A portfolio of cultural, creative, and strategic initiatives I’ve built, led, or collaborated on- from grassroots movements to international platforms.
A portfolio of cultural, creative, and strategic initiatives I’ve built, led, or collaborated on-from grassroots movements to international platforms.
My self-initiated cultural and creative ventures — conceived, led, and built from the ground up to create lasting impact locally, nationally, and internationally.
My self-initiated cultural and creative ventures — conceived, led, and built from the ground up to create lasting impact locally, nationally, and internationally.
My self-initiated cultural and creative ventures — conceived, led, and built from the ground up
to create lasting impact locally,nationally,
and internationally.
Flagship Projects
Somalinimo UK Independance Day 2025
Somalinimo UK Independance Day 2025
Somalinimo UK Independance Day 2025
Cultural platform celebrating Somali heritage through large-scale events, workshops, and community-led projects.
Produced the UK’s largest Somali Independence Day celebration (800+ attendees, 12 media partners) currently running weekly Cultural Dance Bootcamps and and developing Somali Week 2026 and other cultural initiatives
British Somali Poetry Collective (BSPC)
British Somali Poetry Collective (BSPC)
British Somali Poetry Collective (BSPC)
National network connecting Somali poets through performances, workshops, and weekly resource-sharing. Building visibility and opportunities for Somali voices across the UK.
Work rooted in Somali heritage, identity, and community — from international cultural diplomacy to grassroots initiatives preserving language and tradition.
Work rooted in Somali heritage, identity, and community — from international cultural diplomacy to grassroots initiatives preserving language and tradition.
Somali-Related Projects
Somali-Related Projects
Global Somali Diaspora (Turkey, 2024)
Global Somali Diaspora (Turkey, 2024)
Global Somali Diaspora (Turkey, 2024)
Panelist on heritage, language, and the arts in rebuilding Somalia; performed poetry at the opening ceremony for an international cultural gathering.
Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs × Qatari Government (Qatar, 2024)
Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs × Qatari Government (Qatar, 2024)
Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs × Qatari Government (Qatar, 2024)
Performed and spoke on arts and culture in the diaspora as part of an international conference on Somali development and unity.
February Fundraiser – Head of Fundraising Midlands (2021)
February Fundraiser – Head of Fundraising Midlands (2021)
February Fundraiser – Head of Fundraising Midlands (2021)
Led a month-long campaign collectively raising £170,000 for Project EDEN, part of UNHCR’s humanitarian relief efforts in Somalia.
Numbi Arts – Aroos (2024)
a week-long play exploring Somali weddings and cultural traditions.
Dreamchasers Youth Club (2019-2020)
Designed, curated and delivered a leadership training for young Somali girls
Ururka Bahda Af Soomaliyeed
Co-founded organisation increasing Somali language proficiency in the West Midlands through events, book launches, and cultural programming.
Numbi Arts – Aroos (2024)
a week-long play exploring Somali weddings and cultural traditions.
Dreamchasers Youth Club (2019-2020)
Designed, curated and delivered a leadership training for young Somali girls
Ururka Bahda Af Soomaliyeed
Co-founded organisation increasing Somali language proficiency in the West Midlands through events, book launches, and cultural programming.
Ayan’s performance brought our event to a close in the most beautiful way. Her two spoken word pieces were stunning. Powerful and deep and she moved many in the audience to tears. Her bilingual seamless switching between Somali and English and her connections to identity, family, place, all were so moving and have extra resonance in these times of anti-migrant divisive narratives. Ayan is a beautiful young woman of integrity making sure stories are heard and I would highly recommend working with her
Ayan’s performance brought our event to a close in the most beautiful way. Her two spoken word pieces were stunning. Powerful and deep and she moved many in the audience to tears. Her bilingual seamless switching between Somali and English and her connections to identity, family, place, all were so moving and have extra resonance in these times of anti-migrant divisive narratives. Ayan is a beautiful young woman of integrity making sure stories are heard and I would highly recommend working with her
Dr Julie Siddiqj MBE - Co-founder,
British Muslim Network
Selected creative partnerships with institutions, festivals, and cultural organisations, delivering commissioned performances, installations, and collaborative works.
Selected creative partnerships with institutions, festivals, and cultural organisations, delivering commissioned performances, installations, and collaborative works.
Selected creative partnerships with institutions, festivals, and cultural organisations, delivering commissioned performances, installations, and collaborative works.
Commissions & Collaborations
Commissions & Collaborations
The National Literacy Trust- Home Words (2025)
The National Literacy Trust- Home Words (2025)
The National Literacy Trust- Home Words (2025)
Commissioned to create Home Words, a poem built from 3,000 words collected from children.
Hippodrome x Paul Stringer: The City That Spoke to Me Exhibition (2024)
Hippodrome x Paul Stringer: The City That Spoke to Me Exhibition (2024)
Hippodrome x Paul Stringer: The City That Spoke to Me Exhibition (2024)
Performed three times daily at Birmingham’s main train stations during the Weekender festival; work exhibited as part of the citywide installation.
