Dhaqan Collective is led by Fozia Ismail and Ayan Cilmi. Their practice seeks to find ways of building imaginative futures that support Somali people here and in East Africa to resist the threats over their cultural heritage. The collective uses everyday materials, cassette tapes, food, and textiles, to create spaces of community, joy and healing that centre the full range of Somali diasporic experiences.

Based in Bristol, they are residents of Watershed’s Pervasive Media Studio and Spike Island Studio holders. Their work has been commissioned and presented by Watershed, Arnolfini, Counterpoint Arts, British Library, London School of Economics, Wellcome Collection, Serpentine Gallery, Sharjah Art Foundation, Southbank Centre, Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Venice Architecture Biennial and the Weltmuseum in Vienna. In 2023 they received the WEVAA fellowship for their ongoing research into black feminist material cultures. Most recently they have been selected for Columbia University’s Digital Dozen Breakthroughs in Digital Storytelling 2024.

Please get in touch with any enquiries, we welcome new collaborations and/or conversations.