Black History Month 2023 Brochure

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023

Welcome to Black History Month 2023. On behalf of organisers from across Leicester we are delighted to present this programme of talks and heritage events, alongside poetry, performance and theatre, film and community events.

2023 is a particularly poignant year for Black history locally, nationally and internationally. It marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush. With this in mind, Serendipity has been exploring the theme of Representation, Relocation and Revelation thorough a year-round programme, with a focus on the connections and legacy between the UK and the Caribbean. There are many events exploring the importance of the Windrush generation from reminiscence sessions, a film screening of Windrush Past and Present and the Better Together showcase. For those interested in learning more about cultural politics, consider picking up a copy of our annual magazine, BlackInk. Issue 4 features articles from Gary Younge, Martin Glynn and many others.

We launch with Rum Punch and Poets celebrating local and international poets; Ty’rone Haughton, Carol Leeming and Cubs the Poet join forces for an evening sharing their reflections, social commentary and creating space for Black joy.

This year the theme of Resistance also strongly influences events throughout October. Black history is defined by resistance to oppression and action taken to fight for freedom, justice and equality. Black History Month also acknowledges the sixtieth anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech and ten years since the founding of the Black Lives Matter movement. This is explored through talks, podcasts and theatre performances. Black History Month closes with a special rehearsed reading of Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop, which explores the place where hope and history converge in an evocative retelling of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s last night on this earth.

The full range of events on offer is detailed within the Black History Month brochure, with additional updates online. October provides an important month to shine a spotlight but we are also committed to showcasing Black history year-round. Do check back throughout the year for initiatives and events.

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to and has supported Black History Month Leicester 2023. We hope you enjoy everything on offer during the month and continue to support projects led the by African and African Caribbean community in Leicester all through the year.

Pawlet Brookes MBE CEO and Artistic Director Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

I am delighted to see the wealth of events in this year’s Black History Month programme. This month is an extremely important event in Leicester’s cultural calendar.

Not only is it a chance to acknowledge the significant contribution of our African and African Caribbean communities to Leicester; it’s also a time for listening and learning – a time to reflect on the past and consider how it impacts on the present. To think ahead to the future and how we can help to shape it.

This year in particular we are marking the seventy-fifth anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush. We celebrate the vital achievements of the Windrush generation and their descendants, and their part in making Leicester the vibrant city it is today.

It is also heartening to see the many events highlighting the important work of activists internationally, from Dr Martin Luther King Jr through to the present day. It’s important to recognise those who give voice to make a positive change within our diverse communities.

I would like to wish the very best to all those who have contributed towards Black History Month this year. My thanks go to Serendipity for coordinating the programme and to the many event organisers, leaders and volunteers who make Black History Month in Leicester possible.

Peter Soulsby City Mayor

Cover Image Credit: Pauline Black. Photographer Brian Aris.

Credits:

Image

Ty’rone Haughton. Photographer Kate Green. Christian Devenport. Photographer Stuart Hollis.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH LAUNCH 2023 RUM PUNCH AND POETS

Sunday 1 October 5.00pm

The Guildhall £18 | £16

Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

Join us to celebrate the launch of Black History Month 2023 with Rum Punch and Poets. Local and international wordsmiths join forces for an evening of reflections, social political commentary and expressions of Black joy.

Ty’rone Haughton is a Jamaican born, Leicester based poet, freelance practitioner, advocate and former looked-after child. Haughton’s writing style is gentle yet brutal. He has performed across the UK on tour supporting artists such as Akala and John Berkavitch. Haughton’s international work has seen him produce writing retreats in the Gambia, Valencia and Europe. Haughton recently founded Literati Arts, which seeks to use the art of poetry to bring people together.

Carol Leeming MBE FRSA is successful Leicester published poet, playwright and author. A writer for Writers Mosaic, a division of the Royal Literary Fund (RLF), Leeming was recently appointed as Lector, for the RLF Reading Round Programme. Leeming is the founder of Dare to Diva, which was established over a decade ago, based in Leicester. As Artistic Director of Dare to Diva and as a multidisciplinary artist, Leeming works individually or with specially recruited culturally diverse arts creative teams, or partners, to collaborate on successful arts, commissions and projects including heritage projects.

