About
NBAM is a Community Interest Company (CIC), a type of non-profit designed for social enterprises that want to use and reinvest their return for the benefit of the community.
Our mission is to liberate people and create hope through creativity.
Our Vision
We aim to help bridge the social gaps in our community through delivering socially engaging arts projects to the most marginalised members of society, working alongside other like minded artists and creators.
We hope to impact positively on everyday life, and contribute to social harmony, and believe the far-reaching qualities of art can transcend the gallery, engaging otherwise excluded beneficiaries.
We would love to see a world where the benefits of art are felt by everybody!
From Neesha, founder of NBAM
Hi! I’m Neesha, a freelance producer and arts practitioner, and founder of NBAM.
Since 2012 I’ve been working with older and ethnically diverse people, as well as those living with long term mental health conditions in Waltham Forest, Barking & Dagenham and Redbridge. My practice places people at the centre of every project, encouraging conversation, communication, compassion and of course, creativity.
I’ve always been interested in the lives of others and had a desire to positively impact them. Growing up in a mixed race and religion household meant that from an early age I gained experience and insight into how different points of view can all be valid.
Like many of the NBAM participants, I grew up in a working class area and saw the social problems which occur such as low levels of education, lack of aspiration, addiction, violence and affects of incarceration, as well as people ageing before their time. I understand the financial, mental and emotional pressures there are to try to achieve with all this set against you.
Throughout my early 20’s I struggled with my own mental health, having been exposed to traumatic and overwhelming experiences. Thanks to my family, close friends and professional help I managed to overcome them.
The main constant in my life has always been art. I loved it without being told to or given any parental direction. If anything, I was steered away from it as being ‘not for the likes of us’. It was however the area where I excelled and had the most joy. I therefore changed that narrative and made it my whole career.
I write, read, draw, dance and experiment for my own joy and this feeling of hope, which comes from creating something new and seeing our problems in a different way, is what I hope to share with others.