an experiment.
an interdisciplinary arts residency and research programme, investigating new ways of collaborating virtually and engaging audiences across geographical boundaries.
bold. experimental. creative.
In a zoomed-out world we explore what enables us to connect, collaborate and catalyse new artistic practice virtually - and how to navigate and transform power dynamics inherent in global funding and market logics.
Join us on Instagram and Facebook to follow our continued research and our 2023 edition led by a stellar artistic directors trio formed by interdisciplinary artist and performer Kat Kai Kol-Kes, visual artist and writer Pamela Enyonu and choreographer, facilitator and dancer Diya Naidu.
online. offline. a hybrid.
what is possible?
The global pandemic rendered a physical EAST residency on a train impossible. As such, we are exploring how to create trust, connection and catalyse interdisciplinary collaborations virtually.
13 artists. 13 disciplines. 13 places. Lost + Found will combine online with offline experiences in a gamified approach, using accessible low-tech hacks, engaging audiences in ways that go beyond streamed concerts and online galleries.
lost. found. both.
exploring loss and regeneration in a new world.
In times of rapid global change, where the arts and cultural sector, as well as the well-being of millions of people, have suffered significantly, we want to count our losses, transform them, and look for opportunities within the chaos.
with. not about.
research perspectives
Often decisions about arts practice and cultural programmes are made without deeply considering the perspectives of artists; creatives’ role in generating new knowledge is undervalued. We will work in collaboration with academics to surface insights and recommendations for anyone interested in exploring new ways of supporting arts and culture work globally.
Lost + Found is working with 13 artists from 10 countries working in different creative disciplines.
meet the artists.
committed. visionary. tenacious.
cutting-edge, contemporary, risk-taking and interdisciplinary:
you don't need eyes to see - you need vision.
click on the images for details about our work.
delasi (he/him)
songwriting. singing. production.
ghana
Ghanaian singer/songwriter and producer, Delasi’s many talents manifest in his prophetic and conscious artistry ranging from invigorating performances, youth development workshops, community activism, and, most importantly, his music. #ThoughtJourney, his debut album is a fusion of traditional Ewe music, soul, and hip-hop.
maimouna (she/her)
film. stories. performance
gambia/spain
Maïmouna Jallow is the director of arts and media company Positively African. She is a storyteller, editor, playwright and director, and has written and produced a range of shows, including an award-winning adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, which she toured internationally. In 2021 she released her debut film, Tales of the Accidental City, an experimental feature-length in which all the action takes place on Zoom.
chief (he/him)
comics. animation.
kenya
Chief Nyamweya is an author, visual artist and co-founder of Freehand Studios, an African visual arts and social impact studio. His work fuses storytelling, illustration and animation to explore history, ecology, technology and education.
checkmate mido (he/him)
beats. poetry. music.
kenya
Checkmate Mido is a genre-defying musician, rapper, poet and beatboxer from Nairobi, Kenya. He has performed in many countries and wowed audiences across East Africa with his unique mix of English and sheng lyrics, deft story-telling, beatboxing and carefully crafted live instrumentation.
nabaggala . l. maximillian (she/her)
choreography. dance. creative arts.
uganda
Nabaggala Lilian Maximillian is a creative and dance practitioner based in Kampala, Uganda. Her traditional and urban dance background has led to the growth of her career as performer, choreographer, and teacher, leading to the creation of a fusion style of movement that can be seen in her work and classes.
pamela enyonu (she/her)
visual arts.
uganda
Pamela Aobo Enyonu is a Kampala-based Ugandan visual artist, writer and recovering advertising professional. Artist and feminist, she focuses on black African [female] experience, using her personal experiences as a Ugandan woman as a point of departure.
diya naidu (she/her)
movement. performance. choreography.
