Over £25k in funding awarded to Suffolk Black-led cultural programme
Aspire Black Suffolk aims to create lasting legacies in the county and educate people on Black culture
A Black-led cultural programme in Suffolk has been awarded over £25,000.
The money from Arts Council England, DanceEast, Sizewell C and two Suffolk councillors, will help fund a variety of activities the county.
Aspire Black Suffolk will include a range of educational, arts, culture, heritage and personal development activities and is set to launch in time for Windrush Day (22 June).
It will also run in association with the forthcoming Power of Stories exhibition at Christchurch Mansion, featuring three original costumes from Marvel's Black Panther.
The activities aim to teach people about Black culture and include:
- African cooking classes
- African storytelling
- Black history talks
- Dance performances
- DJ sets
- Educational activities for West Suffolk College and Suffolk One students
- Family drumming workshops
- Film screenings
- Live music, Q&As and poetry
- Mural by Art Eat Events
- Personal development workshops
- Presence at The Saints summer market
- Yoruba language lessons
Also included within the cultural programme is the Black Suffolk exhibition, a collection of portraits by award-winning national press and documentary photographer, John Ferguson.
Based in Ipswich for the last 11 years, John told us he was curious about the stories of other Black people within the county, and wanted to tell them through his photographs.
He told us what he wanted to find out within the project:
"What's their story? Why did they come here? and how have they progressed and moved on and coped with living here? It's just all a learning curve for all of us really.
"I hope people get something from it just by understanding their plight, their stories, their issues, any hardships they might have gone through as well."
John is encouraging Black people across the county, who want to share their story as part of Black Suffolk, to get in touch with him via his website.
Elma Glasgow, Aspire Black Suffolk's project manager and publicist, said:
"We’re proud and thrilled to have secured this funding, which in these challenging times, speaks volumes about how important Aspire Black Suffolk is regarded by our backers. We’re grateful for their generosity, and for the support of Colchester and Ipswich Museums who have supported funding applications.
"The funding will enable local, Black-led organisations and individuals to celebrate the multiple facets of African-Caribbean culture in Suffolk and showcase our significant role across all areas of society. We’re in the process of finalising our events, and we can’t wait to announce the details – watch this space for updates!"