A spokesperson for the gallery said Shocka is the “first of many” artists to follow, reports Olivia Opara

A Tottenham rapper performed at a gallery last week as part of ‘mental health week’ to mark a new music initiative.

On 13th October, rapper and mental health advocate Shocka performed at the National Gallery to mark mental health week and the start of the gallery’s new music programme, Resonate Sounds. The evening started with a Q&A session in which Shocka spoke about his mental health journey and explored some of the themes within Anthony van Dyck’s painting Charity and how these themes are presented within his music.

Resonate Sounds is a programme which seeks to invite different artists to respond to the artwork within the museum through performance in collaboration with the National Gallery and RiskyRoadz, a grime and MC label.

Roony Keefe, founder and chief executive officer at RiskyRoadz, said: “It is just amazing to bring what we have done to an institution such as the National Gallery and to change the audience. Loads of people have said that today’s the first time they have come into the gallery. For us to have brought that gift, hopefully more and more people will come to see what a great place this is.”

Margherita Diceglie, events and music programmer at the National Gallery, told HCP that Shocka is the “first of many” artists who will be invited to perform in the gallery and that she hopes that this programme will “encourage more people” to visit.

“I was really keen on finding ways to connect the art within this institution that belongs to the nation to a different and diverse audience,” said Margherita. “So it was really special to do this with Roony and hopefully people will be coming more and get enriched by the beautiful artwork that is in the gallery.”

Fiona Alderton, educator and historian at the National Gallery, added: “It has just been such an amazing event and it has been an honour to have Shocka and Roony here and for Shocka to have spoken so openly about himself, his performance and bring such an energy to the gallery. It has been really special and really marvelous working with him.”

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