Upgrade Yourself Takeover: Jennie Baptiste
Upgrade Yourself is taking over Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots for one night only. Set against the backdrop of Baptiste’s powerful photography exploring music, identity, and community, this free evening of talks, workshops, and networking is designed to help aspiring creatives aged 18–30 connect with peers and industry professionals.
For 18-30 year olds.
| Dates | Thurs 13 Nov 2025 |
| Times | 6pm -10pm |
| Space | Seamen's Hall |
| Price | Free |
Programme
Exhibition
Free Entry to Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm and Roots
Exhibition
Terrace Rooms
DJ
Live DJ Set from DJ 279
DJ
Seamen's Hall
Workshop
Zine & Flyer Making: Imagining Community Spaces
Workshop
Seamen's Hall
Workshop
The Art of Mixing with DJ Pogo
Workshop
Great Arch Hall
In conversation
Lisa Anderson in Conversation with Jennie Baptiste
In conversation
Screening Room
Workshop
The Art of Mixing with DJ Pogo
Workshop
Great Arch Hall
Start the night with a free Karma Drink at the bar, along with food from Wingstop and Butch Salads, and immerse yourself into an evening of great vibes
Connect with fellow creatives, share ideas, and chat with industry pros about breaking into the creative world.
Please note: this event is for 18–30-year-olds.
Artist Bios
DJ 279
DJ 279 is a legendary UK Hip-Hop DJ, broadcaster, and promoter who has played a vital role in shaping the UK rap scene since the early ’90s. Known for his influential Friday Nite Flavas show on Choice FM and founding Flava of Da Month, he has championed generations of UK talent while working with global icons like Public Enemy, DJ Premier, and Mos Def. A respected industry figure, he continues to DJ major concerts and recently led a UK-wide tour celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop, supported by the British Arts Council.
DJ Pogo
DJ Pogo is a UK Hip-Hop icon, internationally acclaimed turntablist, producer, and educator. A former UK mixing champion, he’s worked with legends like KRS-One, Missy Elliott, and Carleen Anderson, while touring globally with artists such as Courtney Pine and Beverly Knight. In 1997, he founded SupaSkillz, an educational workshop teaching DJing and music skills to young people worldwide. Pogo is also a key figure in UK Hip-Hop Theatre, collaborating with Jonzi D on groundbreaking productions that blend music, dance, and poetry. He is the founder of Lyrical Lounge, a jazz-meets-Hip-Hop night that became a staple at London venues like Jazz Café and Cargo.
Zoë Thompson
Zoë Thompson is a zine-maker and facilitator based in London who champions the power of zine culture as a radical tool of expression and fuses play into her workshops. She is also the founder of sweet-thang zine, a community and indie press publishing work by Black creatives worldwide, and has worked with organisations such as the Southbank Centre, Wellcome Collection, National Gallery, Design Museum, Tate Modern and King’s College London.
Lisa Anderson
Lisa Anderson is a cultural strategist and curator with an academic background in human rights, committed to advancing social justice and racial equity through the arts. She recently joined Messums.org as Associate Director, where she leads on curatorial programming. Until December 2024, she was Managing Director of the Black Cultural Archives, the UK’s leading institution dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black British history. As an independent curator and consultant, she continues to champion art from the African Diaspora, particularly in the UK. Her recent work includes curating Soulscapes: African Diaspora Artists and the Natural World at Dulwich Picture Gallery, a critically acclaimed exhibition. In 2016, she founded @blackbritishart, a platform dedicated to raising the visibility of Black British artists.