danny bailey
Danny Bailey is a multidisciplinary artist,
creative director, performer, and cultural
curator whose work spans film,
performance, visual arts and writing.
Rooted in his Caribbean heritage, his work
challenges hostile environments and
structures globally and within British
society, reimagining futures where thriving
replaces survival.
Danny founded
@THEPALACEOFTHEDOGS, a platform
that supports Black and Brown artists to
explore and create without capitalist
constraints.
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTIST. CULTURAL CURATOR & FACILITATOR
ABout
Danny began his career in Dance and Theatre, where he gained a national diploma in Musical theatre
and Dance at the Urdang Academy. With a strong connection to his Caribbean roots as a creative
reference and a love of visual arts, he began addressing social issues through Film & Photography.
His practice involves merging various art forms such as film, documentary, fashion, and audio to
challenge oppressive structures within our society and imagine an existence outside of it.
Danny is the founder @THEPALACEOFTHEDOGS, an art platform and collective that seeks to
support and promote black artists without the pressure of capitalism. Through the curation of
galleries, zines, screenings, podcasts, and digital content, @THEPALACEOFTHEDOGS aims to make
the arts more accessible and a vehicle for imagining thriving futures for Global Majority people.
He is also a proud board member and the 'Diversity and Inclusion Champion’ at Collective Acting
Studio, a drama school in the heart of Finsbury Park. His goal is to enhance inclusivity in actor
training, increase access to theatre for neighboring communities, and innovate the purpose of art
within our society. As a facilitator, Danny teaches filmmaking, zine making, and dance to young
people and adults from underprivileged backgrounds, championing the importance of the arts in
young people's self-expression and development. He has recently worked with young people at
Haringey Shed, Mountview, and with movement artists at Babel Theatre Company.
Danny's work in experimental filmmaking includes:
- "Black Exodus" was showcased at the V&A, the National Gallery of Art in
Washington DC, and the Black Lens film festival. - "Soft Bwoi" featured at Tate Britain, Queer fringe film festival in London, the
Afropolitan Festival in Brussels, and the Fringe of Colour Festival in Edinburgh. - "Yard Gyal" was commissioned by Raze Collective & Stanley Arts.
In his role as a cultural curator, Danny has united skilled but underrepresented
visual artists, filmmakers, and musicians for exhibitions at Copeland Gallery and
Brixton House. He has also organised workshops, discussions, and forums to
enhance the themes portrayed in the artwork and build community, with art being
the focus.
His recent acting and performance endeavors include:
- "A Strange Loop" at The Barbican
- "Mr Loverman" on BBC
- "The Dark is Rising" with Complicité on BBC Sounds
- "Get Up Stand Up" at The Lyric Theatre
- "The Big Life" at Stratford East.
Danny is currently working on two new plays:
- "Pressure" - shortlisted for the Tony Craze Award
- "Finding Olokun" - recipient of the Queer Arts fund and under development at
the Stanley Arts.
“Bailey’s film, in its visceral
imagery, simmering
storytelling and sonic
vibrations, offers a
compelling argument for
the awakening of the divine
feminine, placing the ‘soft’
label in opposition to
weakness”.
Arusa Qureshi
Fringe of colour review
Creative Direction/
Film/
photography
As a visual artist, I draw significant inspiration from Caribbean culture, fashion, history,
music, and dance to shape the themes around identity in my creative work. My latest film
'Soft Bwoi' has been showcased at various prestigious venues including Tate Britain, the
Exposed film Festival in Berlin, the Fringe Of Colour Festival in Edinburgh, the Afropolitan
Festival in Brussels, and the Queer Fringe Festival in London.
Other commissions and festivals include:
"Black Exodus" was showcased at the V&A, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC,
and the Black Lens film festival.
"Yard Gyal" was commissioned by Raze Collective & Stanley Arts.
Acting/Performance
His recent acting and performance endeavors include:
- "A Strange Loop" at The Barbican
- "Mr Loverman" on BBC
- "The Dark is Rising" with Complicité on BBC Sounds
- "Get Up Stand Up" at The Lyric Theatre
- "The Big Life" at Stratford East.
@ThePalaceofthedogs
@THEPALACEOFTHEDOGS was established from my need to convey my social and political perspectives through art. Having worked in commercial musical theatre from a young age, I discovered that this was not the ideal channel for my art activism and began exploring other artistic mediums to further explore my cause. Along this path, I found that many fellow creatives shared this universal sentiment stifled by capitalism. @THEPALACEOFTHEDOGS serves as a platform that uplifts black and brown artists, free from the confines of capitalism, and advocates for recentering art in society through various means like events, digital content, a podcast, and publications..
Galleries/Events/PublicationS
As a curator, it's crucial to showcase underrepresented artists and create an inclusive experience for both the artists and the audience. I take pleasure in organizing galleries, panel discussions, and film screenings that amplify discussions on black identities, history/futures, and communities, urging audiences to reflect on societal influences on self-perception and inspiring them to explore their own perspectives and flourish.
My event curation covers galleries, film screenings, panel discussions, workshops, markets, and publications.
After curating the Copeland Gallery for the festival in 2023, I was asked to co-curate the festival in 2024. Our aim with the festival was to create an inclusive space that amplifies the hidden voices and subcultures of Peckham, ensuring these communities are carried forward into Peckham’s future. With 18,000 attendees, the free festival became a true celebration of the people who shape Peckham—from the local artists and musicians to the community businesses and intergenerational storytellers who preserve its cultural legacy
In 2024, the festival evolved into The Block Party, a dynamic and immersive experience that honoured Peckham’s rich heritage through live music, film screenings, performances, workshops, and discussions. We celebrated everything from Grime and UK Garage to ballroom culture, Little Lagos, and the vibrant market scene, embracing the full spectrum of what makes Peckham unique.
As Peckham undergoes rapid transformation, it is more important than ever to center the voices of those who built its cultural identity. The festival was a testament to our belief that regeneration should not mean erasure but an evolution that honours the past while embracing new influences. By fostering a safe, inclusive space that champions diversity, we ensured that Peckham Festival remained a place where every community felt seen, heard, and celebrated.
Peckham festival 2024
0.0s
Playwriting
I started my writing journey as a participant in the 2023 Soho Writers Lab. During this time, I worked on my play 'Pressure', which has been showcased twice at the Bush Theatre by XBAG Plays. It was later shortlisted for the Tony Craze Award. Additionally, my second play 'Finding Olokun' received the Queer Arts Fund at Stanley Arts and received backing from Brixton House while I held the position of Artist Associate. 'Finding Olokun' is being produced by Telluric.
0.0s
0.0s
creative Facilitation
I am also a proud board member and the 'Diversity and Inclusion Champion’ at Collective Acting Studio, a drama school in the heart of Finsbury Park. My goal is to enhance inclusivity in actor training, increase access to theatre for neighboring communities, and innovate the purpose of art within our society. As a facilitator, I teach filmmaking, zine making, and dance to young people and adults from underprivileged backgrounds, championing the importance of the arts in young people's self-expression and development. I have recently worked with young people at Haringey Shed, Mountview, and with movement artists at Babel Theatre Company.
Contact
Daniel.james.bailey@hotmail.co.uk
agent
BeaMarston@42mp.com
@itsdannyBwoi
@thepalaceofthedogs
website
www.thepalaceofthedogs.co.uk
spotlight
https://app.spotlight.com/1410-8946-4950