Black History Month offers a powerful opportunity to create meaningful experiences that not only educate and inspire but also serve as platforms for authentic storytelling. This year’s theme, Reclaiming Narratives, is about ensuring that Black communities have the space and support to own and share their stories. It’s crucial to support and actively involve diverse voices in all parts of the process, allowing the storytelling to be told by those whose experiences are being shared.
To honour Black History Month, we've selected venues deeply connected to Black history and culture, each playing a part in amplifying Black voices and reclaiming narratives. We invite you to explore these venues and learn more about their role in celebrating Black history and culture.
Embracing Black History Month in Events
1. Events that Centre Around Reclaiming Narratives
The theme of Reclaiming Narratives is centred around ensuring that Black individuals and communities have the space to tell their own stories authentically and powerfully. It’s essential to collaborate with Black leaders, thinkers and creators, inviting them to share their experiences and insights at every stage. Whether through keynote speeches, panel discussions, or exhibitions, the content should emerge from within the community, reflecting the diversity of experiences across African, Caribbean, and other Black communities.
One such event is being hosted by Westminster City Council: The Caribbean Front Room Workshops, where attendees can explore traditional practices like crochet and cooking, while also engaging in conversations about family history and cultural heritage. These workshops offer a space for Black communities to reclaim their cultural narratives, reconnecting with traditions and stories from the Caribbean.
For more information visit: Westminster City Council Black History Month.
Key Points:
- Collaborate with Authentic Storytellers: Work with Black historians, thought leaders or entrepreneurs, to lead the narrative around their experiences and heritage.
- Storytelling Workshops: Provide spaces for the Black community to run workshops where they can share their stories through creative expression, like writing or art.
- Educational Talks and Exhibitions: Highlight and support Black figures and their contributions to British history through community-led talks and exhibitions, ensuring the narrative remains in the hands of those whose stories are being told.
2. Ensure Diversity and Representation in Your Line-up
Representation is key when planning a meaningful and impactful event, but it’s essential to go beyond tokenism. Diversity should be integrated authentically, ensuring that Black voices are substantively included, not just for appearances. This means curating a line-up that reflects the varied experiences and perspectives within Black communities, including individuals from different genders, ethnic backgrounds, experiences, professions and artistic fields. Giving a platform to a broad range of Black voices, such as women, artists, entrepreneurs and professionals, helps ensure that events are genuinely representative and inclusive.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out organisations like Diverse Speaker Bureau or Spectrum Speakers & Entertainers, which specialise in connecting events with diverse, experienced speakers from across various fields.
As part of Black History Month 2024, Kingston Upon Thames is hosting a Panel Discussion with Teenage Leaders on October 20th. This unique event brings together young Black leaders to share their personal experiences and insights, empowering the next generation to reclaim their narratives. The panel will reflect on themes of identity, heritage and leadership, offering a diverse range of perspectives from youth who are typically underrepresented in discussions about Black history. This focus is a forward-thinking approach to fostering inclusivity and ensuring that future conversations about Black culture and history are shaped by those who will inherit them.
For more information, visit: Black History Month - Kingston Upon Thames.
Lauralee Whyte, Founder for Spectrum Speakers & Entertainers and an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the events industry, emphasises the importance of conscious efforts:“Those working in the industry can make a difference by being aware and making the effort to understand what biases exist, and who are the different marginalised groups are, and then making an effort to reach out to them to participate.
I say this a lot but it’s so important - diversify your supply chain. Put the onus on business partners too to make sure that they have equity, ethical and sustainability processes in place.”
Key points:
- Curate a Diverse Line-Up: Actively include speakers from a variety of sectors, women in business, community leaders, activists, and artists.
- Feature Artistic Performances: Incorporate live performances like spoken word poetry, music or art displays that focus on themes of identity and empowerment.
- Collaborate with Black-Owned Businesses: Work with Black-owned vendors for catering, decor and other event elements to further support the community.
3. Create Engaging and Interactive Experiences
Your events should encourage active participation and engagement throughout. Interactive experiences allow attendees to not only observe but also contribute to the dialogue around Reclaiming Narratives, making the celebration more inclusive and community-driven. By creating spaces where attendees are involved in the storytelling, you foster a more personal and impactful connection to the theme.
Last year in Liverpool, BlackFest hosted several interactive events during Black History Month, including workshops, performances and film screenings. A standout was the Black History Month Day Festival, which brought together local artists to perform Neo-Jazz, R&B, poetry and rap. These performances were accompanied by open discussions, allowing attendees to engage directly with the performers and fostering a deeper connection to the art and its cultural context. The Interactive Q&A sessions helped attendees contribute to the dialogue around reclaiming narratives in the arts.
