Curating with PanAfrican Cinema Archives – A Traineeship Programme

The June Givanni PanAfrican Cinema Archive (JGPACA) was set up officially in 2013 and is a living archive that preserves and values the history of Black cinema globally. At its core is the interest of Pan-African cinema and its relationship with Black British cinema and culture. To date, the JGPACA holds more than 10,000 items, connecting African film with the film cultures of diaspora communities in the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe. The archive’s collection, which encompasses the rich history of Black British arts with roots in the African diaspora, is evidenced in its international and global perspectives.

The archive provides a crucial knowledge base to films and filmmakers, linking the pre-digital age through to contemporary achievements. JGPACA is a unique collection of items, objects and components: films and programmes recorded on video and DVD, photographs, audio interviews, posters, scripts, paper documents, books, journals, film and festival publicity materials and memorabilia. Its PanAfrican focus makes it a key resource for those interested in diaspora histories.

JGPACA recognises the potential that exists, to serve a larger and wider community of users, extending beyond its London-centred location, and linking its PanAfrican networks regionally and to Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe. Importantly, JGPACA seeks to enable audiences and participants (communities) in the project to develop their cultural awareness, with a recognition of the complexities of Black identities. JGPACA has received funding from BFI Screen Heritage fund to extend its support and knowledge to other UK regions.

JGPACA Staff Team:

• JGPACA Directors – Imruh Bakari, June Givanni and Emma Sandon
• Lead Curators – Imruh Bakari and June Givanni
• Project Curator – Damilola Lemomu
• Project Facilitators – Benjin Pollock and Phoebe Beckett Chingono

Yvonne Connikie is a filmmaker, programmer and curator specialising in Black independent film. She has an extensive career in promoting and archiving Black British film.

Key highlights of her career include:

Connikie is filmmaker and curator for the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival. She founded the Black Film Festival Wales, which ran from 2000 to 2008. She is a founder member and former Chair of The New Black Film Collective, and served as the Assistant Curator and Education Coordinator for the archive compilation 'Big City Stories'. Connikie authored the children's book Fashions of a Decade The 1960s and short films including A time for New Dreams with Artes Mundi. She’s currently curator and manager for archive photographer Charlie Phillips OBE, and a board member of TEAM Collective Cymru. She’s also a MPhil candidate at the University of South Wales.

Chapter is an international centre for contemporary arts and culture, rooted in the heart of Cardiff, Wales.

Established by artists in 1971 to celebrate experimentation and radical thought, they have been a catalyst for creativity and critical thinking ever since.

Their dynamic multi-artform programme forms a constellation of radical and experimental ideas and practices. Across visual art, film, performance and multidisciplinary projects, they seek to explore the most urgent questions of our time.

Chapter values imagination and risk-taking, investing in artists and communities as world-builders. Their approach is collaborative and committed to their community – artists, audiences, neighbours, staff and cultural workers – on their doorstep, in Wales and beyond.  

Over 8 weeks, supported by the Chapter team, curator/programme lead Yvonne Connikie, industry guests and archive professionals, you will learn about PanAfrican cinema, film curation, working with archives and how to put on your own film event. Each session will have presentations, workshops and activities, and reflection time. The trainees will create their own reflective record of learning through a journal, video or another kind of creative medium.

Trainees will gain insight into:

• The history and purpose of the June Givanni PanAfrican Cinema Archive
• Practical archiving and curatorial skills
• The planning and delivery of a public archive ‘pop-up’ event
• The cultural importance of PanAfrican cinema within UK and global contexts

As well as the workshop sessions, the trainees will have opportunities to:

• Watch and research PanAfrican cinema tailored to their interests
• Attend local events to enhance their learnings
• Read relevant books and resources
• Create their own film event based on their learnings.

Each trainee will be allocated a bursary of £784, inclusive of tax. There are no travel or other expenses included, but trainees will be provided with learning resources. Trainees can apply to the BFI Individual Skills Fund for travel and other expenses.

This bursary is based on a £14 per hour hourly rate, for 56 hours over the 8 weeks. Your total learning hours in the weekly sessions will be 47.5 hours, so you have a remaining 8.5 hours to contribute towards your optional weekly film screenings and local event attendance.

Half of the bursary will be paid in Week 1 of the training, once you submit an invoice; the second half, on submission of an invoice in Week 8. You are responsible for your own National Insurance and tax contributions. If you need support creating an invoice, we can help.

This training will help you understand PanAfrican Cinema and the global significance of Black British cinema as a diaspora cinema. It will help you to understand relevance to transnational histories with African diaspora communities, and to develop skills and knowledge in film programming and working with archives

It will be useful to you if you’re considering going into a career in film programming, working with archives or putting on your own cultural events. 

The training is for individuals based in Cardiff, of African or Caribbean heritage and who have a curiosity and interest in learning about PanAfrican Cinema. You do not need to have work experience in film or archives, or any experience in film. You just need to be aged 18 or over, and have a curious mind and an enthusiasm to learn.

This curatorial traineeship aims to increase opportunities in the film and archive sector for people in Wales. JGPACA recognises that the film and archives sector is hugely underrepresented by Black people, even though there is a gradual increase in interest in Black film content.

The training will take place in Chapter.

The address is: Chapter, Market Road, Canton, Cardiff CF5 1QE, Wales.

Week 1 – Wednesday 11 February
Week 2 – Wednesday 18 February
Week 3 – Wednesday 25 February
Week 4 – Wednesday 4 March
Week 5 – Wednesday 11 March
Week 6 – Wednesday 18 March
Week 7 – Wednesday 25 March
Week 8 – Wednesday 1 April

Do I have to attend all of it?

You should only apply if you can attend at least 7 of the 8 weekly sessions. This is to ensure you get the most out of the learning experience. Aside from the weekly sessions, there will also be optional research screenings to attend, and opportunities to attend other local relevant cultural events.

To apply for this opportunity, click on the link below and answer the questions.

Submit your application

You must submit your application by ​1 December 2025, 5pm.

Once the application deadline has passed, we’ll shortlist the applicants and invite a selection for an informal conversation online. This will take place w/c 8 December 2025 with Claire Vaughan, Cinema Programme Manager at Chapter and Yvonne Connikie.

We’ll then select the three trainees and let them, and unsuccessful applicants, know by 12 December 2025.

The three selected trainees will start on Week 1: Wednesday 11 February 2026.

If you have any questions, you can get in contact directly with Yvonne Connikie at [email protected].