Events
Find out what's on near you by taking a look at a few of the many events supporting Black History Month in and around Westminster:
Events taking place this October and beyond Please check out the many
Other events that are taking place at the Beethoven Centre during October and November.
Crossing the White Line: The Walter Tull Exhibition
16 September 2008 – 29 October 2008 The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HT
Open 10am – 5pm
Tel: 020 7730 0717
www.national-army-museum.ac.uk31 October 2008 – 5 January 2009 The Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, London, SW1H 9NH
Open 10:30am – 4:30pm (Please check times with venue as exhibition viewing times may vary)
Tel: 020 7654 3826
www.methodist-central-hall.org.ukAudience: AllWhat's it all about?Crossing the White Line: The Walter Tull Exhibition has been put together by Westminster Archives and Walter Tull biographer, Phil Vasili. The project aims to raise awareness and celebrate the short but historically significant life of Walter Tull, Britain’s first black army officer, whose life reads like an epic adventure; he was a leader of men, a national hero yet his story still remains largely untold.
Walter’s story can be told thanks to a £49,900 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which has been used to fund a number of projects including this exhibition.
www.crossingthewhiteline.com Interwoven Freedom: Abolitionist Women - 6th-31st October
Paddington Library, Porchester Road, London W2 5DU
Admission: FREE
Audience: AllWhat's it all about?An exhibition of an arts research project created to commemorate the 1807 - 2007 Bicentennial of the Parliamentary Act to abolish Britain’s involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Drawing on the tradition of abolitionist women who created and distributed workbags filled with anti-slavery manifestos, the participants have written their own manifestos which mix historical facts with vivid fictional stories and powerful poems. Woven into their bags are integrated references from their past and personal histories, images of slave ships, photographs and Jamaican and Ghanaian flags. The exhibition of their work is accompanied by interpretive panels, a book and audio commentaries.
Bookings: No bookings are required but please check the library
opening times.
Film Screening of Lion Mountain - 10th October, 10am - 1pm
National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London WC2H 0HE
Admission: FREEAudience: Children & young peopleWhat's it all about?See this wonderful film by director & producer Louis Buckley which documents his journey to Sierra Leone in search of his ancestral roots.
Bookings: Please book in advance call 020 7641 8547 or email
amsmith2@westminster.gov.uk.
Take a trip into history. Historical walks starting from Westminster City Hall:
6th Oct, 10.30am – 12.30pm
13th Oct, 10am – 12pm
3rd Nov, 10am – 12pm
Admission: FREEAudience: Children & young peopleWhat's it all about?
Take a stroll down memory lane with one of our historical walks discovering fascinating facts about the black presence in Westminster and its history on the road to the abolition of slavery with historian Steve I Martin.
Bookings: Please book in advance call 020 7641 8547 or email
amsmith2@westminster.gov.uk.
Mary Seacole Play - Forgotten Woman - 8th Oct 
2008, 10am–12pm
Beethoven Centre, 174K Third Avenue London W10 4JL
Admission: FREE
Audience: Children and young people
What's it all about?Embark on an enthralling journey with a one-woman play about one of the unsung heroines of British history written and directed by the critically acclaimed Cleo Sylvestre a respected theatre and TV actress. Forgotten Woman is also currently on tour in schools all over the UK.
Bookings: Please book in advance call 020 7641 8547 or email
amsmith2@westminster.gov.uk.
Historical Boat trip on the river Thames - 9th October 2008, 10am-1pm.
Admission: Adults £2.00, under 16 free
Audience: All
What's it all about?
Departing from the pier opposite Tate Britain, Cruise along the River Thames on this fascinating boat trip to get a glimpse of life for black people in London during the transatlantic slave trade to present day narrated by the renowned historian Steve I Martin.
Bookings: Please book in advance call 020 7641 8547 or email
amsmith2@westminster.gov.uk.
