Community
Who We Are
Dhaqan Collective, led by artists Fozia Ismail and Ayan Cilmi, is a Somali-led, arts-based practice that uses immersive storytelling, cultural memory, and everyday materials, cassette tapes, food, and textiles, to create spaces of community, joy, and healing. Our work centres the full spectrum of Somali diasporic experiences, resisting threats to cultural heritage while building imaginative futures for Somali communities in the UK and East Africa.
Dhaqan Community is the community arm of Dhaqan Collective, born from the Collective’s work. We empower Somali and other marginalised communities through workshops and educational programs, fostering intergenerational connections and preserving cultural traditions.
Both the Collective and the Community are rooted in Somali nomadic philosophies, using art to create beautiful, transformative moments of gathering.
Our Practice
Through interactive workshops, soundscapes, installations, and gatherings, we explore themes of belonging, resistance, and diasporic identity. Our projects invite public engagement while nurturing spaces for reflection, dialogue, and collective healing, particularly vital for racialised communities facing systemic inequities.
Our Reach
Based in Bristol, we are residents of Watershed’s Pervasive Media Studio and Spike Island Studio holders. Our work has been commissioned by leading institutions worldwide, including the Serpentine Gallery, Wellcome Collection, British Library, Sharjah Art Foundation, and the Venice Architecture Biennale. In 2023, we received the WEVAA Fellowship for research into Black feminist material cultures and were recently selected for Columbia University’s Digital Dozen: Breakthroughs in Digital Storytelling 2024.
Board Members
Dr. Furaha Asani (she/her) is a public scholar, writer, and mental health advocate whose interdisciplinary, anti-racist work bridges global health equity, immigration justice, and ethical research while amplifying marginalized knowledge through writing (The Guardian, Nature, Forbes), workshops, and speaking engagements (Wellcome, UCU, NUS).
Hilary O’Shaughnessy is a Creative Director and Strategic Programmes Lead specialising in culture and cities, known for driving award-winning, large-scale initiatives like UNBOXED and the Playable City Programme, which engage millions globally through innovative cross-sector collaborations and public art.
Will Hunter is a Bristol-based Research Associate and creative producer exploring university-creative industry relationships through post-structuralist theory, challenging bureaucratic norms in ethics and contracting while drawing on a decade of experience in socially engaged art production that bridges academia, artists, and marginalised communities.
Yumna Kamel (she/her) is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Refuge, the first legal think tank focused on climate displacement. A lawyer, advocate, and educator, she bridges gaps in access to justice from crafting community-centered legal guides to her work with Right to Remain. Her expertise in migration, climate justice, and grassroots empowerment aligns perfectly with Dhaqan’s mission.