Welcome To Mirror Arts
We are a registered community-based organization based in Dandora, Nairobi, Kenya. We are a performing arts ensemble, and we use our talents to create a safe community for LBQ and GNC artists to express themselves authentically.
Mirror Arts was born out of a desire to increase representation in the creative arts space We wanted to see more queer artists from low-income neighborhoods succeed as performing artists by creating a platform where they could tell the stories that resonate with their lived reality.
Dandora is the home of a vibrant artistic community. However, many emerging artists do not get a chance to pursue their creative ambitions due to a disempowering environment produced by crime, drug abuse, gender-based violence, and poor access to health facilities. An LBQ or GNC-identifying artist faces the additional obstacle of stigmatization because of their orientation. They may miss out on crucial opportunities to practice their craft and earn a living from it. Many queer people are also dehumanized by their local communities and are disproportionate targets of various forms of violence.
Our mission is to educate our community and promote the potential of our members using theatre plays, performance art, music, and spoken word poetry, as well as crafts and fine art. Our theatrical productions have been avenues for collaboration between emerging artists and industry experts, a source of income for the cast and crew, and a platform where our targeted audience can engage with our artistry. Our forums are spaces for connection and dialogue between our membership and the larger community; to identify relevant issues as source material for our shows, demystify harmful stereotypes, and foster healing among us.
The stories we tell are important because they give us a medium to convey our deepest longings, and build a bridge of understanding between queer people and society. We use our imagination to manifest the futures we want by sensitizing our communities on the role of every individual in building an environment that is safe for every person regardless of their orientation or identity.
These are the stories we have told: