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 is like a treasure chest for the histories of people from African and Caribbean backgrounds in Britain. The BCA was started in 1981 by a teacher and historian named Len Garrison and others.
The main goal of the BCA is to find, keep, and celebrate the history of people of African descent in Britain. The BCA's new building in Brixton opened in 2014. It helps people see the collections, offers learning spaces, and hosts many interesting exhibitions and events.
The BCA's Story
In 1981, Len Garrison and other members of the Black British community began collecting items. They wanted to make sure the history of Black people in Britain was properly shown. Their first collection was in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, and later moved to Kennington.
In 2010, the BCA received a lot of money, including £5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This allowed them to move back to Brixton. It became the UK's first national center for Black heritage. A special ceremony for the site happened in June 2013. The new BCA building officially opened on July 24, 2014. This building is a beautiful Grade II-listed Georgian building. It used to be called Raleigh Hall. In 2015, it was named "Building of the Year" in the New London Architecture awards.
On February 16, 2017, Charles, Prince of Wales, and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the BCA. Prince Charles praised the important help given by people from the West Indies and Africa during World War I and World War II.
Paul Reid was the BCA's director from 2006 until 2019. Arike Oke became the managing director in February 2019. In February 2022, Dr Yvonne Thompson was announced as the new leader of the BCA's board of trustees. In 2024, a special scholarship was created with the University of Leicester. It is called the Len Garrison Master of Arts Scholarship in Black British History.
What the BCA Collects
In 2008, a two-year project helped organize all of the BCA's collections. These collections include books, objects, and historical papers. They tell the "hidden stories and experiences of Black people." This includes personal and family journeys. It also shows the many Black-led community groups. The collections celebrate Black achievements. They also show the strong fight against unfair treatment. You can also look at the BCA's records online.
Exhibitions and Projects
The BCA hosts many interesting exhibitions. These shows help people learn about Black history and culture.
The first exhibition at the BCA was Re-imagine: Black Women in Britain. It ran from July 24 to November 30, 2014. This show told the often-hidden stories of important Black women in Britain. Some of these women included Mary Seacole, Mary Prince, Adelaide Hall, Olive Morris, and Jessica Huntley. In October 2016, this exhibition became available online through the Google Cultural Institute.
The BCA also worked with the Victoria and Albert Museum for many years. They collected photographs taken by Black photographers. They also gathered pictures that show the lives of Black people in Britain. This work also included many spoken stories. The exhibition from this project was called Staying Power: Photographs of Black British Experience, 1950s – 1990. It was inspired by a book called Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain.
Another exhibition was Black Georgians: The Shock of the Familiar. It was open from October 9, 2015, to June 4, 2016. This show looked at the daily lives of Black people in Britain during the Georgian period (1714–1830). It included a special part about Olaudah Equiano.
Other past exhibitions have included:
- Rastafari in Motion: This show told the story of Emperor Haile Selassie I and the Rastafari movement in Britain. It ran from June 14 to September 10, 2016.
- Black Sound: This exhibition explored 100 years of Black musical creativity. It was open from April 7, 2017, to February 17, 2018.
- Expectations: This was the first photography exhibition at the BCA where a photographer "took over" the space. It featured pictures taken by Neil Kenlock. It ran from August 7 to October 24, 2018.