india
Diya Naidu is a choreographer, dancer, performer, facilitator, arts & culture organiser. She is the director of ‘Citizens of Stage Co. Lab.’ As a choreographer her work has traversed into the area of gender and feminism - violence against women, the role caste and class in play in the lack of safety for women, and the somatic implications of patriarchal penetration. She explores intimacy and touch through her work and finds profound correlations between our deepest needs and desires and the challenges we face socially and politically.
kat kai kol-kes (she/her)
interdisciplinary art. cultural architecture.
botswana
Katlego K Kolanyane-Kesupile is a published author, international award-winning performer, and TED Fellow, always in pursuit of ways to remain radically tender. The unabashedly Queer-identifying sociologist, educator, researcher, and development practitioner from Botswana uses solution-driven thinking, communications methodologies, and art to bridge gaps caused by systemic oppression.
zuhura the african lioness (she/her)
poetry. music.
tanzania
Zuhura Seng’enge (The African Lioness) is an international poet, writer, educator, and singer/songwriter from Tanzania, with a decade worth experience in performance poetry, spoken word and storytelling.
Most of Zuhura's works revolve around the themes of identity, feminism, social justice and social activism. She co-founded a poetry platform in 2016 called Poetry255, which has managed to support and nurture many poets and performing artists over the years.
gigi (she/her)
art. experience design.
germany/alaska
Gigi is co-founder at EAST. In her artwork she interrogates the poetic life through various mediums. She is currently working on a film and installation series exploring our relationship to aging, death, beauty, and the power of presence.
In her work with EAST she is considering, exploring and re-contextualizing entangled histories and potential futures, while anchoring our embodied experience firmly in the power of presence.
valerie asiimwe amani (she/her)
art. writing.
tanzania/uk
Valerie Asiimwe Amani, is a Tanzanian artist. Her multi-disciplinary approach incorporates textile, poetry, moving image and digital collage; experimenting with notions of memory, hybrid spirituality and the body. She is also a writer and curator.
ibiye camp (she/her)
art.
nigeria/uk
Ibiye is a multidisciplinary artist. Her work engages with technology and materials within the African Diaspora. She utilises architectural tools to create 3D models, sound, video, and AR to highlight the biases and conflicts within technology.
kevin karanja (he/him)
digital art.
kenya
Kevin Karanja is a digital artist from Nairobi, Kenya. Using abstract technical and visual techniques, he visualises characters and worlds inspired by our lost folklore.
meet the team.
lost + found is powered by a team of creatives based in 5 different countries
flexible. diverse. ambitious
Originally, we wanted to get on the train again.
We had to let that plan go this year, but a new idea emerged from the challenges we all lived through in 2020: the lost + found residency evolved over time thanks to the ingenuity, passion and curiosity of the people below.
maimouna jallow (she/her)
co-founder Positively African. artistic director lost + found
gambia/spain
As artistic director Maimouna guides the lost + found collective through a highly ambitious and emergent creative journey, while also participating as an artist herself. She has co-created the lost + found concept and experience design, and was an integral part of shaping the pivot EAST had to take due to the pandemic. She was also part of the EAST 2017 collective leading workshops as an artivator.
gigi hepp (she/her)
co-founder EAST. global community director Amani Institute. concept. experience design.
germany/alaska
As co-founder and creative director at EAST, Gigi creates catalytic experiences for and with artists and culture-makers that lead to deep trust, collaboration, artistic growth, and critical dialogue across boundaries. She co-created the lost + found concept and leads partnerships for the residency as well as the experience design.
