Black History 365 (BH365)
As part of our Culture Strategy delivery plan, we agreed to review our culture grant programmes to align with our Equality and Equity Charter. We're currently reviewing the Community Arts Fund and Black History 365 Fund and we're aiming to relaunch them in May 2025.
Each year, we recognise the exceptional achievements and crucial contributions of people from the African and Caribbean diaspora through the BH365 Grants programme.
Together, we’ll continue supporting arts and community groups to produce and showcase exciting cultural activities and events throughout the year. This reflects and connects our diverse communities and celebrates our Black residents’ heritage and culture.
Aims of the grant programme
The aims of the BH365 grant programme are to:
- support groups and organisations to create a range of engaging performances, activities and events that showcase the culture and heritage of our Black diaspora communities
- strengthen and deepen our understanding of Black history and the role of the African and Caribbean communities who shape the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the UK
BH365 grant programme 2024/2025
This year’s theme for activities in Royal Greenwich is Reclaiming narratives, shining a light on untold stories and correcting historical inaccuracies that undermine the achievements of African-Caribbean communities in contemporary Britain. This aligns with the national programme, which you can find out more about on the Black History Month UK Website.
Following a successful pilot in 2023, this year’s programme of activities is co-commissioned by a community advisory panel made up of people who live, work and study in the borough.
This year’s funded projects are:
Acosta Dance Foundation: Alfaia Kids
African-Cuban themed dance, arts and craft workshops for children aged 6 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 10 young women aged 18 to 24 to create a song celebrating Black women's history, showcased in a listening party at Firepit Studios..
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.