Scratch Renaissance is a programme created by Chisenhale Dance Space, together with its Artist Community, that is designed to reinvigorate scratch culture in the UK. To document and help amplify the programme, we launched an interview series with CDS that spotlights the six partners presenting and curating scratch nights as part of Scratch Renaissance.
Each month from August 2025 – July 2026, one of the Scratch consortium partners will present an event that stretches our understandings of what scratch culture looks like and can be.
This month we hear from identity.ideas.industry (iii) founder, Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus, who will present a scratch night featuring the artist as the scratch work, the unfinished article.
Three artists will be in conversation with Tali and each share a piece of their work on screen – a rehearsal, an improvisation, a show trailer, a completed work or extract thereof. Together they will explore the discomfort that comes with self-promotion and provide a space to develop the art of speaking about a creative practice.
Taking place on Friday 28 November, we caught up with Tali to discover more…
What does scratch look like in your community?
For my community, I feel like scratch has moved online. In terms of like mixers, panels, anything that does involve a spoken voice and version of practice, I don’t really see too much of that in hip hop circles. So again, I am asking myself: What can I do to serve the community that I am from and what are the gaps I can bridge?
How is your scratch night different?
The art of articulating yourself as an artist isn’t something you’re expected to know until you’re in a room with the right people and you need to do it! I think to give artists the skills to use their voice, and not just show your dancing, is really important. A scratch night that has an in-conversation format will help the artist past the scratch night.
spiiill takes place on Friday 28 November at 7pm at Chisenhale Dance Space. Get your tickets here.