A DECADE DOWN, MANY TO GO: RECLAIMING NARRATIVES
As we commemorate ten years of Black Cultural Archives (BCA) at Windrush Square, we reflect on a journey rich in impact, resilience, and triumph. This milestone is not just a celebration of persistence, it’s a testament to the unwavering urgency of this work, and our community’s commitment to preserve, share and champion the rich tapestry of Black and British history. A history that’s always in the making.
Since opening our doors at 1 Windrush Square on 24th July 2014, our archives, exhibitions, and educational programmes have striven to promote historical reflection as a crucial tool in learning from our past, to build a more racially just and equitable future for all. Throughout one of the most politically tumultuous decades in modern British history, we’ve welcomed a multitude of writers, PhD researchers, school students, teachers, lecturers, artists, community leaders, activists, employee groups and curious culture lovers, to engage with our treasure trove of collections on the contributions, struggles, and achievements of Black Britons. They’ve gone on to complete doctorates, write books and newspaper stories, make films, visual artworks, host conferences, educational courses and more - all of which enrich our national narrative and ignite positive change.
Over the past decade, our small but mighty team have worked with hundreds of donors across the country, who’ve helped us amass over 100 new collections, including 13,000 books centring Black British history. We’ve worked with a variety of community groups and curators, to host over 40 exhibitions and 450 events. We’ve provided educational workshops for up to 10,000 people, and provided a crucial sanctuary for research and reflection for over 4000 reading room visitors.
This 10-year celebration is also an opportunity to acknowledge that BCA has always been an urgent community-led, collective effort, that simply would not exist without the partnership and generosity of local community leaders, Lambeth Council, funders, schools, university and heritage sector partners alongside our volunteers, staff and Trustees. We’re forever grateful for their transformative support for our mission, a mission, that’s always been part of a reparative movement inspired by the bravery of the Black Parents Movement, and those working towards Windrush Justice movement and enduring truth that Black Lives Matter. Four years on from the reminder that this work can never be taken for granted, this 10 year anniversary is an opportunity to underline that this collective effort is needed now more than ever.
With a decade down and many to go. We call on you, the community, to continue to support us and our work to elevate the undeniable power of our rich, nuanced, complex Black history in the realisation of a racially just and tolerant society.
Happy 10th Anniversary Black Cultural Archives at Windrush Square!
Click here to read the full statement, as seen in The Voice Newspaper.
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