“Music and culture are not the side show here.
They are the engine.”
(Dizzy Spell)

…a few thoughts and snapshots from Cultures In Resistance, an international multi generational and cultural festival of activism with a parallel youth programme. Entertainment, education. discussion, a variety of ideas and opinions. Award winning/deserving performances - a spectrum of senses delivered by Manifesto Press Co-Operative (which publishes from a working class perspective and Hans Hess Foundation, furthering the understanding of art in social justice…

www.taringpadi.com - **Taring Padi i**s a group for good of art powered cultural activists promoting people’s culture through self expression. political expression and education for all.

When TheZineUK Editor, Dizzy Spell, previewed the inaugural ‘Cultures In Resistance’ in March, this unconventional convention already sounded like an alternative festival of wonder. I was invited. Simultaneouosly anxious and excited.

On 28th March the real Great Britain proved love is stronger than hate and The Many are decent, when half a million marched as the Together Alliance in London.

It’s Spring, seeds of other worlds have been sewn - especially since 2020 as everyday people awake. We are part of an increasingly visible fertile environment. Despite the hostile environment, a new world is struggling to be born, the head is showing by Aprill 2026:

**Hans Hess Foundation + Manifesto Press + Morning Star Newspaper + Thinking Hands + No End Of Creators** of all generations and backgrounds. The Universe sent sunshine for every single day of the first **Cultures in Resistance week. 6th-10th April 2026**

This Is The Way

Amidst the multi media in attendance at Cultures in Resistance, TheZineUK - a situationist DIY documentary - are represented. The serendipity of Nature weaves this tapestry.

We are amongst a wealth of talents, academics and book worthy life stories.

I (Caffy - Events Dept., Music People Party) was greeted as a Comrade within the most good natured front line imagineable.

An endorphin engaging, creative force of supernature is working together to improve the present and future for the world by learning from our past and present.

I write this from a personal point of view, collecting thoughts, elevated by this week of moments.

There are so many people to thank for an escape I’ll never forget

Most of all, Dizzy Spell for the invitation. Manifesto Press and the Hans Hess Foundation for the inspiration. Wortley Hall staff for the hospitality. Morning Star for news reporting from dystopia - not FOR dystopia. Every single person who was there, for the life affirmation and the dear birds who sang their hearts out.

The Workers’ Stateley Home has been owned by individuals and organisations associated with British trade unions and the wider labourers movement since 1951. https://wortleyhall.org.uk/

Too Much Goodness - is necessary for balance.

Obviously there is so much (and, happily too much) to write about and show in images and videos. It’s mainly an ongoing experience for life.

#CulturesInResistance is joining some dots on social media - there are SO many good humans who were there in spirit, even if they don’t know it. That’s an ongoing theme of our story. it’s who we have been from day one. Being part of this was meant to be.

A fluid programme of events and activities meant that I learned many things this week. As a degenerate at school age, I always KNEW that if things engaged us “problem students” that we would behave differently. Even introvert social skills couldn’t stop me finding new friends. I didn’t tell anybody there that I love them, but I do.

A bird needs a left wing AND a right wing to fly.

Is it so hard to believe that the (r)evolution wants social justice more than it could see the point of revenge?

Many can step back and consider wanting to save the planet and it’s life forms, including all of humanity. Even the people who despise us lefty “leftwaffe”, “leftards”. Ha ha, those are just some of the nicest names I’ve been called in what I like to Britpop reference as “Darklife”!

Mischievously, if we had been in Yorkshire on April 1st we could have wound up some sneery snarlers by pretending Wakefield had changed it’s name to Wokefield. Some of the most spiteful bigots have fragile egos. Hate will do that, sadly, as it is a form of grief.

Humour, like love and courage, are a shield for our inner lifelong child.

Love remains the strongest power.

Cultures In Resistance was so much more than the individuals and collectives who became one, a few miles out of Sheffield City Centre.

This inaugural fest of best is one of the chapters for the bravest new world despite this truly being the time of monsters.

To strengthen our sanity, we must fight for children of all ages to have hope and health (life’s true riches) and reap the rewards of good seeds being sewn.

The heroic have historically and globally fought monsters, dragons, evil - mythical or otherwise - in their hearts and minds and best of all, in reality. The empathy gene (still evolved in the many), pulses a natural compulsion to protect others.

The 21st century is rapidly being distracted - to be oppressed - by a virtual alien invasion with - it would appear - no human instinct for Nature to Nurture, as per our world’s shared circles and waves of ancient reality.

Capitalism is a greedy savage that terrorises all forms of life. The hisstablishment is our most dangerous demon yet. We fight on. We resist. Awakening is our most powerful, global, self-saviour mindset.

Art is a living spirit that enriches all forms of life

As a living project, this Labaratory of Love held inclusion and invitation.

There were public tickets for the events (discounted for Morning Star newspaper readers). Spending time out in such a magnificent setting is a therapy in itself. There was art in every view from antique architrecture, arts and craft to horizon to sky vistas. Wortley Hall has acres of fields, woodland and wildlife (humans included) and witnessed a unique opening evening for a stately home.

