"The Gathering," an artists forum created by Michael Armitage, Nicola Armitage and Mukami Kuria, offers African artists (local and diaspora) a chance to interact with each other outside of an institutional context. The space offers practicing artists a platform to engage with each other across generations and across borders. The Gathering is a space that will allow artists to reflect on their work and practice in relation to their communities and to other communities of artists across the continent. Spread across three days, The Gathering seeks to inspire intellectual rigour and collectivity amongst African artists. The program will involve readings, performances, film screenings and discussions. The 1st edition of The Gathering is scheduled to take place in February 2017, after which it will be an annual event. As we enter a critical stage of planning The Gathering, we seek input from Kenyan artists to ensure that we interact with the already existent and vibrant art community. As the Gathering is an artist-oriented platform we want to find out what issues are of concern to Kenyan artists practicing today. For the Gathering to be fully beneficial to the artists, we would like to set an agenda that’s relevant to us. Come learn more about The Gathering and how you can take part! _____________________ About the Hosts Michael Armitage is a Kenyan-born artist practicing in London, represented by the White Cube. He received his BA in Fine Art from the Slade School of Fine Art (2003 – 07) and has a Postgraduate Diploma from the Royal Academy Schools (2007 – 10). Recent exhibitions include “Imitation of Life: Melodrama and Race in the 21st Century”, HOME, Manchester, “Some Are Nights Other Stars”, Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne and “Inside the White Cube: Michael Armitage”, White Cube Bermondsey, London (2015). Mukami Kuria is a recent graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her experience in the art world ranges from Addis Fine Art and Tiwani Contemporary in London, and most recently as a member of the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair Team in 2014 and 2015 where she worked as an art writer. She is also a freelance editor, most recently working for the Contact Zones NRB series.