Christian “Cubs The Poet” Davenport started typing custom poems for people in the New Orleans French Quarter as Cubs The Poet in 2010, and this is where he honed his expression of freedom and expanded how he communicates. Through poetry, he has worked with brands such as Crown Royal, Southern Comfort, Go Daddy, US Climate Action Network, The Four Seasons and Le Labo. He has also given a TED Talk, discussing pivotal moments in his life. He was named the inaugural Poet Laureate of Baton Rouge from 2019-2020, and self-published his first book of poems and art, What I Did With My Free Time, in July 2020.

Ticket price includes a complimentary glass of punch. There will also be the opportunity to browse a small collection of artisanal stalls, artwork and books celebrating creativity, connection and resilience. Be the first to purchase your copy of BlackInk Issue 4 and a number of other new publications including Souls and Solos, Duets and Dreams by Cubs the Poet and Uncovering the Dance Within: Origins and Authenticity.

w serendipity-uk.com

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e info@serendipity-uk.com

HISTORY A ND HERITAGE

REMINISCENCE SESSION

Monday 2 October 2:00pm – 4:00pm Phoenix Free

Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

Do you have a story to tell? Join us for a reminiscence session, bringing African and African Caribbean elders together to share memories and document some of the hidden histories in our communities. Those attending are invited to bring along an object or photograph as a prompt for discussion. Poet in Residence, Cubs the Poet, will be present to listen and interpret observations into poetry, sharing a journey from the past to the present and a gift for the future.

w serendipity-uk.com

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e info@serendipity-uk.com

UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK LATE NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

Friday 6 October

6:30pm – 9:30pm

Leicester Museum and Art Gallery

£10

Presented by Opal 22 Arts and Edutainment

Join us for a fantastic evening of live jazz music from Sultan Stephenson and Son of Originals, food and drinks. Guided comedy tours into the Casta paintings exhibition as well as the opportunity to view all the gallery spaces

In partnership with Leicester Museum and Art Gallery.

w eventbrite.co.uk/e/unapologeticallyblack-late-night-at-the-museumtickets-660508447547

YOUNG ARCHIVISTS

Monday 16 October – Friday 20 October

All Day Dialogue Box, Serendipity Free | Application Required

Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

Are you aged 18-30 and have an interest in archives and heritage?

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage is delivering a course over five days that provides an opportunity to learn from archives and heritage industry specialists, as a part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund project, Unearthed: Forgotten Histories.

The course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of working with archives, which enhances opportunities for future careers and qualifications. The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited course focuses on the development of key skills associated with archives and the future of the sector. It supports young people from under represented backgrounds to find pathways into a career or further study.

w serendipity-uk.com

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LEICESTER’S BLACK HISTORY BUS TOUR

Saturday 21 October 12:00noon – 5:00pm

African Caribbean Centre (Pick Up) £15

Presented by Opal 22 Arts and Edutainment

All aboard the Black history bus tour. Explore the city and county, visit places of historical importance and learn about their connection to Africa, Africans and the Diaspora. Learn about Leicester’s Black power movement, Laurel Aitken, Queen Charlotte and much more.

In partnership with Leicester Museum and Art Gallery.

w eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-black-history-bustour-leicester-tickets-660585096807m

TALKS

FLASH BLACK PART 3 –RESISTANCE PODCAST

Wednesday 4 October – Wednesday 25

October 6:30pm – 7:30pm Online Free

Presented by Opal 22 Arts and Edutainment

A four-part podcast exploring icons of African History. Tara Munroe is joined by a special guest from the world of academia, art and activism each week, as they delve into the life and legacies of Eric Williams, Olive Morris, Paul Stephenson and Blake Hannah.

w eventbrite.co.uk/e flash-black-resistancepodcasts-tickets-660466963467

BLACKCHAT: I HAVE A DREAM WITH MICHAEL MCMILLAN

Tuesday 3 October 7.00pm

Dialogue Box, Serendipity Pay What You Can

Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

2023 marks the sixtieth anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s I have a Dream Speech and the tenth anniversary since the founding of Black Lives Matter movement. Black artists are at the forefront of a generation of artists and activists, creating and innovating. How do we navigate, document and write our own narratives?

Michael McMillan is an interdisciplinary practitioner of Vincentian migrant heritage, best known for the beloved and much praised installation The Front Room, which is now a permanent installation at the Museum of the Home. His plays have been widely produced and publications include: Sonic Vibrations and revised edition The Front Room: Diaspora Migrant Aesthetics in the Home (Lund Humphries 2023).

