 100 years to come.
Among the artists featured, including Virginia Hutchison, Richard Bracken and Colin Tennant & Saskia Coulson, Kate O’Shea, and Emma Duncan, Ann Little & Helen Walsh, was Francia Boakye, commissioned by North Edinburgh Arts.
The exhibition toured across Scotland from early June until mid-August 2024, visiting North Edinburgh Arts on 15 August 2024.
About the Artist: Francia Boakye
Francia Boakye was born in London, but spent her formative years in Ghana, West Africa. At the age of eleven, she returned to London, and it is this international upbringing that has led her to experience many worlds.
Having completed undergraduate studies in Law at Liverpool John Moores University, she became passionate about fashion design and enrolled in a night course in Garment Construction at Liverpool Community College. Upon completion, Francia wanted to further explore her artistic interests. Having heard about the reputation of Heriot-Watt University, she came to Edinburgh to Study International Fashion Marketing.
In 2015, Francia started designing and creating her very own in-house band which would later be known as Frank Francia. Alongside this Francia runs thriving sewing classes in Edinburgh and beyond, and online. In 2023/24 her work was exhibited as part of Alberta Whittle’s Project at the National Galleries of Scotland.
Francia’s Work: The Cost of Freedom
As we constantly seek freedom in various capacities in our lives, we are also oblivious to how much it costs and its weight. We are all fighting the same battles but not equally, in the hope that one day we will be liberated from the shackles that have held us bound. Whether it’s freedom from addictions and oppression, cultures and traditions that entangle us, or the crippling effect of the power of poverty and lack; we can all relate.
This piece has been sensitively crafted to first acknowledge the silent pains that we face every day. The blazing sound of trauma that echoes silently within us which cannot be seen, but the effect is felt by those around us. Each basket tells a unique story, carefully constructed using natural fibres such as Jute, hemp, organic cotton, linen, and tartan. Representing the diversity of our community, the 47 languages spoken by pupils of Craigroyston Community High School neighbouring North Edinburgh Arts, have been woven into the baskets.
