Black History Month was launched in London on African Liberation day in 1987, meaning Black History Month will be 30 years old next year. In Leicester we will be celebrating, and of course in a specific Leicester-way. Lost Legends -30 years of Black History Month in Leicester, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is the brainchild of Pawlet Brookes, Artistic and Executive Director of Serendipity. Her motivation for the project is the desire to recognize the local trailblazers that have helped to shape Leicester and the UK’s cultural heritage and document their memories before they are lost. Black History Month has over the years been an important platform for their work.
As the project researcher, my role is to spend time in the archives and chat to community activists, professional artists and advocates over the next several months. My aim is produce a story that will be told through an exhibition of the same name that will open on the 1st of October 2017. There is going to be a number of events and activities over the year – see list below – leading up to the exhibition. In the meantime,please drop by for tit-bits from records offices, update on the events and quotes from the people I meet en route. And please join the celebrations.
Best wishes
‘Funmi
EVENTS
August 31 th 2016 – #BHMLostLegends begins
September 27th 2016 – Oral History project begins with training day
October 1st 2016 – First Call Out event at Newarke Houses Museum, Leiceste.r
October 27th 2016 – Treasures in the Archive talk on Leicester born choreographer Sheron Wray by Victoria H of Black Cultural Archives at Guildhall, Leicester.
February 11th 2017 – Second Call Out event, African Caribbean Centre, Leicester
June 10th 2017 – Third Call Out, African Caribbean Centre, Leicester
June 24th 2017 – Oral History project ends
October 1st 2017 – Exhibition opens at Newarke Houses and Gardens museum including the launch of the website, learning resources and catalogue.
October 30th 2017 – Exhibition closes
November 30th 2017 – #BHMLostLegends rounds up.