In July 2013, the founding members of the European Race and Imagery Foundation (ERIF) came together with the shared aim of analysing and combating contemporary negative representations of people of colour across Europe. Namely we are interested in how European understandings of home, belonging, space, citizenship and identity are racialised. We are positioned specifically in a bid to depart from US-centric understandings of race and racism, which do not always necessarily relate to the European experience.

Subsequently, the foundation aims to organize various annual projects as well as contribute to existing projects by other anti-racism organisations. Members of this foundation are affiliated with international universities, cultural organisations, activist groups and art collectives. We are located across the continent: in the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland, although our wider collaborative network spans much further. As members of this single foundation, we are creating a wider, interdisciplinary network of campaigners and thinkers, while combining our talents, experience and ideas to bring about safe, accessible and meaningful platforms.

We believe strongly in working in solidarity with fellow European anti-racism organisations (such as Collectif Faitesdes Vagues, the Race in the Marketplace network, and Roma Jam Session Art Kollektiv) towards achieving a collective liberation. To us, this means bringing an end to racism via our specific focus on imagery, as well as other oppressive socio-political structures such as, patriarchy, state sanctioned violence, heteronormative world-views, exploitation of natural resources, ableism and capitalism.

Ultimately, we are working towards a new world-order, which emphasises a poetics of difference, where bodies and citizens marked by racial difference can have complex identities and lives that matter equally. This will entail a cooperative, mutually supportive and inclusive societal structure as well as ongoing and active quests for social justice and democratic ways to live together. In other words, radical equal participation in society for everyone.

OUR HISTORY

In July 2013, the current and founding members of ERIF came together with the shared aim of analysing and combating contemporary negative representations of people of colour. Namely we are interested in how European understandings of home, belonging, space, citizenship and identity are racialised. We aim to conduct critical research of the various media expressions, provide education for a broader audience and interact with like-minded action-oriented and intellectual individuals across Europe. We also aim to raise awareness of the counter movements and narratives taking place throughout the continent, which seek to navigate, survive and dismantle white patriarchal hegemony. We are positioned specifically in a bid to depart from US-centric understandings of race and racism, which do not always necessarily relate to the European experience.

Subsequently, the foundation organises events (such as our Returning the Gaze conferences) and workshops, conducts research and curates content in order to amplify the European anti-racist discourse. Members of this foundation are affiliated with international universities, cultural organisations, art collectives and includes cultural critics. We are located across the continent: in the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland, although our wider collaborative network spans much further. As members of this single foundation, we are creating a wider, interdisciplinary network of campaigners and thinkers, while combining our talents, experience and ideas to bring about safe, accessible and meaningful platforms.

Meet and see an overview of our team here.

ERIF is a member of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and recipient of the 2022 Empowerment & Resilience scheme, which is financed by the ENAR Foundation.