Dial 1 for UK – Debut Show at Edinburgh Fringe (1–9 Aug)

Mohit Mathur’s Debut Show “Dial 1 for UK” Makes It To Edinburgh Fringe 2025

Mohit Mathur, the London-based Indian actor and theatre maker will be premiering his debut show Dial 1 for UK, running at the Edinburgh Fringe from 1st to 9th August.

The piece follows an undocumented migrant worker in India who becomes obsessed with coming to the UK after working in a call centre handling British customer service processes. It’s part autobiographical, part fiction, a story about migration and belonging.

The show was developed through Vital Xposure’s 2024 writing programme for Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists, and supported by the Keep It Fringe grant from the Fringe Society. It was directed by Phil Willmott.

Here are the key details:
Dates: 1st–9th August
Time: 11:30am
Venue: Greenside @ Riddles Court (Pickle Studio)
Running time: 50 minutes
Tickets: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/dial-1-for-uk
Capacity: 22 seats (a small and intimate space)

Call for Submissions: Feature Your Music at the Rara Avis Quarterly Collective Listening Party!

Are you a music artist looking for a unique platform to share your creations and connect with a passionate audience? Rara Avis invites you to submit your music for consideration in our upcoming Quarterly Collective Listening Party!

Our listening parties are an exclusive opportunity for artists to showcase their work in a curated, intimate setting. We’re building a community of engaged listeners eager to discover new sounds and appreciate the artistry behind the music. If you’re ready to reach new ears and spark meaningful conversations about your tracks, we want to hear from you.


What We’re Looking For

We welcome submissions from artists across all genres and stages of their careers. Whether you’re an emerging talent or an debutant artist, we’re seeking music that is:

  • Original and high-quality: Your best work, professionally produced and mixed.
  • Engaging and compelling: Tracks that tell a story, evoke emotion, or simply make people move.
  • Diverse in style: We’re committed to showcasing a wide range of musical expressions.

Why Participate?

  • Reach a dedicated audience: Your music will be featured and discussed by a community of enthusiastic music lovers.
  • Gain exposure: Increase your visibility and attract new fans.
  • Receive valuable feedback: Spark conversations and gain insights into how your music resonates with listeners.
  • Be part of a unique experience: Connect with fellow artists and industry enthusiasts in a supportive environment.

How to Submit Your Music

Ready to share your art with Rara Avis? Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Prepare your track(s): Ensure your submission is of the highest audio quality.
  2. Fill out our submission form: We’ll need some basic information about you and your music.
  3. Share your passion: Tell us about your creative process and what makes your music unique.

Don’t miss this chance to have your music heard and celebrated. Submit your tracks today and become a part of the Rara Avis experience!


Stay tuned for our next event announcement and submission deadline!

Rara Avis Creative Team Assembling: Your Vision, Our Elite Talent.

Are you a brand, agency, or individual with an ambitious project that demands exceptional creative talent, but lack the time or resources to source and curate the perfect team?

Rara Avis understands that the most impactful creative work emerges from the synergy of extraordinary minds. We specialize in meticulously assembling bespoke creative teams, hand-picking the ideal blend of designers, writers, strategists, and innovators to bring your unique vision to life with unparalleled excellence.


Who is Rara Avis?

Rara Avis is a boutique talent curation and team-building consultancy founded on the principle that true creative breakthroughs occur when the right people are united by a common purpose. Our extensive network comprises a carefully vetted roster of award-winning, independent creative professionals across diverse disciplines. We don’t just fill roles; we build dynamic powerhouses.

The Challenge:

Finding truly exceptional creative talent is time-consuming, competitive, and often fraught with uncertainty. Building a cohesive team that not only possesses the required skills but also aligns culturally and strategically with your project’s objectives is an art form in itself.

Our Solution: Seamless, Strategic Creative Team Assembly

Rara Avis takes the guesswork, effort, and risk out of building your dream creative team. We offer a comprehensive, end-to-end service designed to deliver a perfectly aligned, high-performing collective, ready to hit the ground running.

