In line with Jali Film Weekender’s mission of fostering community and representation, this lunchtime talk brings together creative practitioners, programmers, and community organisers to share how they're ensuring their communities are at the heart of their cultural programming, and to discuss: how can Black, African and diaspora communities feel truly seen and included in Scotland’s cultural landscape?
From grassroots organisations to creative networks, speakers will share the work they are doing in their respective fields, exploring the challenges, opportunities and best practices in building truly inclusive audiences. Community-centered outreach, intentional partnerships, democratic decision making and co-programming, these are some of the approaches that are transforming how Black, African and diaspora communities are engaging in Scotland’s cultural landscape.
Host:
Ria Andrews (Jali Film Weekender)
Speakers:
Halina Rifai (We Are Here Scotland)
Rhea Lewis (Project X)
Emanuel Carlos (freelance dancer, choreographer and cultural leader)
Lisa Williams (Edinburgh Caribbean Association)
Supported by Screen Scotland and Film Hub Scotland (part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, awarding funding on behalf of Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery).
Halina Rifai
Halina Rifai is Communications Manager for We Are Here Scotland, where she also co-leads the Creative Balance research project exploring mental health and wellbeing for Black and People of Colour in Scotland's creative industries, and co-curates AMPLIFI, an award-winning music series creating pathways for emerging talent. As a podcast & audio producer specialising in mental health, social justice and investigative storytelling, including "Sheku Bayoh: The Inquiry" and "Who Owns the Clyde?", she is passtionate about audio that amplifies underrepresented voices and examines systemic inequalities.
Rhea Lewis
Rhea is a creative producer working interdisciplinary across dance, theatre & performance. She collaborates with artists & with communities to create ambitious productions and space(s) for often marginalised voices to be amplified in their own terms. Rhea works in consultation & advocacy, contributing to decolonial & intersectional feminist change in the arts in Scotland. Rhea is Co-Founding Co-Director at Project X Dance CIC.
Emanuel Carlos
Emanuel Carlos is a multidisciplinary creative, compliance professional, and community leader dedicated to driving social impact through culture, mentorship, and innovation. Originally from Angola and based in the UK, he co-founded Associação Pangue D’Ami (Jipangue) in Lisbon, a non-profit that empowers youth and migrant communities through arts, education, and inclusion projects such as the SDM Festival and mentoring programs. Alongside his role in financial compliance, Emanuel works as a dancer, choreographer, and coach, collaborating with schools, festivals, and cultural organizations. His mission is to inspire personal growth, create opportunities, and build bridges between diverse communities across borders.
Lisa Williams
Lisa Williams is the founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association and curates education programmes, arts events and walking tours to promote awareness of Black Scottish history and links between Scotland and the Caribbean. Lisa is an Honorary Fellow in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh and is a guest lecturer at universities across Scotland. She has done extensive work in schools on anti-racist pedagogy and history and works as a consultant to heritage and cultural organisations. Lisa was a finalist for the 2024 Leadership Award from Creative Edinburgh and the winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Scottish Women's Awards in 2025.
Ria Andrews (Host)
Ria Andrews (she/her) is an artist and DJ whose practice moves fluidly between individual artistry and collective, community work. Her work explores identity, heritage, and representation, often centering joy as a radical act and drawing from anti-racist and intersectional values. Her recent collaborative artistic projects include H.A.I.R., developed with Edinburgh Festival Carnival, exploring Black hair stories and leading into her current role coordinating their Children and Young People’s programmes. She was commissioned by Edinburgh Art Festival for EAF ’25 to co-create an experimental short film, "My Blood Runs Purple", imagining more inclusive healthcare futures. Ria has also co-facilitated access into DJ workshops for young people often underrepresented in the industry, with Radio Buena Vida and has a monthly radio residency on community radio station ehfm, where she spotlights Afro-Caribbean and Black diasporic genres in her mixes.