The Anti Racist Cumbria Summits have become transformative events in the region, empowering individuals, sparking dialogue, and leading action. Selling out three years in a row, as we pause for 2024 to regroup and prepare to come back richer than ever in 2025, let’s reflect on how the summits have shaped and continue to shape and spark anti-racism in Cumbria, and beyond.
2021: Laying the Foundations – Keynote Dr Shola Mos Shogbamimu
1 Launch of the First Summit: 2021 marked the inaugural ARC Summit, truly a momentous event and the first of its kind specifically opening up the dialogue on racism in rural areas.
“I’ve never had a space to talk about racism like this before—it was eye-opening”
“Dr. Shola’s words hit me hard—she spoke with such power and truth”
2 Collaborative Workshops: Workshops discussing how to combat systemic racism and even how to have courageous conversations took place. Vital sessions that sought to unpick current language changes and work towards losing the fear around talking about race brought new light to topics people avoid.
3 Diverse Voices: The summit amplified many underrepresented voices, sparking fresh perspectives on anti-racism work. A key moment being when the trailer for the (now multi award winning) animated film, The Fell We Climb shared the voices of local Black and Brown young people navigating their lives in Cumbria.
4 Building Empathy: Personal stories from Cumbria’s Black, Brown and Gypsy Roma Traveller community resonated deeply with attendees and whilst our stance on how and when we share lived experience has changed since then the power of those stories and insights rang out in 2021.
“Hearing local voices made it real for me”
5 Networking for Change: More than 250 people connected from all kinds of businesses and personal backgrounds, the seeds of a movement and community were sown.
And OF COURSE, none of us can ever forget the food! Thank you Yardies – so good we had them back in 2022!
2022: Building Momentum – Keynote Nova Reid
1 Nova’s powerful gentleness: Nova explored the personal growth required for effective allyship, sparking deep reflection among attendees on confronting biases and becoming effective advocates for change.
“Strengthened my resolve to keep unlearning my racism, acknowledging the harms of my racism, and my white privilege and to accept that I am both part of the problem AND the solution.”
2. Youth Engagement: A standout at the summit was the active engagement of young people, particularly through initiatives like Young Black ARCtivists and Grayrigg Primary School. The next generation wants change.
3. Alternatives are Available: Modelling different ways of working together, and highlighting who is often missing from valuable conversations was an important thread of the event. A roundtable done differently brought out how oppression is rarely intentional, but always impactful.
4. Embodying Allyship: The audience were introduced to ideas that would eventually become a cornerstone of ARC’s approach to allyship and anti-racism work. Working with both the body and the mind were new and for some, radical concepts which landed for the first time at this summit.
“Very powerful and engaging experience. Inspiring too! The mindfulness/breathing exercises were helpful, and the speakers motivational.”
5. Real-World Action Plans: The summit encouraged attendees to translate discussions into practical personal action plans. With guidance from experts and support from the growing community, people were encouraged to DO different in future.
“I am taking time to reflect on how my organisation supports staff to speak up about racism, to create safe networks for Black and Brown staff to seek support, to report racist behaviour, what I can do to foster a stronger sense of belonging in my workplace, foster a culture of support, anti-racism, and accountability”
2023: Activating Change – David Olusoga
Click through to watch our 2023 highlights or some ITV event coverage!
1 David Olusoga Keynote: In a breathtaking tour the of ripples of racism through time, historian David Olusoga linked history to today’s struggles with systemic racism accessibly and powerfully. 
“It challenged everything I thought I knew,”
2 More Intentionally Intersectional: Ableism, environmental injustices, gender and class were unpacked and unpicked in workshops and panel discussions with Runnymede, Ramps On The Moon and more.
3 Disrupting Racism Creatively: From exhibitions celebrating Windrush, to young activists sharing their own artwork to Danny Price’s interactive session which helped participants transform anger into activism through creative expression. Artistic expression, identity and activism were intrinsic to the day.
4 Asking Bigger Questions: Diane Rutherford and Ewen Turner’s session on questioning societal norms equipped participants with strategies to challenge the status quo.
“I feel like I can really make a difference”
5 Community Growth: A recurring feedback theme highlighted how the summit nurtured connections between individuals committed to anti-racist work, the community that budded online in 2020 – has grown, learned, met, connected and begun to mobilise. WE. MOVE.
These three years of summits have been instrumental in driving anti-racist work forward in Cumbria and we can’t wait to share 2025’s with you too.
The 2025 Summit will be a vibrant celebration of FIVE YEARS of ARC!
You better believe that we will go bolder, brighter and more experiential than ever before!
We’re heading back to the stunning Theatre By The Lake by the shores of Derwentwater in Keswick where nearly 400 people will come together in an inspiring space for connections, taking action, healing, creating, continuing their education and most importantly, moving the anti-racism conversations and actions forward.
** We’re also going to be rounding up the celebrations this year with a comedy night **
That’s right, you can still laugh and smile when working on anti-racism, in fact it’s important that you do! So when you choose your ticket, you’ll have the option to choose day + evening.
Find out more and secure your 2025 Summit tickets here!
