On Sunday 8 May from 12-5pm the Royal Exchange Theatre will be filled with vibrant music, food, drink, art, homeware, clothing and much more as Melanin Markets Manchester takes over the space.
The Markets, created by Founders Bianca Danielle and Kelly Morgan, are a celebration and a showcase of the wonderful range of Black Owned Business’ here in the UK.
Last year saw 42 Black businesses showcasing their products and services, with over 1000 people attending the event and over £25,000 made in house. This year there will be over 50 vendors, interactivity, live music and performers and so much more!
This event is free to attend and inclusive to everyone – no need to book, just turn up.
Melanin Markets Manchester was created to provide a place for everyone to actively support and engage with Black owned businesses.
The event on the 8th of May will house over 50 vendors who will be selling a range of tasty food and drink, such as Vegan African Food business Gwafuvegan, Indo-Caribbean fusion brand Soka and Miss Jackson’s Drinks Company who are a heritage brand continuing their families Jamaican heritage with Rum and Sorrel premium spirits.
There will also be health food vendors selling seamoss and herbs, cultural clothing brands for adults and children, accessories in bright bold African prints, jewellery and homeware representing Black culture. Keep an eye on Melanin Markets’ instagram for a full list of vendors who will be announced over the next few weeks.
Bianca and Kelly, two Manchester based, Black female entrepreneurs addressing the lack of diverse representation, inclusion and opportunities for people who look like them within the Business sector, began the markets last year.
They are also professional arts sector workers and are hyper aware of the lack of Black people working and attending creative institutions. They feel passionately that art and culture is for everyone regardless of class, age or race, so they have produced a vehicle to actively engage with their community and bring them into the centre of these spaces, hoping to break down barriers.
Bianca Danielle, Co-founder and Producer of Melanin Markets said:
“We created Melanin Markets to celebrate and promote Black Owned business vibrantly and unapologetically. We purposefully choose to host our event, within unorthodox spaces not usually frequented by the Black community. We want to normalise seeing and spending with Black Businesses whilst breaking down systemic discrimination and inequality”.
Kelly Morgan, Co-founder and Producer of Melanin Markets said:
"In 2020, Manchester marched in support of the Black Lives Matters movement, acknowledging the need for change and action in all areas of society. The Black Pound Day initiative plays an extremely important role in creating opportunities for the Black community to gain a stronger standing economically.
“Black owned businesses in the UK face a variety of challenges such as underrepresentation, limited access to start-up funds, and barriers accessing wider markets. Recent reports have shown that 88% of Black owned businesses have been self-funded and quite relevant to this figure studies have shown that Black owned businesses are 5 times more likely to be rejected for Loans and Grants.
“These figures highlight the need for change, so that Black businesses are able to imagine, actualise and succeed fairly in the UK. And so in alignment with the Black Pound Day movement which aims to address the economic inequalities and imbalances affecting Black businesses and entrepreneurs in the UK and global diasporic communities – Melanin Markets Manchester celebrates and promotes Black Owned business vibrantly within unorthodox spaces not usually frequented by the Black community - with the aim to normalise seeing and spending with Black Businesses."
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Melanin Markets 2022 Date: Sunday 8th May Time: 12pm - 5pm Venue: The Royal Exchange Theatre Follow Melanin Markets