The week began with settling in, then hospitality and introductions. On Monday after there was the unveiling of a triptuch of paintings by Jamie Dodds. Industrial struggle and dignity united forever of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders including the gift of money (and roses, illustrated) from John Lennon. The workers and arts have entwined since we were hunter/gatherers drawing in caves. Dystopian hues brightened by life force reds.

Art Creates Art

The first image of this page is the Arts Manifest session brought to life. “In A Time Of Crisis, Change Everything Now”

Music And Protest

Following the sonic beauty of Ríoghnach Connolly;'s (yes a room full of people uniting voices to accompany a song in arabic) came the rising force of fierce that is Craic Killers.

Their rocked up energy meant that within a few songs the seating was pulled away as raucous joy spilled over to jump around for Irish / English protest punk beats. Funds were also raised for the world's beating heart, Cuba, via the auction of a handmade balaclava made by the band.

This whole week was no clique.

In some scenarios, culture and heritage are mistaken for humourless appreciation of the financially valued or ancient (and sometimes looted) treasures for an elite experience.

As the week unfolded, I was awed by the talents and stories of the company in which I found myself. Many of whom were jumping around to end the night in as much appreciation as they had sang along with Rioghnach Connolly an hour or so earlier. Uniqulture is an energy.

“Culture Is Ordinary”
Raymond Williams

In this, the 50th year of punk, these five days in creative residence has woven so many new threads into our already rich tapestry it mirrors the majority of the wider world where no lies are needed.

”Not too long ago I read an interview with the actor and director, John Cameron Mitchell, and he said that love and kindness are the most punk things you can do right now. "It was a little confusing for me; I thought, 'Oh, loud, angry music, love and kindness,' I didn't quite get the connection. And then I realized: yea, he's right. Love and kindness are a form of resistance."

(David Byrne, April 2026, Coachella Festival)

Talks, Theatre (‘Census’), Art In The Age Of Degenerative Capitalism, Creche and Children’s activities, Protest Performance Perception, Writing, Food and Drinks, Creativity, Poetry, Propaganda, Art And Labour In The Age of AI - Problem, Challenge Or Both, Social Media, Garden Walks, Cultural Value and the Value Of Funding, Sharing… a fraction of the action

This is a fine beginning for a braver new world.

“I’m a Roma woman. I’m a writer, a former forensic psychologist, a Marxist, and I’ve spent the last several years thinking very hard about artificial intelligence, not from the position of a tech optimist, not from the position of a luddite, but from the position of someone who has watched power reorganise itself over and over, and who knows what it looks like when a new tool gets called neutral.”

(Victoria Holmes) - I was fascinated by the conversation around AI “Problem, Challenge or Both?” It’s an ongoing mind whirl of opinions and possible solutions. So many of the talks and workshops are starting points for Culture In Resistance has laid a foundation of wide invitation and consideration.

Another of the starkest impressions made for me this week, personally, was of the film, ‘Oliver Tambo’s London Recruits’ directed by Gordon Main with South African activist, Molly Dhalamini, in conversation.

I had not yet seen this 2024 movie and so highly recommend it as unmissable. It’s a thriller, basically. Think of the film ‘Day Of The Jackal’ by Frederick Forsyth, humming the song ‘Common People’ by Pulp in it’s head without assassinating anybody.

A true story to fall even more in love with every day people. Look at the innocent and courageous heroes of all abilities and ages who are being arrested for being good hearts, to this day.

The London Recruits documentary drama is about good souls. I’m inspired by the mix of kind, brave spirits AND exciting entertainment.

The ordinary background of meeting at pubs, rallies and footy matches brought this home. Warm hearts are still being mislabelled, vindictively, as terrorists by those who terrorise us.

Made and premiered in Wales, Comrade Tambo’s London Recruits is inspired by the true story of how the ANC recruited volunteers in Britain at the height of apartheid, to travel to South Africa for undercover missions, it is interspersed with archive footage and dramatic re-enactments and is so far from dull that spontaneous applause breaks out at the end.

International solidarity has never been more relevant. Heroic is not the usual image of 1960s / 1970s football supporters, either. That some of them are on Earth in conversation at these events is more than a blessing.

Uplifting conversation and QnA in the bar after the screening.

‘They had people telling you who you could fall in love with and who you couldn’t, what bench you could sit on, what hotel you could stay in. I found it grotesque.” Steve Marsling told Tribune Magazine

An original London Recruit, Steve was present and in humble good humour at the screening and the Q+A, afterwards. A Millwall fan, a Teacher and much move over a far from dull life being lived in great honour.

I’ve not mentioned enough but watch our space…

Just know that the (r)Evolution will not be televised, but it may well be tweeted - if naturally playful human resistance to the empire’s “social” media is anything to go by…

The week of Monday 6th to Friday 10th April 2026 ended with the strangers who bonded on Monday, coming together as a family with the Taring Padi collective singing “we are learning together, we are working together”.

Such a beautiful end to an alternative heaven on Earth. I haven’t felt this way since that feeling of belonging in Cuba a quarter of a century ago.

Cultures In Resistance will return. Find and follow all the above and also watch TheZineUK for updates.

“Freedom Will Come.
We Will Never Give Up”

“Music and culture are not the side show here. They are the engine.” (Dizzy Spell)