For more information on this year's events, visit Black Fest 2024.
Key points:
- Facilitate Interactive Panels: Facilitate open Q&A sessions or discussions to encourage direct engagement with the speakers and foster meaningful connections.
- Cultural Heritage Workshops: Offer hands-on workshops, such as African drumming or traditional Caribbean cooking, where attendees can connect with Black cultural practices.
- Storytelling Sessions: Create a “Story Share” where attendees are invited to share their own personal stories of reclaiming their identity or heritage.
4. Address Barriers to Participation and Foster Inclusivity
To truly embrace diversity and inclusivity, events must ensure that everyone—especially marginalised groups—has the opportunity to participate fully. This means addressing the barriers that often prevent engagement and ensuring that your event is welcoming and accessible at every stage.
For Black individuals and other marginalised communities, some barriers can include a lack of representation, financial hurdles, inaccessible venues, and unwelcoming environments. By understanding and addressing these obstacles, you can create an event that is genuinely inclusive and empowering for all.
As Isaac Harvey, an advocate for accessibility, emphasises: "An inclusive event starts from the end user’s front door, not just the event itself at a venue." This highlights that the journey towards inclusivity begins with understanding the entire experience—from planning and promotion to the event day itself—and working to remove any barriers along the way.
Key Considerations:
- Financial Accessibility: Consider offering free or subsidised tickets to ensure that cost is not a barrier to participation for marginalised communities.
- Representation Matters: Lack of representation can make marginalised groups feel unwelcome. Ensure that speakers, performers, and facilitators reflect the diversity of the community and that Black voices are centred in both planning and execution.
- Safe Spaces: Provide clear codes of conduct and train staff to address discriminatory behaviour, fostering a welcoming environment.
- Inclusive Communication: Use inclusive language and imagery, provide multilingual options, and include captions for promotional content.
- Venue Accessibility: Choose venues with step-free access and accessible facilities, considering cultural significance for a welcoming environment.
Our Top Venue Picks for Celebrating Black History Month
1. The Africa Centre
The Africa Centre has long been a cultural cornerstone in London, dedicated to promoting African culture, heritage and thought. Hosting a Black History Month event here taps into the venue’s mission of uplifting African narratives and creating space for conversations about identity, history and the future of Black communities. Its range of spaces is perfect for panels, workshops or exhibitions that align with the theme of Reclaiming Narratives, allowing for deep, authentic discussions in a setting that champions Black voices and ideas.
Best For: Panels, workshops and exhibitions
Capacity: Up to 100 people
Location: Southwark
2. London Museum Docklands
With its profound connection to London’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, the London Museum Docklands is a powerful and symbolic venue for Black History Month. Hosting educational events here allows attendees to directly engage with the history of Black oppression and strength, making it a fitting backdrop for events that explore the legacy of slavery, colonialism, and the ongoing process of reclaiming Black narratives.
Best For: Conferences, historical exhibitions educational events
Capacity: 200 people
Location: Canary Wharf
3. Rich Mix
As a venue known for its commitment to diversity and creative expression, Rich Mix offers a dynamic space to honour Black culture through live performances, workshops and film screenings. Located in the heart of Shoreditch, it embodies the spirit of cultural discussions and innovation, making it a great fit for events focused on reclaiming and honouring Black narratives.
Best For: Live performances, workshops, film screenings
Capacity: Up to 400 people
Location: Shoreditch
4. The Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre’s reputation as one of London’s leading cultural hubs makes it an ideal venue for large-scale Black History Month events. With its versatile spaces and history of hosting groundbreaking performances and exhibitions, the Barbican is a fitting stage for events that explore Black history, culture and future narratives. Its capacity and flexibility allow for both intimate discussions and major cultural showcases, making it a perfect venue for honouring Black creativity, leadership and heritage on a grand scale.
Best For: Conferences, cultural performances, exhibitions, and film screenings
Capacity: Up to 2000 people
Location: Barbican
Black History Month 2024, with its theme of Reclaiming Narratives, provides a meaningful opportunity to empower Black voices. By focusing on authentic storytelling, diverse representation and interactive experiences, you can create events that not only educate but also inspire and uplift. Plus, with the right venue, you’ll have the perfect backdrop to honour the richness of Black history and culture.
For more information on Black History Month 2024, visit: https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk
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