New grants scheme to celebrate Black History Month in Kensington and Chelsea

Published: Thursday 13 August 2020

ACAVA’s Remembering the Past, Creating the Future, Black History Month 2019 Photo © Ashleigh Ramel.JPG

Cultural enthusiasts in Kensington and Chelsea can now apply for up to £500 to host an event or activity to celebrate Black History Month this October.

Grant winners could host a digital history lesson, a panel discussion with thought leaders or an online celebration with the support of the new grant. The £15,000 funding pot has been set up by the Council to celebrate the cultural achievements of Black British, African and Caribbean people in the borough.

Local organisations have until Tuesday 1 September to apply to receive up to £500 to run online or in person events during Black History Month between 1 and 31 October 2020.

Applications will be assessed by members of the local community, who will have a say in how the funding is spent.

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

“It’s important to recognise the diverse cultural make up of our community daily and especially to take time to celebrate our rich heritage during Black History Month. These grants will support activities led by local people to recognise, inspire and inform our community.

“It’s an exciting new project for us, Kensington and Chelsea has always been a must visit location and by supporting local venues and activities we can continue to use culture to help the community recover from the Coronavirus pandemic.”

Last month, councillors approved a One Year Covid-19 Culture Plan to help the borough recover from the pandemic, focusing on digital engagement. The full plan will launch in September.

Local people who would like to be part of the Black History Month grant assessment panel can apply by submitting an expression of interest form on the Council’s website. A gift voucher will be given to each panellist as a thank you for their time reading applications and joining an online assessment session in September.

Learn more about applying for the grant or joining the assessment panel via the culture pages on the Council website.