Step In The Room: Inside 198CAL with Arts Emergency

Join us for an evening at 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, designed for young people aged 16–25 from underrepresented global majority backgrounds who are interested in the arts, culture, and creative careers.

This relaxed, informal event is a chance to:

• Take part in a curators’ tour of Witnesses, a new exhibition exploring the politics of the gaze, representation, and presence, led by curator and Artistic Director Nimco Kulmiye Hussein
• Explore 198’s building and archive, learning more about the space’s history in Brixton and its long-standing role in supporting radical and community-rooted art
• Meet peers, chat, and take a break with refreshments provided
• Get practical insight into creative education pathways in a short talk led by Kareen Williams, Head of Arts Education at 198

Date: Thursday 28 August 2025

Time: 6–9pm (curator tour and archive from 6:30–8pm, followed by break and education talk)

Location: 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, 198 Railton Road, London SE24 0JT

Capacity: Limited to 25 participants, aged 16-25

Cost: Free (booking required)

This is an opportunity to connect with artists and curators, gain insight into working in the arts, and explore how spaces like 198 support new voices and ideas. Open to all levels of experience — whether you’re just getting curious or already on a creative path.

About the Exhibition

Witnesses is a two-person show featuring artists Amida Deen and Ihsan Saad Ihsan Tahir, curated by Nimco Kulmiye Hussein. Through painting and installation, the exhibition questions how we see and how we are seen — offering space for reflection, resistance and reimagining.

About Arts Emergency

Arts Emergency helps young people flourish in higher education and the cultural industries. Their programmes connect under-resourced young people with cultural professionals, creating opportunities for support, experience, and confidence that challenge exclusive ‘who-you-know’ networks.