SANKOFA

Evelyn Andoh begins her artist‑in‑residency at Friction Arts during First Friday, marking the start of a new collaboration with local artists and communities in Birmingham. Working at the intersection of couture, scenography and choreography, Evelyn’s practice centres sustainability, upcycling and the deep cultural knowledge held within textiles. Born in Accra and raised in Friesland, her work explores the interplay between her Ghanaian roots and Dutch identity, guided by the Akan principle of Sankofa — looking back to ancestral wisdom to move forward. Her residency builds on Friction Arts’ commitment to long‑term, community‑rooted collaboration, creating space for shared making, storytelling and collective experimentation. Through workshops and encounters, Evelyn invites participants to explore how fabric holds memory, identity and connection, transforming personal and cultural histories into collaborative textile expressions that reflect the relationships formed within the space.