Miss My Mum’s Cookin’ was nominated for a Brighton Fringe award. He has the first Arts Doctorate from Middlesex University (2010), and is currently an associate lecturer in Cultural and Historical Studies at London College of Fashion (UAL) and research associate with VIAD at University of Johannesburg.

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TEACHING TO TRANSFORM: CHARTING THE JOURNEY OF THE

STEPHEN LAWRENCE RESEARCH

CENTRE’S RACIAL LITERACY PROGRAMME FOR LEICESTER EDUCATORS

Thursday 26 October

12:00noon – 4:00pm De Montfort University Campus Free

Presented by De Montfort University

Inspired by the work of bell hooks, Teaching to Transform is the successful racial literacy programme developed and delivered by The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre (SLRC) at De Montfort University, inspiring educators to embrace anti-racist, social-justice oriented pedagogic practice in Leicester schools. The event will celebrate the city’s head teachers who have completed the SLRC’s racial literacy programme and will bring together academics, educators and professionals to hear from expert speakers in this area of work.

w dmu.ac.uk/events/bhm/index.aspx e eventsoffice@dmu.ac.uk

ANTI-RACISM SERIES: WHEN BLACK HISTORY TAKES TO THE STREETS

Monday 30 October 1:00pm – 2:00pm Online Free

Presented by De Montfort University

Tony Warner is an author, historian, activist and the founder of Black History Walks, which explores thousands of years of Caribbean and African history in urban cities through guided walks, talks, and tours.

Dispelling the notion that Black British history only began during the Windrush era, Warner’s urban tours connect the African roots of historic places and explore how Black history has shaped modern British culture, as well as the story of each place and its fundamental links to Africa.

During his Black History Month talk, Warner will discuss the importance of preserving Black histories, how significant they are to understanding our collective history in Britain and how stories of Black life and legacy are never more than a few streets away.

w dmu.ac.uk/events/bhm/index.aspx e eventsoffice@dmu.ac.uk

YOUR LOCAL ARENA: RUDIES COME BACK WITH PAULINE BLACK, RHODA DAKAR AND KEVIN LE GENDRE

Wednesday 4 October 7:00pm

Phoenix

£9.20 | £8.50

Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage in partnership with Phoenix, Lucy Hannah and Speaking Volumes

Director: Jeff Perks

Film Editor: David Aliband

Producer: Alan Yentob for BBC Bristol

1980

40 minutes

Language: English

Country: United Kingdom

Genre: Documentary

With its home in Coventry, its roots in reggae and its multiracial bands, 2-Tone was a British musical phenomenon. As part of Black History Month, this Your Local Arena special screens Rudies Come Back, the energetic 1980 BBC Arena film made at the moment of 2-Tone’s emergence, capturing its unique blend of 1960s blue beat and ska with 1970s reggae, soul and punk.

After the film, the accompanying panel discussion includes legendary singer Pauline Black, who features in the film and whose band The Selecter was one of the first to develop the 2-Tone sound, Rhoda Dakar, former lead singer of The Bodysnatchers and chaired by music journalist Kevin Le Gendre. Christian ‘Cubs the Poet’ Davenport and Helen Thomas will provide poetic reflections on the evening’s conversation. It promises to be an unforgettable evening highlighting Black British music history.

Your Local Arena is a unique project featuring iconic films from the archives of BBC TV’s Arena, the pioneering cultural documentary series. It includes new poems inspired by the Arena films and panel talks to explore the continuing relevance of the Arena archives today. The Your Local Arena concept was developed by Lucy Hannah and Speaking Volumes, with Arena’s award-winning director/ editor Anthony Wall as creative consultant and funded by Arts Council England.

w serendipity-uk.com | phoenix.org.uk

t 0116 482 1394 | 0116 242 2800

e info@serendipity-uk.com.

WINDRUSH PAST AND PRESENT: FILM AND DISCUSSION

Wednesday 11 October 7pm

Phoenix

£9.20 | £8.50

Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage in partnership with Phoenix

Programmed to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush, two films explore the often-untold stories, enriching narratives and connections across the African Caribbean Diaspora.

