| Description | The series has been divided into four sections:
/1 Performance: Dance, Theatre and Music.
/2 Visual Arts.
/3 Literature, Orature and Comedy.
/4 Cross-art Forms)
This arrangement reflects the collection of material brought together by Vanley Burke. Much of the material is promotional material such as flyers, posters, newsletters and publications about art made or performed by black and Asian and other artists in Birmingham and Britain, but the scope of the material is not limited to this.
The material has been collected by Vanley Burke due to his (and Bina Burke's) interest and involvement involvement in various arts organisations, which include among others the Ikon Gallery (MS 2192/C/E/2/5/5), Autograph (the association of Black Photographers: MS 2192/C/E/2/1/5/4), West Midlands Ethnic Minority Arts Service (WEMAS: MS 2192/C/E/4/2/1) and Kokuma dance company (MS 2192/C/E/1/1/1/1). Where Vanley Burke or Bina Burke were directly involved in an organisation for example on the committee, there are business papers such as minutes agendas and correspondence, which provide information on the workings and struggles of black arts groups in the 1980s and 1990s
There is also a section of business papers regarding the establishment of the Drum arts centre in Birmingham, detailing the development of the centre from an idea to its current running (MS 2192/C/E/4/2/2).
Burke has also collected material relating to and original works by black authors and artists, such as the poets Su Andi and Owen Williams (both in MS 2192/C/E/3/3/1). The artists and authors whose works Burke has collected are often involved in other pro-active movements in the black community- Owen Williams was a founder member of the Marcus Garvey Foundation for example.
The Cross-art forms section contains material on festivals, exhibitions and events that cover more than one genre of art form. It also includes arts organisations from community and awareness raising organisations (for example Handsworth Cultural Centre: MS 2192/C/E/4/2/3/2) to mainstream organisations such as the Arts Council, England (MS 2192/C/E/4/3/3). |