What is the Confluence Collective Oxford?

The Confluence Collective Oxford is a multicultural music and arts group that has been celebrating the diverse cultures in the city of Oxford, UK, through monthly open mic events for the past 10 years.

Who founded the Confluence Collective Oxford, and what was their motivation?

The Confluence Collective Oxford was founded by retired musician Malcolm Atkins, who started the group through his work with the homeless charity Crisis Skylight Oxford, with the aim of showcasing Oxford's "much bigger, much more interesting" cultural landscape beyond the "elitist" music it is typically associated with.

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Multicultural Music Collective Celebrates 10 Years of Uniting Oxford

Q: How does the Confluence Collective Oxford represent the city's cultural diversity?

The collective gives voice to contributors from a wide range of backgrounds, including Punjabi, African, Korean, Middle Eastern, and Lani, allowing them to share their music, dance, and poetry.

15 Nov

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Summary

Confluence Collective Oxford marks 10 years of representing diverse cultures
Monthly open mic events give voice to contributors from Punjabi, African, Korean, and other backgrounds
Founder aims to showcase Oxford's "much bigger, much more interesting" cultural landscape beyond "elitist" music

Multicultural Music Collective Celebrates 10 Years of Uniting Oxford

In November 2025, Confluence Collective Oxford is celebrating a decade of representing the diverse cultures in the city through music, dance, and poetry. The group, founded by retired musician Malcolm Atkins, has been meeting monthly to give voice to contributors from a wide range of backgrounds, including Punjabi, African, Korean, Middle Eastern, and Lani.

Atkins, who started the collective through his work with the homeless charity Crisis Skylight Oxford, describes it as "a multicultural open mic at its best." He has become increasingly committed to promoting music within local communities, noting that the music Oxford is typically associated with, such as Radiohead, tends to be "white, indie, rock," representing a "very limited elitist kind of place."