Overview

Founded in 2009, Open The Gate is one of London's most active cultural organisation specialised in promoting a positive and contemporary image of African & Diaspora Cultures through arts, music, fashion and community events; offering accessible quality programmes across the communities. The portfolio of Open The Gate’s events is rich, diverse and multicultural showcasing a variety of art forms - Music, Dance, Storytelling, Fashion, Arts & Crafts, Drumming and whenever possible all of them within the same event, in a participative way for the audience. We are experts in programming and featuring a variety of cultures & traditions with original top quality artists from Madagascar to Jamaica passing by Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Somalia, Algeria, Brazil amongst more. Open The Gate runs regular events in indoors and outdoors venues like RichMix, Passing Clouds, Old Spitalfields, The Jazz Cafe, SOAS University and Gillett Square in London. Our services have been commissioned by Festivals like Barbican's Back2Black 2012; Royal African Society's Film Africa Festival 2012, 2013 and 2014; African Street Style Festival 2014; Kaya Festival 2013. Open The Gate works regularly with Hackney Council and was Mayor of London's programme partner of "Africa on the Square" (Trafalgar Square, 2014) Over the years Open the Gate has grown from producing regular events to working as an agent for some of the best international and underground artists in the UK, passionately providing a platform for artists, musicians and creative minds. Besides Open The Gate is nurturing its creative side with Open The Gate Handmade (our ethical fashion label), OpenTheGate Sound (our very own DJ and MCs crew) We also initiated The Pen & Paper Campaign in Gambia, a charity project helping the development of Gambian educational system whilst raising tourists' awareness. OpenTheGate is a Community Interest Company (social enterprise) Awarded TrueAfrican Award "Best Promoter of Culture 2014"