When Ridwanul Kabir Shakib arrived in Bristol UK as a university student, he wasn’t seeking a familiar flag or a home away from home—he was searching for creative electricity and positive representation of being a Bangladeshi. “I wanted a space run by artists, for artists—where you could experiment, connect, and build something bigger than yourself,” he remembers. “But in all of Bristol, I couldn’t find it. So, I decided to make it real.”
That decision would change not just his own path, but the creative map of a city renowned for its cultural energy. Ridwanul, who graduated from UWE Bristol in July 2023, soon took the reins of what is now Club395—transforming a little-known venue into one of Bristol’s most dynamic centers for grassroots art, music, and experimentation.
The move was characteristically bold. Ridwanul’s journey as a creative leader began long before Bristol, back in Dhaka, where he shot the famous Jalali Set Sura Target & Dhaka City Music Videos, and founded Blu&Maron in 2016. Blu&Maron, one of the country’s first original online fashion labels, quickly stood out for its fusion of art, music, and radical design. With a focus on original streetwear, custom-made, zero-waste clothing and a knack for collaboration, Blu&Maron drew in some of Bangladesh’s brightest young talents, including Afrin (modernotaku_), rapper Black Zang, and Miss Bangladesh Jessia Islam. The brand’s playful, confident style resonated far beyond fashion—setting new standards for what Bangladeshi creativity could mean.
But the leap from fashion entrepreneur to cultural architect came in Bristol, in the most hands-on way possible. “I wanted to prove you could build something entirely new—even if you started from scratch, with no connections or safety net,” Ridwanul says.
In the months after taking over 395, he did just that. Club395 has now hosted more than 200 events: late-night DJ sets, art installations, workshops, open mics, movement classes, and free creative open houses that invite anyone—student, local, or newcomer—to experiment with music, art, or media. Dozens of artists who began at Club395 have gone on to national festivals, music releases, and professional careers. The venue has also become a bridge for South Asian and global talent, most recently with the launch of “Subject to Sound: Diaspora Frequency,” featuring acclaimed artists like Dameer, Surya Sen, and Nadī for a first ever fully Bangladeshi-lineup electronic music night in the history of the UK.
What makes Ridwanul’s story truly rare isn’t just the pace—graduating and then immediately assuming leadership of one of the UK’s only artist-run multi-arts spaces—it’s the philosophy. Club395, he says, is “built on the belief that creative people should run creative spaces. No bureaucracy, no gatekeepers—just pure possibility.”
That ethos has expanded with The Bristol Creative Co., a not-for-profit initiative Ridwanul launched to empower even more young artists, technologists, and storytellers. Through workshops, mentorship, and projects like Co:AI (which demystifies new technologies for artists), he’s helping others make the leap from ambition to action. In a sector where change can take decades, Ridwanul’s impact has been immediate—and widely felt. “I always wanted to create the space I needed myself,” he says. “What surprised me was how many others needed it too.” RidwanulKabirShakib’s journey is a testament to what happens when creativity meets courage: in just a few short years, he has gone from student to founder, from designer to community builder, and from new arrival to a vital force in Bristol’s creative renaissance.