Our Service Offer Includes:

  1. In-Depth Project Discovery & Needs Assessment:
    • Thorough consultation to understand your project’s scope, objectives, target audience, brand identity, budget, and timelines.
    • Detailed analysis of required skill sets, creative sensibilities, and desired team dynamics.
    • Identification of potential challenges and strategic opportunities.
  2. Strategic Talent Sourcing & Curation:
    • Leveraging our exclusive network of top-tier, pre-vetted freelance creative professionals (Art Directors, Copywriters, UI/UX Designers, Animators, Illustrators, Photographers, Videographers, Creative Strategists, etc.).
    • Rigorous assessment of portfolios, experience, communication styles, and collaborative aptitude.
    • Targeted outreach to identify Rara Avis – the rare and exceptional talents who perfectly fit your brief.
  3. Custom Team Formation & Synergy Matching:
    • Presenting you with a curated shortlist of individual profiles and potential team configurations.
    • Facilitating introductory meetings and chemistry checks with prospective team members.
    • Expert guidance in selecting the optimal combination of personalities and proficiencies to ensure seamless collaboration and maximum creative output.
  4. Defined Roles & Responsibilities:
    • Assisting in clearly outlining the scope of work and deliverables for each team member.
    • Establishing clear communication channels and project management protocols.
  5. Ongoing Support & Integration (Optional Add-on):
    • Initial project kick-off facilitation to ensure a smooth start.
    • Optional ongoing advisory and mediation to foster team cohesion and address any emerging needs during the project lifecycle.
    • Performance check-ins to ensure sustained excellence.

Benefits of Partnering with Rara Avis:

  • Access to Elite Talent: Tap into a hidden pool of pre-vetted, independent creative luminaries without the burden of extensive recruitment.
  • Time & Cost Efficiency: Drastically reduce your internal recruitment time, advertising costs, and the risk of mis-hires.
  • Optimal Team Synergy: We build teams that not only possess the skills but also complement each other’s strengths and work harmoniously.
  • Flexibility & Scalability: Assemble project-specific teams, avoiding the overhead of permanent hires. Scale up or down as your needs evolve.
  • Reduced Risk: Our rigorous vetting process and strategic matching minimize the chances of creative misalignment or underperformance.
  • Focus on Your Core Business: Free up your internal resources to concentrate on strategy and execution, while we handle the intricate process of team building.
  • Guaranteed Fit (Our Promise): We are confident in our ability to assemble the perfect team for your project.

Ideal For:

  • Marketing & Advertising Agencies: Needing specialized talent for new pitches, overflow work, or niche campaigns.
  • Brands & Businesses: Launching new products, rebranding, or developing comprehensive creative assets without an in-house team.
  • Startups: Requiring nimble, high-impact creative teams to establish their brand presence.
  • Film & Production Houses: Assembling specialized crews for specific projects.
  • Individuals & Entrepreneurs: With a grand vision but limited connections to the creative elite.

Invest in the power of a perfectly assembled creative team. Let Rara Avis be your architect of creative excellence.


Ready to build your extraordinary creative team?

GET IN TOUCH

Schedule


Fashions Finest Africa Wraps Epic Show 2025 : Spotlights The Future Of Sustainable African Fashion

With Two Days Of Runway, Creativity, And Conversations; Epic Show 2025 Champions Funding, Sustainability, and Creative Power at the Heart of African Fashion

Host

Fashions Finest Africa has officially concluded Epic Show 2025, a two-day creative experience that delivered on its promise to spotlight Africa’s boldest new voices in fashion while tackling real industry challenges. Held on July 5th and 6th at The Podium, Lekki, the event attracted a vibrant cross-section of designers, industry voices, culture leaders, and fashion enthusiasts all united by a shared commitment to shaping the future of African fashion.

Attendees

Epic Show 2025 opened with inspiring panel conversations on funding, fashion business literacy, and sustainability bringing together thought leaders and fashion veterans to explore the systems needed to support African fashion beyond aesthetics.

