From live performances to global food, student-led initiatives and community partnerships, our Culture Festival 2026 celebrated diversity in action.
On 13th March, our college community came together to celebrate the vibrant diversity that makes OSFC such a special place, as we hosted our annual Culture Festival.
This year’s theme, “Belonging,” was at the heart of the day, bringing students, staff, and the wider community together to celebrate culture, creativity, identity, and connection.
What makes this event particularly powerful is that it is student-led. Our dedicated Student Culture Board began planning the festival back in December, working collaboratively to design a day that truly reflected the voices, experiences, and identities of our community.
A Day of Culture, Creativity and Connection
The festival offered a rich programme of workshops, performances and experiences, allowing students to explore cultures from around the world.
Highlights from the day included:
- Reggae and Ska storytelling and music with Bopper, a former member of Bob Marley’s entourage, who shared powerful stories alongside live musical vibes.
- A nail art demonstration from Shea Osei, who has worked on the award-winning film Wicked alongside Cynthia Erivo, inspiring students with insight into the creative industries.
- Global food workshops led by local chef, Brian Powlett, where students explored flavours from across the world, from jollof rice to sustainable plant-based dishes.
- An energetic steel drums workshop delivered by Ipswich Youth Steel Band, filling the campus with rhythm and celebration.
- An immersive art and VR storytelling exhibition by Hannah Aria, exploring themes of migration, identity and heritage.
- Wellbeing benches and industry talks, where influencer Dean Commardo worked alongside built environment students to design and build benches live, while sharing creative and industry insights.
Celebrating Our Community
Across the college, a range of exhibitions, stalls and activities brought the theme of belonging to life.
We were proud to host:
- A powerful art exhibition from the Ipswich Romanian Community
- A “Literature from Around the World” display curated by our library team
- A variety of food stalls and menus from across the globe, delivered by The Latin Table and our own catering team
We also welcomed a number of partner organisations, who hosted stalls and engaged with students throughout the day, including:
- ISCRE – Beyond Boundaries
- Outreach Youth
- Ipswich and Colchester Museums
- The Phoebe Centre
- Sickle Cell Suffolk
- Suffolk Archives
Alongside this, students had the opportunity to explore podcasts focusing on migration stories with Aspire Black Suffolk, as well as visit a range of student-led stalls, further celebrating the diversity, talent and creativity within our college community.
The Red Carpet Finale
The highlight of the day was our much-loved red carpet runway event.
Students took to the runway wearing traditional dress or the colours of their national flags, proudly representing their heritage and identity.
The entire college community came together, whether walking the runway or cheering from the crowd, creating an atmosphere of joy, pride and celebration.
It was a powerful reminder of what belonging truly means:
being seen, being valued, and being celebrated for who you are.
A Celebration of Belonging
The OSFC Culture Festival continues to grow each year, and 2026 was no exception.
Thanks to the passion and leadership of our Student Culture Board, the event not only celebrated diversity but also strengthened connections across our college and wider community.
Events like this highlight our commitment to ensuring every student feels a sense of belonging, while also developing confidence, creativity, and cultural understanding.
We are incredibly proud of everyone involved in making this year’s festival such a memorable and meaningful success.
