Hi.this is

A young man with tattoos, wearing headphones and a backwards pink cap, sitting on grass in an urban park, using DJ equipment with a drink and sneakers nearby, with modern buildings in the background.
A man and woman are standing behind DJ equipment, smiling at the camera in a room with a plain white wall. The man has long blond hair, wears a pink cap, a checkered shirt, and a black t-shirt, while the woman has shoulder-length dark hair, wears a black strapless top, and a necklace. There is a flat-screen TV and a small table with headphones and a bag on it in the background.
A man and a woman posing together indoors in front of DJ equipment, with a wall covered in handwritten notes and graffiti behind them.
DJ performing at a festival with a large crowd outside in the background, with colorful flags and trees.

CROSS

FADE

who,what why are we? 

Crossfade — is a refugee-led platform for DJs, electronic musicians and creatives. Led by and for people from refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant backgrounds. 

We create opportunities to learn, perform, collaborate and lead. But we’re building more than just one off workshops or events.

We’re building an ecosystem where displaced artists are recognised not as temporary beneficiaries, but as artists, organisers, cultural workers and decision-makers. We believe refugee artists shouldn’t have to wait to be invited by someone into the creative sector. They should have the tools, networks and confidence to build their own place within it.

A woman and a man smiling and posing together at a music festival or outdoor event, with a crowd and fairground rides in the background, inside a DJ booth with equipment and purple lighting.

why does it matter?

Refugee artists are often invited into creative spaces to share their stories.

Far less often are they trusted to shape programmes, make decisions, lead organisations or influence culture.

Crossfade exists because representation isn’t enough.

We believe people with lived experience should be designing the spaces they’re invited into - not simply participating in them.

what we are building:

Today

A DJ wearing a striped shirt and a black cap is performing at a DJ booth with Pioneer equipment, headphones on, in a room with exposed brick walls, a large indoor plant, and abstract art on the wall. A glass of orange drink is on the table.

  • DJ workshops

  • Artist development

  • Mentoring

  • Radio

  • Performances

Tomorrow

DJ performing at an outdoor music festival, with a large crowd of people in the background.

  • Creative residencies

  • Paid commissions

  • International collaborations

  • Festival stages

  • Leadership programmes

  • Community studio

The courage we had led us to this very moment. check out our latest “field notes“ to learn more.

Field notes
hi from dima
hi from dima

want to join?

Are you a person with lived experience of forced migration?

Click here to learn more about joining us.