Bringing black theatre to life and more – what’s on this Black History Month

Published: Friday 30 September 2022

For Black History Month 2022, the Council has awarded over £14K in grants for community-based projects that will excite, inspire and shine a light on the achievements and experience of those of Black British, African and Caribbean descent.

Saturday 1 October marks the beginning of Black History Month in the UK which is held each year. The month celebrates the achievements and contributions of Afro-Caribbean people through a range of exciting and inspiring events and activities taking place, and aims to share at a local level to build greater awareness of modern-day issues facing the black community. 

Here, in Kensington and Chelsea, a Council-funded Small Grants Scheme has awarded £14,292 to support a calendar of events taking place across the borough this coming month to celebrate and commemorate Black History Month. Each project was able to apply for funding of up to £1,000 and was open to individuals as well as partnerships among groups, local organisations, and businesses to unify the local community and encourage big and bold ideas.

This year, the grants scheme will support 15 projects from Dalgarno Ward in North Kensington to Chelsea Riverside in the south of the borough. Take a look now and don’t miss out on a month of extraordinary talent and creativity.

Lead member for Culture, Leisure and Community Safety, Cllr Emma Will said:

Kensington and Chelsea is a diverse and multicultural borough. This Black History Month, our grants will support local residents to share their experiences and culture. This is a great opportunity for local people to engage with and to celebrate black culture while also learning the history of black Britons and those of African and Caribbean descent.

This month’s programme will showcase a wide range of projects, from public art installations to theatre and literary events, through to creative workshops and open mic nights.

On Saturday 15 October, grant recipient Ayanna Serwaa's play, If My Breath Be Free, will show at the Chelsea Theatre. It follows four volunteers at a rugby match as they go on an explorative journey of love, sport and fair play, taking them metaphorically from their hometowns to the Ugandan Plains.

Ayanna Serwaa shares what being a 2022 grant recipient has meant to her:

Gaining funds from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea means that I am able to bring black theatre to life both for the local residents and theatre goers alike. Simply speaking, it couldn't happen without the support of RBKC Arts and Culture.

Some projects visitors may recognise from previous years. Urbanwise, an educational charity based in West London, won a grant in 2020 to produce a 10-minute documentary, Portobello Road Black History Walk, which won Best Local Documentary this year at the Portobello Film Festival.
This year, Urbanwise won funding to create a pop-up exhibition based on their 2020 documentary. The exhibition will encapsulate a brief history of Carnival and feature Carnival pioneers in a series of six vinyl panels that will be exhibited around local prominent places.

There’s plenty taking place this month, so do take a look at our range of projects and join in this Black History Month.