The sessions featured voices from across sectors; Jide Sipe, Mai Atafo, The style infidel, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Dr. Yetty Ogunnubi, Abubakar Sanusi, Isaac John, Mabel Adeteye, Chidubem Ejezie and Dayo Nupo, each offering insight into the structural changes required for Africa’s fashion economy to thrive. From navigating the venture capital landscape to addressing the climate impact of production, the discussions made it clear: creativity needs structure, and talent must meet opportunity.

The runway shows that followed reflected the same intentionality. 31 emerging designers took to the stage, presenting collections that merged local identity with global appeal. Each designer brought a fresh perspective from daring silhouettes to textile innovation showing the depth of talent rising across the continent.

We had Nubik Attire, Nenysty Atelier, Tsmallz Apparel, The Vantage Gent, The Fleks Apparel, House of Gold, Millennial Apparel by Ruby, Jayred Fashion World, Lamide Official, Ria Kosher, Asotiay, The U & J Brand, Gozifego, Trendecais x Yunik, 31 Woman Elegante, De Sewar, Onye Duo Duo, Tai.lore Clothing, Roju Ascent, Sarai Imani Atelier, Gloria & Co, RR Dot Design, Kijipa Couture, Tresha Trendy, Craftman Bespoke, Mak Africa, AO Afriq, R, Herant, Diuz! Authentic and Stella London.

Day 2 introduced one of the event’s standout moments: the Design for the Future (D4DF) competition, an initiative launched to spotlight visionary fashion talents at the start of their journey. After a compelling runway showcase, the winning designer was awarded a ₦1 million grant and a closing slot at the grand finale showcase, a moment that earned a standing ovation from the crowd and marked a symbolic investment in Africa’s next generation of creatives.

High-profile personalities including Queen Ronke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, cultural ambassador and Queen of Ife, Mojibade Sosanya and media icon Frank Edoho were in attendance at the grand finale, further affirming the platform’s credibility and wide-reaching cultural impact. Also present were respected industry figures like Mai Atafo and The Style Infidel, who offered guidance to the emerging designers backstage and lent their voices to panel conversations earlier in the programme.

Reflecting on the success of the show, Sola Oyebade, Founder of Fashions Finest Africa and CEO of Mahogany International, shared:

“What we witnessed over the last two days is the future of African fashion in real time. From our panelists to the designers, to the audience that showed up with energy and purpose, Epic Show 2025 reminded us that Africa is full of brilliance; it only needs the right platforms. That’s what FFA will always stand for.”

Model

Epic Show 2025 was a reminder that creative excellence on the continent is not in short supply. What’s needed now is continued investment, strategic visibility, and stronger ecosystems and FFA continues to serve as one of the few platforms deeply committed to those outcomes. The event was produced by Mahogany International and made possible through the generous support of official partners Darling Hair, TEPS, and Mystic Beauty whose contributions helped shape the energy, experience, and success of this year’s edition.

Mai Atafo

About Fashions Finest Africa

Fashions Finest Africa (FFA) is a leading Pan-African platform dedicated to supporting new and emerging fashion creatives across the continent. Since its inception in the UK over 16 years ago, FFA has worked to amplify African talent through curated fashion showcases, talent discovery initiatives, and capacity-building conversations that support long-term growth. Its work focuses on visibility, access, and innovation within the African fashion space.

CALL FOR ARTISTS – AFRO FESTIVAL OTTAWA 2025 

Afro Festival Ottawa , Calls For Artists For Its 6th Edition

The 6th Edition of Afro Festival Ottawa is coming back bigger, louder, and more vibrant than ever!

 Live music, food, fashion, and culture — all in one place!

Are you a musician, dancer, painter, or performer with a passion for African culture and creativity?
This is your stage to shine!

Afro Festival Ottawa is looking for vibrant, passionate, and talented artists to be part of this year’s celebration.

 Share your art.  Inspire the community.  Celebrate culture.

Join a festival that brings together artists, creators, and an audience that truly values diversity, talent, and expression.

 Registration is now open!
Apply now at afrofestivalottawa.ca and become part of a powerful celebration of African culture in Canada.

 Your voice. Your movement. Your moment.