WHAT'S HAPPENING AT
AFRI-CO-LAB
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Outside the Vox: Trans Town Sings
Saturday 14th November
Doors open: 3.00 pm
Singing Workshop: 3.30 pm - 5.00 pm
Pizza social: 5.00 - 6.30 pm
Outside the Vox: Trans Town Sings is a special one-off singing session for trans and non-binary folks, taking place in the heart of St Leonards.
In this 90-minute workshop, Deanne and Laurie will welcome you into a relaxed space where we can come together and get lost in the joy of singing with members of our community. We'll take time to warm up and get used to singing together before learning a short song (there might even be harmonies!) No perfection required, and definitely no judgement, a true love of singing is all you need!
Afterwards, there'll be free pizza and a chance to socialise in a sober space.
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Somatic Movement for Every Body
Saturday 21st November
1.30 pm - 5.30 pm
at De La Warr Studio, Bexhill
Join us for the last somatics workshop of 2026 with Imogen. This half-day workshop blends her inclusive, person-centred movement practice and somatic therapy techniques to create a held and supported space to experience a felt sense of being present in your body.
Creative Chill:
Care in Repair -
Visible Mending
Saturday 28th November
1.30 pm - 4.30 pm
Join local artist and clothing lover, Elaine Mullings for this visible mending workshop. It's open to all!
Elaine will introduce you to the wonders of visible repair. Learn about visible mending traditions from across the Globe. Learn some simple hand stitches and techniques to transform your loved and damaged clothing into wearable pieces of history that shine with your personality.
Super bold or calm and subtle whatever your flavour - mend your favourite pieces and breathe new life into your well loved and worn clothing!
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The Antiracist Theatre: A Conversation with Nicole Brewer & Anna Maria Nabirye
Wednesday 9th December
6.30 - 8.30 pm at Afri-Co-Lab
Nicole Brewer’s Antiracist Theatre model has shaped how we work at Afri-Co-Lab, and now she’s coming to our home - wowsers!
Join Afri-Co-Lab Teamiee Anna Maria Nabirye and Nicole for a relaxed, honest chat about her new book The Antiracist Theatre.
Think of it as a circle of knowledge, experience, love and good questions. With time for your questions and stories.
Sing-Along Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit + Film Intro by Naulettes' Choir Leader Deanne Naula
Blackity Black Festive Special @ Electric Palace Cinema
Friday 11th December
7.30 pm
Join us for a soulful night of film, music and singing with our Festive Blackity Black screening of Sister Act 2!
Join us for a soulful night of film, music and singing with our Festive Blackity Black screening of Sister Act 2!
We’ll kick things off with a special introduction from Deanne Naula, leader of our fabulous community choir, The Naulettes. Then settle in as Whoopi Goldberg returns as the legendary duo Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence and turns a class of rebellious teens into a show-stopping gospel choir, with plenty of attitude and heavenly harmonies.
Warm up those vocal cords and get ready to sing “from the diaphragm”! La-la-la-la-laaah!
Blackity Black is our programme shining a spotlight on Black excellence in film and TV, co-curated with our very own co-director, Anna Maria Nabirye.
Creative Chill:
Festive Marbling
Saturday 12th December
11.00 am – 1.00 pm
at Afri-Co-Lab
We’re super excited to welcome back the wonderful Lisa Ibbetson for a playful, colour-splashed festive workshop! Lisa has been marbling for over 20 years, and she’ll gently guide you into your creative flow, starting with a few experiments so you can get the hang of it and have a good play with colour.
Once you’ve found your groove, you’ll marble a set of beautiful gift tags, then ceramic festive baubles so lovely you’ll probably want to keep them up all year round. Hang them on your tree or wrap them up for someone special, and they’ll be all the more magical for being made by you.
Every Body Yoga
Sundays 11.00 am - 12.15 pm
Next courses starting throughout the year
Give yourself permission to slow down. Every Body Yoga is a gentle, welcoming space to rest, breathe and reconnect — no experience needed, no pressure to get it "right."
Over six weeks, in small, friendly groups of no more than 8, you'll ease into simple poses, mindful breathing and moments of stillness, all at your own pace. Whether you're brand new to yoga, coming back after a break, or just craving a softer practice.
This course is for every body — including fat, queer, trans, Black and Brown, older and disabled bodies.
Come as you are, and let yourself rest.
Dare 2 Repair
Every other Sunday
15th & 29th November
13th December
1.00 - 6.00 pm
Dare 2 Repair is a fortnightly textile mending club. Bring your holey jeans, baggy shorts, or mismatched curtains, and with the help of the Afri-Co-Lab Team, we will find a way to make them work!
All sewing equipment provided, and no experience needed.
Click on 'MORE INFO' below to see all our Dare 2 Repair dates.
Darragh Dance
Mondays 5.30 - 6.30 pm & 7.00 - 8.00 pm
Wednesdays 9.15 - 10.15 am
at Afri-Co-Lab
He's back, he's badder than ever, and he wants you on the dance floor! Darragh Dance returns to Afri-Co-Lab!
Pop routines to sweat and laugh to, dancing to the baddest tunes around, led by the loveliest choreographer in town.
Classes are capped at 10 people and they book fast. Don't say we didn't warn you!
Open House
Wednesdays 11.00 am - 5.00 pm
First Wednesday of the month. we're open until 9.00 pm
at Afri-Co-Lab
Every Wednesday, Afri-Co-Lab is open to the community to gather, dream and use. Whether you need the WiFi, a change of scene, more space, or just a cup of tea and a chat, come on in. We don't mind.
Best of all, it's totally free!
Hosted by the wonderful, Khadija Khan.
past events
Shopfront Gallery Presents:
Richard Rawlins'
'Pierrot Jumbie (2023)'
Monday 5th October until Sunday 1st November
This October, Richard Rawlins takes over Afri-Co-Lab's shopfront. His installation 'Pierrot Jumbie (2023)' brings together drawing; collage; text; and found imagery to explore identity, memory, migration and the afterlives of colonialism, delving into the space where memory, resistance, performance and transformation meet. Head down to our shopfront gallery at 3 Marine Court, TN38 ODX to see it!
About Richard Rawlins
Richard Mark Rawlins is a Trinidadian-British artist and now based here in Hastings. A graduate of the Royal College of Art's Print programme, he moves fluidly between drawing; painting; printmaking; mixed media; performance; and new media, returning again and again to Caribbean life, post-colonial history, diaspora politics and Black identity.
Creative Chill: Stitch A Lucky Charm - Making Talismans with Yemii of Stitch TLC
Sunday 11th October
1.30 pm - 4.30 pm
at Afri-Co-Lab
Join us this autumn for a cosy and therapeutic lucky charm making adventure with Stitch TLC’s Yemii! During the workshop with guidance from Yemii you will craft a hand-stitched brooch - leaving with you very own talisman. Connect with your natural sense of creativity inspired by the journey of the acorn transforming into a grand oak tree. Yemii will teach you simple hand stitches to bring your brooch to life, and you’ll also have the option to sprinkle in some beading magic!
Darragh Dance 200
Celebrating 200 weeks of Darragh Dance
Monday 28th September
5.45 - 8.30 pm
Can you believe it? 200 weeks of Darragh Dance since 2021. TWO HUNDRED. We honestly can't believe it either!
We've boogied, sweated and laughed our way to this magnificent milestone with the fabulous Darragh O'Leary, and we are not letting it pass without a party. Join us for a very special outdoor dance class in St Leonards, followed by an afterparty back at the Lab. Come for the dancing, stay for the vibes!
Come dressed in your best pastels and get ready to celebrate in style!
