Punch's 2023 Rewind: Highlights of the Year
As we bid farewell to another unforgettable year, it's time to pause & reflect on the moments & milestones that have come to define this year for Punch. From global campaigns to documenting the stories of local unsung heroes, this year has been one for the history books.
We are proud of every project, every event, and every collaboration that we have worked on across 2023, but we’ve taken it upon ourselves for the hard task of defining each of our highlights of the year. So without further adieu, we present our Punch 2023 Rewind: Highlights of the Year!
Jay L’Booth, creative producer
“Where to start! What an eventful year! I have to say, my main highlight of this year has been producing the ‘In The Room’ Podcast. Thanks to DJ Biggoss, we secured some exceptional people to speak on the podcast and a lot of exciting gems were shared.
The guests who were interviewed have done some really amazing things, Just to mention a few; Kane Dunn, Meekz manager, Nicole Wallace-White, Clavish’s Tour manager, Gracey Mae who has done bits for the Afrobeats scene! The host, DJ Haych was incredible and asked the right questions to pull the best information out of the guests.
With topics like “How to maximise your income”, “How to navigate the legal side of the Music industry” and “Music distribution”, the episodes were not only entertaining but also educational. I can’t wait for this series to be released online in 2024!”
Bradley Morrison, Head of Marketing & communications
“The Voguing & Waacking scene has been steadily growing in Birmingham over the last decade and has provided a platform for countless dancers to express themselves in ways that were once unimaginable outside of queer nightclubs in the city.
During the Gallery37 Residency earlier this year, we had the pleasure of inviting the legendary, Eric Scutaro (Dancer & Co-Founder and Director of Queerside), to lead a dance masterclass during the height of the preparation for the Showcase. Little did we know that this Masterclass would bring together so many creative camps - as they all jumped at the chance to learn about the history of the dance styles that were born from Black & Latino communities in the 70’s & 80’s; and have inspired popular culture around the world.
It warms my heart to see Birmingham value & appreciate Queer artforms, and revel in the opportunity to learn from the greats in the city. I have no doubt that artists who were present during the masterclass such as Serena Sunflower and Darby McGuirk (who both demonstrated their Waacking skills in the Showcase) will continue the legacy of the dance style within the city.”
Ellie Howard, Digital content producer
“This year, my standout moment was being given the opportunity to fly out with some of Punch associates to Jamaica.
Over 7 days, we were immersed in the music scene and captured an abundance of content featuring music artists from Jamaica, Trinidad, and the UK.
Being able to film at Big Yard Studios for 3 days gave us the chance to meet many different artists who will be included in the brand-new documentary about the first-ever showcase event in Jamaica.
I also got to work on directing the Big Zeeks X Ding Dong video. Seeing the vision we had come to life was amazing.”
CAS Thompson, creative producer
“LIFTED! The first tour to kickstart touring for Punch this year!
Being a Christian is a very important aspect of my life as it has assisted with shaping who I am today. It was such a privilege to produce Punch’s first Gospel tour and work with the three amazing headline artists; Asha Elia, Annatoria, Still Shadey, and the live band; Chemistry Music Group.
LIFTED allowed Punch to highlight the Gospel scene, and allowed me to explore multiple Gospel music genres as the three artists; consisted of R&B and Rap. It was heartwarming to see that within each location the crowds were praising, worshipping, and feeling uplifted!
Another highlight for me was being the Punch lead Producer on the Romain Virgo UK Tour. Romain entertained the crowd with his popular singles whilst also adding reggae classics from Reggae icons. This kept the crowd in awe throughout the tour each night. This was a great way to end the touring for this year!”
Sannah Sajid, Digital Co-ordinator
“The most important piece of work that we commissioned this year for me was ‘Tug Of War’. A spoken word piece alongside an animation that shed light on the pressing humanitarian crisis in Palestine. This not only was a beautiful piece of work but also resonated deeply with my values and beliefs.
This powerful artwork managed to capture the essence of the crisis and evoked a strong emotional response from the audience. It brought awareness to the suffering of those affected, pushing you to take action and make a difference. "Tug of War" beautifully depicted the struggles, resilience, and inherent humanity amidst the crisis, leaving you inspired and motivated to contribute in any way you can.
This cause is one that is close to my heart, so to be able to work for a company that speaks up against injustice and isn’t afraid to use their voice is very special.”
Fahmida Choudhury, Insight Producer
“This year, my standout moment was witnessing the Gallery37 creative development programme unfold.
Engaging with it for the first time, I found it incredibly inspiring to see Birmingham's young artistic community unite, forge new friendships, and showcase their creative talents.
The programme provided a platform for these budding artists to express themselves and foster a vibrant creative spirit, making it a memorable and enriching experience for all involved.”
Nikki Riggon, Head of Programme
“2023 has been a blur! Like most years it's hard to choose a highlight but something that has been hugely significant to me and a constant throughout it all are the moments of self-discovery and reflection. Not just in myself but in the whole Punch team who I've seen take on new challenges and in the artists we’ve developed through Gallery 37, The P Word, In The Room and other programmes.
It's important to reflect on the work we’ve done, to understand its impact and what can be done differently going forward. We had a huge opportunity to look at work Punch has done over the years through our partnership with Google Arts and Culture who are currently showcasing our work in their digital exhibition, Union Black. It was a huge honour to see our work celebrated as something which has shone a light on talented artists and rich culture in the UK, particularly Birmingham.
This year has been a year defined by new live music events, development programmes and art commissions which have each sparked ideas and ignited bigger things to come in 2024.”
rohan ram, creative assistant
“The Gallery37 Showcase represented the vibrant culmination of two weeks of dedicated graft by the young Artists and the successful fruition of months of meticulous prep work by the Punch team.
Two weeks before the event, 100 young artists, then strangers, entered the Aston SU hall, unaware what was to come. Yet to the spectators of the showcase, this would have been scarcely believable. They witnessed a bustling, supportive atmosphere, where authentic collaboration and sheer talent was able to thrive. The Showcase marked the first time their work was able to be exhibited and performed in such a professional setting, attended by many senior Arts professionals. It was the fitting, celebratory reward that their efforts deserved.
On a personal note it represented the first major project I’ve worked on and I was struck by how such a project can have a genuine impact on the early stages of young careers. It was inspiring and felt like real, true work. I can’t wait to see how Gallery37 continues to unfurl.”