A Room of Our Own
The guest list was good but the artists were better.
Inside Fé Collective’s inaugural gala at Bush Hall.
Guests gather around the stage at Bush Hall for performances at the Fé Collective Gala, 12th June 2026. Photo by Jennifer Moyes. Courtesy of Fé Collective.
To borrow a line from a recent Instagram post about the Royal Academy Summer Party, "the guest list was more curated than the exhibition." A witty remark, though as I stood at Fé Collective's first gala last night, looking out across Bush Hall, I hoped that wasn't true of us.
Our ambition has always been simple, to create opportunities for emerging female artists and to build the kind of creative community I wish existed in greater abundance. Last night felt like a glimpse of what that could become.
Bush Hall's Edwardian interiors played host to an evening of poetry, music and performance from a group of artists whose work deserves attention far beyond a single summer evening.
Caro Lestón performing The Glass Delusion, a poem by Stephanie Ritzema at the Fé Collective Gala, 12th June 2026. Photo by Jennifer Moyes. Courtesy of Fé Collective.
We began with The Glass Delusion, a poem by Stephanie Ritzema, performed by Caro Lestón. Revisiting themes inspired by Ana Mendieta, the work explored the lingering realities of the glass ceiling and the ways women in the arts continue to navigate structures not always designed for them. It was thoughtful, incisive and an apt opening for a night dedicated to female voices.
Annabel Cator performing ‘My friend’ at Fé Collective Gala, 12th June 2026. Photo by Jennifer Moyes. Courtesy of Fé Collective.
Annabel Cator followed with her poem, my friend, reflecting on the beauty of friendship and growing together. In a world increasingly obsessed with personal brands and individual success, this work centred connection, putting everyday relationships centre stage.
Mickey Demas then took to the stage, accompanied by Annabel on cello, performing 10,000. The piece unfolded through an intimate exchange between voice and instrument, moving between solo passages, harmony and overlap. Performed improv, the cello and the vocals were in a beautiful dance, trusting each other to take the next step. They brought the audience into a pure space, it was as though we had been invited into a private conversation.
Mickey Demas, accompanied by Annabel on cello, performing 10,000 at Fé Collective Gala, 12th June 2026. Photo by Jennifer Moyes. Courtesy of Fé Collective.
The evening culminated with Landscapes of Trust by Volume One Tongue, the musical and performance project of multidisciplinary artist Isla Greenwood. Performing three songs, Volume One Tongue explored themes of land rights, seed scarcity, mental health and belonging, Greenwood tackled subjects that sound impossibly large while remaining deeply human and brought us all back into the present.
Volume One Tongue performing their set at Fé Collective Gala, 12th June, 2026. Photo by Jennifer Moyes. Courtesy of Fé Collective.
By the time DJs RUBEN and Emir took over, the room had shifted from attentive listening to enthusiastic dancing. Conversations between artists, writers, curators and supporters spilled onto the dance floor and continued late into the evening.
London has no shortage of art parties. What it sometimes lacks are spaces where emerging artists are genuinely the focus rather than the backdrop.
Last night reminded me why Fé Collective exists in the first place. The guest list was wonderful, but the people on stage were the reason we were all there.
Fé Collective’s Freshers 2025-26 cohort at the Fé Collective Gala, 12th June 2026. Photo by Jennifer Moyes. Courtesy of Fé Collective.
