Creative Collectives Aren’t Dead, They’re Evolving
With closures of gal-dem, Babyface, and Marguerite, you might think the age of the creative collective is over.
“The world was a very different place when Marguerite launched in 2015. Feminism, culture and the workplace look very different now.”
— Marguerite, ‘The End’
But while the landscape has shifted, the need for radical, representative spaces in the creative industries is more urgent than ever.
According to the Creative Majority Report by King’s College London, the UK’s creative economy still systematically excludes. Women, people of colour, working-class creatives, disabled people, and anyone outside London and the South East are still under-represented — especially in leadership and high-profile creative roles.
“Straight, able-bodied, white men living in London are only 3.5% of the UK population. Nevertheless, this small minority still dominates the creative sector — particularly in senior roles.”
— Creative Majority Report
So no — the collective model isn’t dead. It’s changing shape, shifting purpose, and getting louder.
These collectives aren’t just surviving. They’re pushing back, lifting up, and building new systems from the ground up. Here are a few leading the charge:
Foundation FM
London-based and proudly led by women and LGBTQI+ creatives, Foundation FM champions underground music and emerging talent — rethinking what representation sounds like on the airwaves.
BRICKS
A print mag and online platform exploring fashion, music, art and activism. BRICKS connects new-gen creatives with global names, amplifying the voices of climate campaigners, trans rights activists, and the artists shaping a more conscious future.
Baesianz
A multidisciplinary platform for artists of Asian heritage. From exhibitions to community events, Baesianz is about kinship, collaboration and using creativity as a collective force for change.
“We couldn’t be a collective without this sense of kinship... The most impactful social change happens together.”
— Roxy Farahmand, Co-founder
AZEEMA
More than a magazine — AZEEMA is a movement. Print, digital, agency and community all in one, it explores identity, beauty and strength across the WANA+SA region and the global majority.
The model isn’t broken — it’s just being rewritten. And these collectives are the blueprint for what comes next.