Celebrate Black History all year round with the 2024 to 2025 Black History 365 programme
The Royal Borough of Greenwich has launched their annual Black History 365 (BH365) programme for 2024 to 2025, at the start of this year's national Black History Month.
The BH365 programme supports local organisations in creating a range of activities and events throughout the year. The aim is to engage communities with Black history and culture and better understand how African and Caribbean diasporas have shaped our borough and the UK, throughout the whole year, not just the month of October.
A Council spokesperson said: “This year’s exciting BH365 programme explores the idea of ‘reclaiming narratives’, in line with the national Black History month theme for 2024.
“The rich and varied projects our BH365 organisations will deliver over the next 12 months shine a light on untold stories and correct historical inaccuracies that undermine the achievements of African and Caribbean communities in Britain.
“The 15 fundees will work together in partnership with other local organisations to deliver their activities, helping our communities to create, connect and flourish as laid out in the borough’s new Culture Strategy.
“We can’t wait to see the next exciting year of BH365 events and activities come to life!”
For the second year in a row, the latest BH365 programme was co-commissioned by a Community Advisory Panel of people who live, work, or study in the borough. The four panel members worked alongside the Council to assess applications and identify the organisations who will receive funding for the upcoming year.
This year’s funded projects are:
Acosta Dance Foundation: Alfaia Kids
African-Cuban themed dance, arts and craft workshops for children aged six to 11, followed by a showcase event at the Acosta Dance Centre and Artillery Square.
ARC & You: Preserve My Language, Protect My Culture
Yoruba, Benin, Igbos and Hausa language and history sessions, followed by exhibition events.
Black Female Entrepreneur Greenwich: Africa Festival
Benin Kingdom themed workshops including clay pot making, meditation dance, basket and mat weaving and drumming, as well as an art exhibition, live theatre play, fashion show and Africa Christmas concert.
Brighter Futures CIC: Local Heroes and Untold Stories
A series of community ‘coffee and chat' workshops to collect untold stories, creating a series of photography portraits to be exhibited and collated into a book.
Caribbean Social Forum: Let the Legacy Continue – Handing over the Baton
A series of focus groups building connections between first, second and third generation Caribbean settlers, an intergenerational picture gallery at the University of Greenwich and a conference at Tramshed.
Everyone's a Singer: Our Song, Our Story - Girls into Synth
Workshops for six young women aged 18 to 24 to create a song celebrating Black women's history, showcased in a listening party at Woolwich Works.
House of Dan Communities: We outside
Tribal mask and weaving workshops, and an exhibition and panel discussion on the impact of African and Caribbean art.
Inspirall London CIC: Empowering Futures - The Impact of Black African Innovators in the UK
A series of performative and participatory walks will showcase work developed through collaboration with local partners, exploring Black History across the borough.
Javan Coker Foundation: The Past, Fully Present
Exhibitions on West African culture, arts, artefacts and food, inspired by the life and times of enslaved African mathematician, Thomas Fuller.
Kids Festival: Kids' Culture Fiesta: Celebrating Black History Month
Exploring Black Culture through family friendly heritage and interactive workshops, performances, and exhibitions.
Our Heritage: Ise Se Abalaye Heritage
Drumming workshops, cooking competitions and arts, craft and Yoruba and Benin language workshops to promote cultural appreciation and preservation of West African folklore.
Positive Futures Group: African Inspired Craft Workshop
Ankara-inspired craft workshops for young people, making earrings, bracelets and hair accessories and discovering the cultural significance to West and Central Africa in the process.
Second Wave Youth Arts: Forgotten Voices - South London's Young Black Women Writers
Creative sessions exploring colourism, podcast recording sessions with discussions on generational experiences and challenges and live performances, focusing on the experiences and contributions of young Black women in Royal Greenwich.
SET Woolwich: Untold stories: Reclaiming the narrative of Black British history through the voices of the people of Greenwich and the visual arts
An exhibition of short visual pieces by local people that respond and reflect on the history of Black communities in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, screened in General Gordon Square.
St Alfege Church: Reclaiming Narratives - Commonly called by the name of Esther Smith
Residency for two local African-Caribbean writers at St Alfege, exploring the legacy of a former local historic figure Esther Smith through creative writing workshops and a public showcase.
Alongside the Council’s BH365 programmes, partners across the borough will host a range of events to mark Black History month. Charlton Athletic will hold their annual Red, White and Black match day and community parade on Saturday 26 November.
Libraries across the borough will also hold a full programme of free events throughout October. For an up-to-date calendar of Black History month events across the borough, visit royalgreenwich.gov.uk/events/black-history-month
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Read the Royal Borough of Greenwich Culture Strategy at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/culture-strategy