About

Nicole is a British/Guyanese writer and artist based in London whose work seeks to explore words through the form of creative nonfiction essays, art review essays, interviews, spoken word poetry, poetry for the page, and blog posts for those who are interested in black literature and the literary arts in general. 

Nicole is also a collector of stories that depict the black British cultural experience. She is the editor and independent publisher of: *Brown Eyes (2005), Sexual Attraction Revealed (2007), and *Hair Power Skin Revolution (2010), all Shangwe produced anthologies of poetry and personal essays by black and mixed-heritage women of the African diaspora. Nicole's anthologies have been reviewed by Wasafiri Magazine, Writing in Education Magazine, and New African Woman Magazine. 

*Funded by Arts Council England's Grants for the Arts Award.

Writing MA:

During her Writing MA at the Royal College of Art (RCA) (2023/2024) Nicole:

• Interviewed Carol Leeming, a prominent performance artist who has made her mark on the music, theatre, digital media, and literary arts industry;
  
• Reviewed Claudette Johnson's Presence art exhibition at The Courtauld, which was later published in Ark Art Magazine Issue 1, April 2024, pp. 36-39;
• Wrote and recorded a five-minute audio piece in the form of a second-person spoken word vignette-style text, 'Brixton Revisited; Brixton Remembered' commissioned by Art on the Underground;
• Wrote an article on veganism for the RCA newspaper, The Dodo, Issue 3, February 2024, p.9;  
• Designed a 14-page art zine pamphlet that included Nicole's illustration portfolio — book covers, collage/TV poster, music illustration, character design, mural design, editorial illustration, reportage illustration, and a graphic novel.
  
  

Guest Radio Appearances:

As a result of publishing her third anthology Hair Power Skin Revolution, Nicole was invited to the National Theatre, London, to participate in 'My Fro and Me: Hair Stories from Women of Colour' and to BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, London, to participate in a discussion about the history and politics of Black women and hair.  

 

L-R Fashion Historian Caroline Fox,Vidal Sassoon's
Hair Colour Director Edward Darley, Woman's Hour Presenter Jane Garvey (seated),
Nicole Moore and music journalist Jacqueline Springer, August 2010.
(Photo courtesy of BBC Radio 4)

Shangwe Poetry Nights:

Between 2006 and 2008, Nicole hosted a vibrant monthly Shangwe Poetry Night at the Poetry Cafe, Covent Garden, London, featuring over 50 artists and over 30 open mic performers. These activities developed and represented nationally and internationally diverse performers.

Hair Power Skin Revolution Contributors & Nicole Moore
at a Reading Event, Poetry Cafe, Covent Garden, London. 2010

Poetry Readings

Nicole is also a published poet, which has involved performing at numerous book readings and poetry evenings, in theatres, libraries, literary festivals, small publishers' fairs, mainstream and community radio. Nicole's literary projects have also involved travelling to the US and the Caribbean.

 Hair Power Skin Revolution contributor Brenda White & Nicole Moore 
at a 'Hair Celebration' Book Reading/Discussion 
 - an International Women's Day Event, March 2011

Individual Awards:

• Sir Frank Bowling Scholarship (2023/2024) Awarded for Royal College of Art MA Writing
• Golden Sachs Post Graduate Bursary (2020/2022) Awarded to part fund Birkbeck College, University of London MA Culture Diaspora Ethnicity
• Grants for the Arts (September 2009) Awarded to develop, edit and publish Hair Power Skin Revolution: an anthology of poems and personal essays by Black and mixed race women
• Community Champions Fund (September 2004) Awarded to design and deliver a Creative Writing Workshop for adults (8 sessions)
• Grants for the Arts (August 2004) Awarded to develop, edit and publish Brown Eyes: an anthology of poems and personal essays by Black and mixed race women
• European Social Fund (1997-1999) Awarded for Middlesex University MA Work Based Learning Studies
• Millennium Award (May 1999) Awarded to design and deliver a 'Leaders for London' (Peabody Trust) Creative Writing Workshop for adults (8 sessions)

Brighton & Hove Black History Month 2010
Writing Our Legacy Literary Showcase

Literary Events from 2003 to date include:

2023 Dandelion Journal Special Issue Launch Event: Intersectionality & The Arts, Presentation and Art Exhibition, School of Arts, Birkbeck College, University of London

2020 World Afro Day 'Hair Today/Wear Tomorrow' (Hair Power Skin Revolution Poetry Reading/ Online Panel Speaker)

2018 Ntozake Shange Memorial Event: Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester (Reading)

2017 National Theatre - 'My Fro and Me: Hair Stories from Women of Colour' London (Hair Power Skin Revolution Poetry Reading)
2017 Born Between the Lines: An Autobiography Book Launch, Islington, London
2014 Mr Wrong Book Launch, Brixton, London (Reading/Panel Speaker)
2011 California State University Dominguez Hills, Los Angeles, US (Writing Seminar)

2011 Hair Celebration - International Women's Day, London (Hair Power Skin Revolution Book Reading/Interview)

2011 International Black Women's Film Festival 'My Nappy Roots' London (Panel Speaker)

2010 BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour - Politics of Black Women's Hair, London (Guest Speaker)

2010 People in Harmony, Mixed Race & The Arts, London (Conference Speaker)
2010 Millfield Arts Centre, London (Hair Power Skin Revolution Book Reading)

2010 Brighton & Hove Black History Month:Writing Our Legacy Literary Showcase (Hair Power Skin Revolution Book Reading)
2010 Waterstones Enfield Literature Event (Book Reading/Interview)

2010 Streetlife FM (Book Reading/Guest Appearance & Interview)

2010 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School for Girls (Hair Power Skin Revolution Book Reading/Seminar)

2005 University of Northampton Equality & Diversity Week: Poetry & Music (Brown Eyes Book Reading)
2005 Goodenough College, London Bookfair, International Conference on Diaspora Literature & the Subversion of Borders (Brown Eyes Book signing/Publisher Surgeries)

2005 Spit-Lit, Oxford House, London ('Race and Representation' Brown Eyes Book Reading)
2005 Newham Word Festival, East London ('Race and Representation' Brown Eyes Book Reading)
2005 BBC Radio Northampton, Monthly Book Club & Inspiration Show (Brown Eyes Book Reading/Interview)

2003 Columbia University, New York, US (Panel Member at a Why We Write? Conference)

Education:

2023 Birkbeck College, MA Culture, Diaspora, Ethnicity (Merit) 

2018 British College of Journalism, Diploma of Freelance Journalism
2013 TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) 120 hours

2001 Institute of Education, Training for Artists in Schools
1999 Middlesex University, MA Work-based Learning Studies (Community Development Management & Training) (Merit)
1996 Birkbeck College, Motherland to 'Motherland': Black Women's History (Distinction) 
1995 Birkbeck College, Black Women's Writing (Merit)
1986 University of Westminster, BA (Hons) Social Sciences (2ii)