Ruth Smart, Choir Director (Brighton)

From putting on inclusive club nights to volunteering as a support gardener and cook in community gardens and kitchens, I’ve spent years working and volunteering in community music and food projects. I’m now over the moon to be part of the Choir with No Name Brighton, where I can bring together my three passions: music, food, and community.

I’ve always been a huge appreciator of music and the cultures surrounding it – how it can tell stories, hold memories, and create a deep sense of belonging. Some of my most formative moments have been spent dancing at a jungle night or singing shanties together in a pub, where I've been moved and struck by the feeling of connection and collective energy, and the impact of singing - or dancing - in time to take you out of your own head. These experiences are why I co-run BBG, a DJ collective for women and gender expansive folk in Brighton, where we focus on creating inclusive spaces and a supportive musical community that blends the spirit of rave culture with the openness of the queer scene through open decks, radio shows, and more.

Creativity can look like many things – nurturing a seed until it blossoms, rustling up a meal from surplus veg, or belting your heart out in harmony with others. I'm passionate about creating spaces where people feel free to explore and connect with this side of themselves, knowing from personal experience how powerful it can be. That’s why I’m so grateful to work with the Choir with No Name, who do such an amazing job of creating warm, welcoming, and fun spaces that can spark confidence for people who are going through a rough time.