A VERY BRIT(ISH) VOICE

Director: Jaha Browne

Producer: Serendipity

2019

33 minutes

Language: English

Country: United Kingdom

Genre: Documentary

A Very Brit(ish) Voice is an award-winning documentary film that explores the stories of Caribbean people who travelled in the UK between 1948 and 1971 and settled in Leicester. The film tells these stories through the voices of seven otherwise ‘missing voices’ and reflects their experiences in the community. With contributions from Dennis ‘Sugar’ Christopher, Nelista Cuffy, Elaine Hinds, Robert Lee, Pearl Ricketts, Boston Williams and musical storytelling from Mellow Baku, the film captures the experiences of the Windrush Generation and that of the present generation in their own words.

Image Credit: Archival

INTERPRETATIONSSIREN CALLS: TO AN ILLUSIVE JOURNEY

Director: Serendipity

2022

34 minutes

Language: English

Country: United Kingdom

Genre: Documentary

Commissioned by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage Siren Calls: To an Illusive Journey was a performance piece, commissioned to honour the Windrush generation and crystallise their experiences. Composed by Philip Herbert with two independent choreographic interpretations by Monique Jonas and Thomas Tawala Prestø, the film showcases behind the scenes footage and interviews. Interpretations - Siren Calls: To an Illusive Journey is a unique look into a multifaceted creative practice, a story of hope, aspiration and dreams.

w serendipity-uk.com | phoenix.org.uk

t 0116 482 1394 | 0116 242 2800

e info@serendipity-uk.com

THE FIRST RASTA

Wednesday 18 October 7pm

Phoenix

£9.20 | £8.50

Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage in partnership with Phoenix

Director: Hélenè Lee

2010

85 minutes

Language: English

Country: Jamaica and France

Genre: Documentary

At the beginning of the last century, the young Leonard Percival Howell (1893 - 1981) left Jamaica, became a sailor and travelled the world. On his way, he chanced upon Bolshevism to New Thought, Gandhi to Anarchism, Garveyism to psychoanalysis, as he sought to find his promised land. With this cocktail of ideas Leonard Howell returned to Jamaica and founded Pinnacle, the first Rasta community, heralded by the coronation of Haile Selassie. Going far beyond the stereotypes, this cultural history offers an uncensored vision of a movement with complex roots and the exceptional journey of a man who sought Black liberation and unity.

w serendipity-uk.com | phoenix.org.uk

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Image Credit: Leonard Howell

MOVE WHEN THE SPIRIT SAYS MOVE: THE LEGACY OF DOROTHY FOREMAN COTTON

Wednesday 25 October

7pm

Phoenix

£9.20 | £8.50

Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage in partnership with Phoenix

Director: Ry Ferro and Deborah C Hoard

2023

87 minutes

Language: English Country: United States Genre: Documentary

Dorothy Foreman Cotton was a bold and highly effective civil rights leader, who educated thousands in their citizenship rights and inspired generations of activists with her powerful freedom songs. The only woman on Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s executive staff, Dorothy Cotton was a charismatic, courageous and consistently overlooked key player in the Civil Rights Movement, whose freedom schools, freedom songs and inspiring messages of the power within us all are profoundly needed today.

Programmed to mark the sixtieth anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s I have a dream speech, this documentary celebrates the work and legacy of a bold yet unsung civil rights activist and educator.

W: serendipity-uk.com | phoenix.org.uk

T: 0116 482 1394 | 0116 242 2800

E: info@serendipity-uk.com

POETRY AND LITERATURE

CASTA – THROUGH RESISTANCE POETRY

Thursday 5 October 2:00pm – 4:00pm and 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Leicester City Centre and Leicester Central Library Free

Presented by Opal 22 Arts and Edutainment

Celebrate National Poetry Day with a two-part event. First, bringing poetry to the roads with street pop-up performances across the city centre between 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Before a takeover of Leicester Central Library from 6:00pm – 8:00pm for an evening of live poetry from the Midlands’ best writers and poets, including performances from The Orator, 9ina and Lekky.

In partnership with Leicester Museum and Leicester Libraries.

w eventbrite.co.uk/e/pop-up-poetrytickets-660446161247

Image Credit: Boston Williams

Image Credit: Dorothy Cotton at SCLC

WORD! BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL WITH JOHN AGARD

Thursday 26 October 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Attenborough Arts Centre

£7 | £4 Concession

Presented by Renaissance One and WORD!

Join us for a special evening celebrating the poetry and words of international poet John Agard - “A unique and energetic force in contemporary British poetry” (Poetry Archive) and local poet sensations brought to you through a collaboration between Renaissance One and WORD! We’ll offer a space for conversation, performance and a Caribbean-style lime.

