Black Cultural Archives facts for kids
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| Established | 1981 |
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| Location | 1 Windrush Square, Brixton, London, SW2 1EF |
| Type | Archive |
| Founder | included Len Garrison |
The Black Cultural Archives (BCA) is a special place in Brixton, London. It's like a treasure chest of history! The BCA collects, keeps, and celebrates the stories of people from African and Caribbean backgrounds who live in Britain. It was started in 1981 by a historian named Len Garrison and others. In 2014, the BCA opened a new building. Here, you can explore old records, learn new things, and see cool exhibitions.
Contents
What is the Black Cultural Archives?
The Black Cultural Archives is a unique centre. It's dedicated to preserving the history of Black people in Britain. Before the BCA, many of these important stories were not widely known. The BCA helps to make sure these histories are remembered and shared.
How Did the BCA Start?
In 1981, Len Garrison and other people from the Black British community began collecting historical items. They wanted to correct the way Black people were shown in history. Their first collection was in Brixton, then later in Kennington.
In 2010, the BCA received a lot of money to help it grow. This included £5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This funding helped them move back to Brixton. It became the UK's first national centre for Black heritage.
The New BCA Building
The new BCA building opened on July 24, 2014. It's a beautiful old Georgian building that used to be called Raleigh Hall. It's located at 1 Windrush Square. The building was designed by architects Pringle Richards Sharratt. In 2015, it was even named "Building of the Year" in a special architecture award!
In February 2017, Charles, Prince of Wales, and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the BCA. Prince Charles praised the amazing contributions of people from the West Indies and Africa. He spoke about their important roles in World War I and World War II.
What Can You Find in the Collections?
The BCA has many different collections. These include books, objects, and historical records. They all tell the "hidden stories" of Black people in Britain. You can learn about personal journeys and the many community groups led by Black people.
The collections also celebrate the achievements of Black individuals. They show how people have worked to fight against unfair treatment. You can even look through some of the BCA's records online!
Exhibitions and Projects
The BCA often has special exhibitions. These are like temporary museums that focus on different topics. They help to bring history to life for visitors.
Past Exhibitions
One of the first exhibitions was Re-imagine: Black Women in Britain. It opened in 2014 and showed the often-hidden stories of Black women in Britain. This included famous people like Mary Seacole and Olive Morris. This exhibition later became available online through the Google Cultural Institute.
The BCA also worked with the Victoria and Albert Museum. They collected photographs by Black photographers. These photos showed the lives of Black people in Britain from the 1950s to the 1990s. This exhibition was called Staying Power.
Another exhibition was Black Georgians: The Shock of the Familiar. It showed what everyday life was like for Black people in Britain during the Georgian period (1714–1830). It even featured a special part about Olaudah Equiano.
Other cool exhibitions have explored different topics:
- Rastafari in Motion: This told the story of the Rastafari movement in Britain.
- Black Sound: This exhibition explored 100 years of amazing musical creativity.
- Expectations: This was a photography exhibition featuring pictures taken by Neil Kenlock.