Gigi is also the Global Community Director and part of the founding team at Amani Institute, training professionals who create social impact.
tana kioko (she/her)
actress. film student. communications.
kenya
Tana Kioko is a multi-disciplinary artist and currently a Film and Directing student. She was one of the lead actors in ‘Tales of the Accidental City, an experimental film about Nairobi, her home city. She is also an experienced project manager, executing both live and online projects and events and is joining us as a social media wizard and communicator. She has also led media projects and is a strong believer in the power of art for self and societal transformation. She leads communications for lost+found.
poppy spowage (she/her)
co-founder EAST, creative producer, researcher
uk/uganda
Dr Poppy Spowage is a creative producer and researcher with over 12 years’ experience producing contemporary art, performance and practice-based research projects. She is passionate about the relationship between public policy, practice and research, that addresses issues of social injustice. As co-founder and creative producer at EAST, for lost + lound she is leading partnerships, production as well as the research component. Poppy co-created the lost + found concept.
natália nunes aguiar (she/her)
research assistant People's Palace Projects, phd candidate
brazil
People’s Palace Projects conducts top research in the areas of arts, mental health, and creative economy.
Natália holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, where she is also a PhD candidate. She is also a science communicator for the Dragões de Garagem podcast. Her research focus is on social justice themes and on promoting marginal voices. Natália strongly believes in practising science based on a dialogue-approach.She joins lost+found as analysis lead and supports the research process.
jinku solomon (he/him)
co-founder East African Wave, graphic designer, music producer,
kenya
Jinku is the co-founder of the East African Wave collective, a graphic designer and music producer. He was part of the EAST 2016 and 2017 collectives and has played a pivotal role from its inception. He takes care of all our graphic needs, developed the aesthetic for lost + found and contributed to creating the concept.
ali musoke (he/him)
founder of Film Possible, director & creative producer of Stone Age Pictures, C.E.O of Awalitv.com
uganda
Ali Musoke is a film producer, cinematographer and director, working in both fiction, documentary filmmaking and branded content production.
He has written and directed three short films, produced over 10 short films as well as numerous feature films which have won numerous awards and selected for several festivals around the world. Ali is also a Filmmaking Mentor committed to growing the next generation of talented African Filmmakers.
deen atger (they/them)
curator. producer. representing Ugly Duck.
uk
Deen is a trans non-binary curator and producer based in London. Their work focuses primarily on contemporary and new media art.
Deen works for the art organisation Ugly Duck where they develop artistic programs showcasing and nurturing emerging artists. They contributed to creating the digital concept and the communications strategy, as well as the production for the final hybrid performance.meet our partners
lost + found 2021 is a creative collaboration between the EAST collective, Freehand Movement, Positively African and Ugly Duck.
The residency is hosted in collaboration with our funding partners African Culture Fund, Goethe Institute Tansania and Goethe Zentrum Kampala and individual patrons.
african culture fund
The Fund aims to contribute to the writing and creation of new narratives of positive social change in Africa through innovative projects that it funds.
@africanculturefund (Instagram)
goethe institut tansania
The Goethe-Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institute, active worldwide. They promote the study of German abroad and encourage international cultural exchange.
@goethetanzania (Instagram)
goethe zentrum kampala
The Goethe-Zentrum Kampala is a cooperation partner of the Goethe-Institute. Their core mission is to promote German-Ugandan relationships and build a platform for intercultural dialogue in Kampala and with other African countries.
@gz_kampala (Instagram)
positively african
Positively African is an arts and media company. They create content and curate events that celebrate African stories and heritage. Using different mediums, from audio stories to theatre productions, they work with artists from across the continent on a range of projects with long-lasting social impact in the literary and performance space.
@positivelyafrican (Instagram)
ugly duck
Operating since 2012, Ugly Duck is a London based arts organisation that supports under-represented voices and emerging artists. Their programme enables makers, community groups, professionals and the public to come together around unique cultural experiences and curated events.
@weareuglyduck (Instagram)
nafasi arts space
Nafasi Art Space is a vibrant art centre and platform for artistic exchange in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where contemporary visual artists and performing artists come together to create, learn, inspire, exhibit and perform.
@nafasiartspace (Instagram)
freehand movement
Freehand Movement is an African digital arts and social impact studio that creates compelling, inclusive and culturally relevant content in the form of illustration, graphic novels, animation and impact production services.
@freehandstudioske (Instagram)