Hip Hop Vs Rap by Wayne B Chandler in conjunction with Centreprise Word Power International Literature Festival and Book Fair 2008
Venue: Committee room 5, 6 & 7 (17th Floor), Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 17th Oct, 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Admission: FREEAudience: 16+ (this is an over 16 event)What's it all about?
Wayne B Chandler will argue that Rap is an industrialised cultural weapon used to weaken the inner spiritual force of youths which keeps violence prevalent in the black community. He also traces the roots of Hip Hop to Africa and offer ways in which we can re-educate and redirect the flow of black music so that youths choose wisely in their muscial direction.
Bookings: Please book in advance call 020 7641 8547 or email
amsmith2@westminster.gov.uk.
Grand Celebratory Event - 29th October 2008 12pm-5pm
Greenside Community Centre, 24 Lilestone Street, Lisson Grove NW8
Admission: FREEAudience: All
What's it all about?The aim of the day is to promote community cohesion, understanding of different cultures and their contribution to our societies today through art, politics, books, business, music, culture and a variety of other formats. Planned activities include:
Food fest
Pamper your taste buds by trying a variety of traditional dishes from around the world.
Project Windrush
An exhibition outlining some of the experiences from those who have lived or worked in Westminster over the last 60 years. Carried out by pupils from Westminster schools the exhibition uses a number of formats to reflect life in Westminster. There will also be other photos, short films and artefacts about the Empire Windrush.
Get creative
Join in the fun with colourful face painting, costume making and badge making to be hosted by a variety of community arts organisations.
Book Fair
In a collaboration with Westminster Libraries, BIS Publications and Centerprise we will be hosting a book fair with a range of books which are intriguing, informative and offer a variety of perspectives of black history and culture. Don't miss special readings and book signings by
Courttia Newland.
Spoken WordOverstanding Rastafari with YASUS AFARI
One of Jamaica’s leading Dub Poets with many talents as an “edutainer”, bringing his background as a recording reggae artiste together with his work as a dub poet. His recent UK tours involved working in schools, colleges and universities supporting understanding about Black History, while exploring ways to live and work together in our plural societies with a focus on self esteem.
Julie Isaac Listen to the eloquent spoken word of Julie Issac, local poet who work includes poetry of how it was “back in da day” and reflections of life in society today.
Don't miss the special performance by the talented El Crisis.
***Showcase feature***Watch the Play “Sweet Tooth”. An excellent one woman show run by Gazebo Theatre which shares the legacy of the slave trade and the struggles faced by those fighting for the abolition of slavery including Nanny of the Maroons, Sojourner Truth and Mary Prince.
Bookings: Please book in advance call 020 7641 8547 or email
amsmith2@westminster.gov.uk.
Getting there: The Greenside Centre is best reached by public transport. Underground: Marylebone or Edgware Road (Bakerloo) Edgware Road (Hammersmith & City, District and Circle Lines); Overground rail: Marylebone; Buses: 6,16,18, 98, 414 stop on the Edgware Road or 189 & 139 stop on Lilestone Street. Wheelchair Accessible. Plan your route (
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/).
Evening of hip hop and dance special performance by David J Pugilist - 30th October 2008, 6pm-8pm
Westminster Reference Library 35 Martin's Street WC2H 7HP
What's it all about?Come and listen to David J the Pugilist, guaranteed to educate and entertain with his creative and articulate spoken word and hip hop tunes along with a performance by
Dance Physics, a performance group whose policy is to promote participation in dance and other forms of physical activity as a stimulating and creative pursuit within schools and community settings -a must see!
Bookings: Please book in advance call 020 7641 8547 or email
amsmith2@westminster.gov.uk.
Black history starts from 1st October 2008, however we anticipate that additional events may be added and some may continue through to November 2008. To get the latest information, please contact us for further details. If you or your organisation would like to get involved in this year’s celebrations or you have any other queries, suggestions or comments, please complete an events proforma or contact Ann-Marie Smith directly on 020 7641 8547 or email: amsmith2@westminster.gov.uk.
