Our Towards Universal Cinema Steering Group started meeting in June 2022 and since then has formed an inspiring and motivated group. Together, they are helping RSS to define ‘Universal Cinema’; develop a long term project and grow as an organisation. Read about the members below.
Trishna Singh OBE
Trishna is the Founder/Director of Sikh Sanjog the only Sikh Family Support charity in Scotland, and Punjabi Junction Social Enterprise, the first Sikh women’s Social Enterprise in Scotland. She has over 30 years’ experience working in the Voluntary sector. Graduated from Glasgow University with a degree in Community Learning and Development in 2007, in recognition of her services to the community, she is the first Sikh woman in Scotland to have received an OBE in 2014. Her work is centred on the thematic areas of Community Development Gender – Social Justice, Civic Engagement, Race Equality and Human Rights. She is currently sits on the boards of InterFaith Scotland, Poverty Alliance and BEMIS this is the national Ethnic Minorities led umbrella body supporting the development of the Ethnic Minorities Voluntary Sector in Scotland. She is the Honorary Sikh Chaplain at Edinburgh University.
Her wealth of experience together with knowledge of ethnic communities in particular the women of the Bhatra Sikh Community in Scotland and their needs has resulted in her being asked to represent the Sikh Community in a variety of arenas both statutory and voluntary. She is keen to continue to build links that can create pathways for women of all communities to participate in civic life. Her aim is to continue to break down barriers to learning, reducing the obstacles that get in the way of people receiving a service and improving communication between professions about the needs of Sikh and other BAME women. She would like to see the inequalities gap closed, especially in terms of disadvantage and exclusion relating to poverty, education, skills and training at all levels.
In June 2022, her memoir, A Silent Voice Speaks: The Wee Indian Woman on the Bus, was published by Fledgling Press.
Phoenix Archer
Phoenix Archer is a heritage professional and multidisciplinary artist. She works for Scottish Civic Trust, a mental health facility and Creative Lives. Phoenix has a history of engaging in the arts, culture and heritage sector in England and Scotland to promote healthy representation. She is a moderator at Queer Heritage Forum, a co-organiser at UnArchaeology and is the Creative Director at Progress in Dialogue. Phoenix runs the Scottish Black Owned and People of Colour Businesses and Opportunities groups. She likes to research diverse ways to increase respectful relationships with all kinds of people and create a more harmonious relationship between humans and the environment. Phoenix loves nature and exploring all things cultural and heritage based.
Neill Patton
Neill is one of the founder directors of Cinemor77, a cinema social enterprise which supports communities to develop and deliver community screenings and cinemas. He is passionate about the power of community to create change and improve people’s lives and has worked in community development for over 10 years working with communities across Scotland helping them to research, design and deliver sustainable projects.
Etienne Kubwabo
Etienne Kubwabo is a film-maker, comic writer and has gone on to write, direct and produce award-winning documentaries, short/full-length feature films and over 120 music videos and commercials. Most recently, Etienne created Scotland’s first-ever black superhero (Beats of war) – DJ E.T and has already appeared on BBC’s The Social, BBC Radio Scotland and STV’s national news. In 2017, Etienne was commissioned by BEMIS Scotland, in collaboration with the Scottish Government, to explore Scotland’s story via the eyes and through the voices of our diverse ethnic and cultural minority communities. ‘Scotland’s Memoir’ presents these alongside the perspectives of civic representatives, artists, historians and the First Minister herself, Nicola Sturgeon.
In 2018, BEMIS Scotland once again commissioned Etienne to make a documentary on the stories of young and talented writers, artists and musicians. ‘We are Scotland’ was released to wide acclaim. It became obvious to Etienne that Scotland needed its own music awards ceremony and along with other local creatives, he stablished the Infinitime Music Awards under the co-created record Label “Infinitime Music” (Co-Founder Duncan “DMT Beats” Tembo) a subsidiary of his parent label Mile Away Films, in order to support artists both from Scotland and abroad, with a focus on under-represented artists.
Etienne Kubwabo is currently telling the story of Scotland’s first black superhero through KƎ COMICS’s comic book ‘Beats of War’, and has so far released three issues of the comic. Already plans are in motion to move forward into film, and currently Etienne is in post-production for his debut feature film “The Difference Between Us” which will be in theatres in2023. Comic books and Film are Etienne’s passion and he is already showcasing his stories and culture through the creativity of this art. There are more exciting projects on the way.
Elisa De Waal, RSS Board Member
Elisa joined RSS as trustee in 2019, having experience in working in the culture sector and the third sector, and being particularly interested in accessibility to culture. She is currently employed by Arts & Business Scotland as Partnerships and Development Manager to develop initiatives and opportunities for cross sector collaboration and engagement.
After studying in Amsterdam Elisa moved to Edinburgh to pursue a career in Scottish arts and heritage, having recently completed research projects for the National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Events & Festivals Association. She’s held roles at the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh International Culture Summit and the Highland Third Sector Interface, gaining insight into the importance and impact of culture for communities. Elisa spends her spare time working on a number of creative pursuits including stained glass and pottery, and of course enjoying the cinema in her local community, Cromarty.