Behind the curtain of Niche Artefact: the Notts collective combining cabaret, art, and storytelling

Hi Robin, can you tell us what was the inspiration behind starting Niche Artefact? 

I was the GM of the (now closed down) gay cocktail bar, The Goat, and I was thinking of ways to engage the community. I noticed that there were a lot of people around with very diverse and creative backgrounds. I am an amateur oil painter, so I like to dip my toe in myself, and I thought, what about finding a way to get all the creatives together? 

There is this energy in Hockley, where it feels very bohemian, and you might discover something wonderful and strange. I think it attracts those kinds of people, so I just began to have a natural connection from talking to people in the community, and began very slowly and organically to curate acts.

Where did the name Niche Artefact come from?

So, ‘niche’ obviously means something that's not mainstream - it's something that's a bit under the cover. Some of our themes are very leftfield. For example, we had an erotic themed night, and then straight after I’m thinking, what might people not expect next? So, then we did a Princess Diana theme. Artefact is more the aspect of discovering something, like an archaeological site - finding something wonderful and magical within people and the work they produce.

The event is very inclusive. How have you found and nurtured this creative LGBTQI+ community?

We have a couple of show producers and choreographers, David Beer and Rae Piper, and a live stage team with regular performers. First we present the theme in a brief and anybody that wants to participate is welcome to audition with which numbers they want to do, and then we have rehearsals and give feedback.

I really can't stress enough how organic it all is - that’s the true magic. Pretty much everyone that's part of it has naturally gravitated to what we're doing, and there's some really heartwarming stories. For example, Ro De La Monja - they were a regular at the bar and it turned out they were a retired professional singer. But the industry had kind of chewed them up and spat them out because of how they look and what they identify as, so that forced them to say, ‘I'm not going to keep putting my mental health at risk by pushing for a creative life’. And so they gave up on that dream. After coming to karaoke, I started to encourage them and said, ‘Hey I’m doing this event, would you like to do some songs?’ They are now a show producer. So it's nice to have these regular performers and watch them grow. 

There seems to have been a bit of a boom in Queer events recently, did you feel like there was a bit of a shortfall before that?

When I was in Nottingham in my late teenage years, there was literally a surplus of LGBTQ venues: Gossip, Queen of Clubs, Propaganda, Fuel… You could have a whole night going to loads of different venues, so it's sad to witness the slow decline in the Nottingham nightlife. Now it’s mainly The Lord Roberts, which is obviously the shining beacon. But maybe we need to learn to adapt. My goal was to create an event that's more than just going out drinking, but something that can feed the cultural spirit and have purpose.

Along with stage acts, the evening includes a live art auction, with each artist giving an introduction to their work. What was the thinking behind integrating art into the event?

From the start, it was never about just performance or art - they have been hand in hand from the beginning. I was very passionate about creating an immersive experience. We do the silent auctions because I want to provide an opportunity for artists to make a sale and get some support. An artist sold a painting for 250 quid at one show. Can you imagine how validating that must be for an artist that's just starting out? 

Big congratulations on being nominated for the BBC Make a Difference Awards. Can you talk a bit more about this, and do you know when you’ll find out who has won?

We've been nominated for the ‘Community Group of the Year’ award and the event is in September. I feel like a winner already - the validation that means the world to me. Being recognized for what you're doing, you can't put a price on that.

Your two year anniversary is coming up in September and you have a retrospective event coming up. What do you have planned for that?

We’ve had thirteen Niche Artefact themes now, but this is the first time that we're celebrating an anniversary… We will be doing a greatest hits show of all of the best performances that we've had over the last two years. The artwork is going to be wild. We’ll have Priscilla Shona Krakow dressed up as Princess Diana again - that was a moment that was so good. The greatest and the worst thing about Niche Artefact is the fact that they are bespoke one-off events. So, if you miss it - it's gone! 

Anything else you’d like to share with LeftLion readers?

I want to say that to everyone out in our community that you need to, not give up on what the potential of what Nottingham can be, and what tribe and what family you can have. I want people to not just come out to Pride for one day, and then you never see them again. I feel like things will just keep disappearing, and we will keep shrinking - and losing rights - if people don't come together to nourish the community and stand for something.

The Niche Artefact Two-Year Anniversary Retrospective Exhibit takes place on Thursday 11 September at Revolución de Cuba.

@nicheartefact