Birmingham City University: Benjamin Zephaniah Competition(2024 & 2025)
Birmingham City University: Benjamin Zephaniah Competition(2024 & 2025)
Birmingham City University: Benjamin Zephaniah Competition(2024 & 2025)
Commissioned to write and perform the opening poem for the 2024 competition; returning in 2025 for the opening of the Zephaniah Building and as a competition judge.
The National Trust – Oh Blossom (2025)
Led a workshop with children from 3 local schools whereby we co-created a community poem, that was filmed and published nationally.
Civic Square (2024, 2025)
Performed at multiple events, including a 3-day residency in the Centre of Alternative Technology in Wales producing a poem in response to a community conference.
University of Bolton – Cross-Medium Exhibition (2024)
Collaborative project merging paintings and poems in a cyclical creative process.
The National Trust – Oh Blossom (2025)
Led a workshop with children from 3 local schools whereby we co-created a community poem, that was filmed and published nationally.
Civic Square (2024, 2025)
Performed at multiple events, including a 3-day residency in the Centre of Alternative Technology in Wales producing a poem in response to a community conference.
University of Bolton – Cross-Medium Exhibition (2024)
Collaborative project merging paintings and poems in a cyclical creative process.
The National Trust – Oh Blossom (2025)
Led a workshop with children from 3 local schools whereby we co-created a community poem, that was filmed and published nationally.
Civic Square (2024, 2025)
Performed at multiple events, including a 3-day residency in the Centre of Alternative Technology in Wales producing a poem in response to a community conference.
University of Bolton – Cross-Medium Exhibition (2024)
Collaborative project merging paintings and poems in a cyclical creative process.
Ayan was the HIGHLIGHT of our event. Her words deeply moving and her presence truly unmatched. She inspired everyone in the audience, from young to old. On the day, and even now, people are still talking about her performance! She brought a beautiful energy and depth to the evening, and we feel so blessed to have had this talented young woman perform at our annual flagship event. Thank you Ayan!
Ayan was the HIGHLIGHT of our event. Her words deeply moving and her presence truly unmatched. She inspired everyone in the audience, from young to old. On the day, and even now, people are still talking about her performance! She brought a beautiful energy and depth to the evening, and we feel so blessed to have had this talented young woman perform at our annual flagship event. Thank you Ayan!
Ferdous
Head of Youth & Community Outreach
The Muath Trust
Projects designed to empower communities, amplify underrepresented voices, and use the arts as a tool for social change.
Projects designed to empower communities, amplify underrepresented voices, and use the arts as a tool for social change.
Community, Education & Social Impact
Community, Education & Social Impact
Operation Black Vote × Birmingham Race Impact Group (2024)
Operation Black Vote × Birmingham Race Impact Group (2024)
Operation Black Vote × Birmingham Race Impact Group (2024)
Participated in a Nation-wide campaign to boost voter registration within Black communities across Birmingham.
HMP Stoke Heath (2024-2025)
HMP Stoke Heath (2024-2025)
HMP Stoke Heath (2024-2025)
Designed and delivered poetry workshops with inmates, culminating in the creation and sale of a charity book.
In Place of War × Detroit Organisations (Manchester, 2023)
In Place of War × Detroit Organisations (Manchester, 2023)
In Place of War × Detroit Organisations (Manchester, 2023)
Took part in a week-long cultural exchange exploring creative activism between UK and US community leaders.
“Ayan Aden’s poetry shows a clear and unapologetic pride in her identity as a Somali woman and as a Brummy, but she does this in a way that leaves no one behind. Her use of imagery and language is powerful in a way that it takes everyone on a journey with her, and I challenge anyone to hear her poetry and not be moved by it. “
Casey Bailey Former Poet Laureate Writer | Educato
The Heath Bookshop Festival 2024
Created and delivered a sold-out poetry event.
Sonic Signals (Eastside Project (2022)
Workshops with children leading to a public exhibition.
University of Oxford's Creative Multilingualism- Slanguages (2020)
Contributed to academic research on multilingual creativity.
The Heath Bookshop Festival 2024
Created and delivered a sold-out poetry event.
Sonic Signals (Eastside Project (2022)
Workshops with children leading to a public exhibition.
University of Oxford's Creative Multilingualism- Slanguages (2020)
Contributed to academic research on multilingual creativity.
The Heath Bookshop Festival 2024
Created and delivered a sold-out poetry event.
Sonic Signals (Eastside Project (2022)
Workshops with children leading to a public exhibition.
University of Oxford's Creative Multilingualism- Slanguages (2020)
Contributed to academic research on multilingual creativity.
“Ayan Aden’s poetry shows a clear and unapologetic pride in her identity as a Somali woman and as a Brummy, but she does this in a way that leaves no one behind. Her use of imagery and language is powerful in a way that it takes everyone on a journey with her, and I challenge anyone to hear her poetry and not be moved by it. “
Casey Bailey Former Poet Laureate Writer | Educato
