Collaboration and Innovation Grant Pilot Project: Walking, Power, Inclusion

Walking, Power, Inclusion is one of two pilots run for the Collaboration and Innovation Grant, which funds experimental, practice-led teams to co-design and deliver inclusive public engagement. Learning from this pilot have fed into the full Collaboration and Innovation Grant, which will be awarded annually.

Building the partnership

The Collaboration and Innovation Grant emphasises cross-pollination, innovation, and relationship-building. A multi-disciplinary team of artists, curators and researchers, formed in November 2025, have met regularly to explore the theme of ‘walking, power, inclusion’, sharing their practices and finding mutual threads of enquiry. Together, the group have created an exploratory space for new ideas to emerge, relationships to develop and multi-disciplinary thinking to unfold.

The theme of conviviality emerged through group discussions as a connecting thread through all members’ research and practice. From here, the team established a partnership with Whitechapel Gallery, becoming a partner in their inaugural Backyard Biennial, with a series of events programmed across the Biennial period from 15 July – 2 September.

Project members include Dr Ella Parry-Davies, Dr Morag Rose, Dr Manal Massalha, Clare Qualmann, Alisa Oleva, Saira Niazi and Lorna Powell.

Photo of a coastal landscape, with a red cliff face on the left hand side. A crouched figure in a teal waterproof looks at something on the cliff rock. Other figures in the background are walking, crouching and roaming the beach, which is a sandy green shade. The beach is otherwise empty and atmospheric. The sky is grey and you can see the sea in the horizon.

Alisa Oleva and Saira Niazi at Whitechapel Gallery. Photo by Lorna Powell

Programming in partnership

The collaborative partnership has resulted in a series of 11 artist and researcher-led walks and workshops, programmed as part of Whitechapel Gallery’s Backyard Biennial, an 8-week, free arts festival across East London.

Through these events, you’re invited to democratise storytelling in the city; confront the line between private and public space; use photography to shift narratives; and explore Whitechapel with curiosity, creativity and criticality. All events are free, but booking is required.