I am an acknowledged polymath, iconic local legend, general ‘bon viveur, ‘big creative head’ and woman of mystery (according to my Facebook page). As an artist with a track record of diverse cultural achievements, in the city, nationally and internationally, I am therefore well placed to comment. In addition to establishing, promoting and managing a successful arts organisation covering the East Midlands supporting Black & Minority Ethnic Artists to work within the mainstream arts cultural sector. FD2D magazine also are to be credited for clearly knowing what time it is for Leicester - as they themselves are a driver and play a big part in promoting Leicester’s grassroots creative community profiling it’s new dynamic movements.

I have extensive contacts that cut across the different groups and communities in our unique city, including the very talented but often overlooked creative people from culturally diverse communities. This all may seem to be the height of hubris on my part so far, but all of the above is true. In being able to convey accurately my own attributes, as an innovative cultural leader- so measured by my peers and commercial success. Likewise Leicester must commit fully to accurately conveying its own excellence, vibrant energy, and most importantly the diversity of its arts and cultural sector. This sector has always and will continue to be driven by ‘creative heads’ - i.e. grassroots ‘creative heads’ shaping a new creative vision for themselves and the city. So if all of this is true about Leicester - right here right now - why not push to convey this more confidently and eloquently than we ever have done before. By working together and sharing more pride and big love for the people that live and work here.

Often our gifted creative heads receive their accolades and make achievements outside of Leicester. They have been forced to go elsewhere to find succour for their creative impetus. We need to avoid this and reverse draining our creative talent to other cities. The We Are Leicester Campaign - is grass roots and creative community led, it will effectively provide a clear voice for those that matter and promote Leicester’s artistic creative heads, past present and future.

It will also address artists and creative heads who are not supported to stay in the city i.e. to ‘thrive not just survive’ as one up and coming artist recently put it to me. It will also better reflect the ‘wow’ factor of the cultural diversity within the arts creative community and the work produced in our city.

We Are Leicester Campaign will address positively the perennial bad habits people have, of always ‘doing Leicester down’ and the automatic resistance to innovative ideas generally, which is so prevalent. Creative heads have long known how to add value and lead by the strength of their creativity first rather than by financial issues alone. They are building on the wonderful ability we have in Leicester to work together to achieve spectacular shared goals. Thus creating and sharing a new identity connected to real people, their lives and achievements.

Leicester therefore is on the cusp of an exciting brave new dawn. To complement and enhance the ambitious investment in its arts cultural infrastructure, opportunities now exist to truly impress and flourish. This will be made possible, by the growing numbers of artists and other ‘creative heads’. They are leading the way forward, these bold and courageous people have always and will continue to produce work that is successful and resonates far beyond the city, the region and the country. We Are Leicester Campaign marks the time to celebrate new inclusive and cutting edge voices, to generally ‘big up’ Leicester’s exceptional creative talents, to provide more platforms for their work and promote it here in the city. The campaign will also focus on mapping the growing independent creative hubs, to help them make creative connections and productive collaborations between them.

This timely movement and the idea of a series of articles, began from a number of creative conversations between FD2D magazine and myself, discussing initially the excellence and world wide impact of local Black music artists in the Urban Legacy Exhibition (Peepul Centre). It will firstly focus on the robust and rude health of the music scene generally at the moment in Leicester. In addition there is a Government Department of Culture Media & Sport McMasters Report on Excellence - a very long overdue report on the health of the arts in diverse 21st century Britain. We Are Leicester campaign will over time look further and deeper into visual and performing arts sectors in Leicester. So remember how it started and that you saw it here first.