John Agard is a poet, playwright and short story writer who grew up in Guyana, where his love of language stemmed from listening to cricket commentaries on the radio. He has won many prizes, including the Smarties Book Prize and the Queen’s Gold Medal and in 2021 was awarded the prestigious BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding contribution to children’s literature. John is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and his work appears in an AQA anthology for GCSE English Literature. With his wife, the poet Grace Nichols, John has edited the Walker anthologies A Caribbean Dozen and Under the Moon and Over the Sea, and he is the author of the Carnegie-longlisted My Name Is Book

For more information see: wordpoetry.co.uk

t 0116 252 2455 w attenborougharts.com

CELEBRATION OF BLACK FEMALE VOICES –“I AM SOMEBODY” –POETRY COMPETITION

Saturday 28 October 1:00pm – 3:00pm African Caribbean Centre Free

Presented by Neighbourhood Services and Sanroo Publishing

You are invited to join us to hear readings of some of the poems written for the ‘Celebration of Black Female Voice – I Am Somebody’, poetry competition. The theme for the competition is ‘The Black Female Experience – ‘I Am Somebody’. Winners of the competition will receive their prize at the event. Attendees at the event will also be given the opportunity to read their own poems. Come along and support. Let’s celebrate the poetic talent of the women of Leicester..

Free Event – Book a space at this event by contacting the centre

t 0116 221 1793

Image Credit: John Agard, Renaissance One

THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE

BETTER TOGETHER SHOWCASE

Tuesday 10 October 6:00pm Curve

£8

Presented by Kainé Management

Better Together and Leicestershire Music celebrate 75 years of giving to the community. The showcase will present performances and presentations by Leicester Windrush elders, friends and children from various schools. Don’t miss this very special occasion!

In partnership with Leicester Museum and Leicester Libraries.

t 0116 242 3595

AND STILL I RISE TOUR

Friday 27 October 7:00pm – 11:00pm 2Funky Café

£5

Presented by 2Funky Arts

As part of Black History Month, 2Funky Arts will be touring around the Midlands with 12 exciting artists of Black, Caribbean, and African descent. Artists will showcase performance pieces, in art forms such as singing, rapping, dancing. These creative pieces will reflect and celebrate the vibrancy of Black history and culture.

The final stop of this tour is Leicester, at 2Funky Music Café. So come down and see an amazing showcase event that represents a diverse selection of Black artists and gives them a platform of self-expression.

And Still I Rise is managed by 2Funky Arts and supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

In partnership with Leicester Museum and Leicester Libraries.

t 07976 412759

w 2funkyarts.co.uk/portfolio/and-still-i-rise/

THE MOUNTAINTOP –STAGED READING

Tuesday 31 October 7:45pm

Curve | Studio Theatre

From £10*

Presented by Curve in association with Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage and sponsored by PPL PRS.

Join Curve this Black History Month for a rehearsed reading of Katori Hall’s powerful drama, The Mountaintop. This special performance is in association with Curve Associate Company Serendipity and sponsored by PPL PRS.

After making his monumental “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech against the advice of his colleagues on Wednesday 3 April 1968, Dr Martin Luther King Jr checks into room 306 of the Lorraine Motel. Exhausted, conflicted and alone, he orders up room service, but instead finds himself served with some unexpected questions from the audacious waitress who unflinchingly cross-examines the makings and misgivings of a hero.

The Mountaintop explores the place where hope and history converge in this captivating, emotional and evocative retelling of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s last night on this earth.

* Prices and discounts are subject to change and can be removed or amended at any time.

t 0116 242 3595

w curveonline.co.uk

Image Credit: Curve

THE DRIFTERS GIRL

Tuesday 31 October

7:30pm Curve

From £25*

Presented by Curve

Direct from the West End, The Drifters Girl comes to Curve as part of a major UK tour.

Nominated for Best New Musical at the 2022 Olivier Awards, this smash-hit show has audiences on their feet night after night with a phenomenal soundtrack packed full of iconic Drifters hits including Saturday Night At The Movies, Save The Last Dance For Me, and Stand By Me!

Discover the remarkable story of The Drifters and the truth about the woman who made them. From the highs of hit records to the lows of legal battles and personal tragedy, Faye Treadwell is the legendary manager of The Drifters who refused to give up on the group she loved.

Thirty years and hundreds of hit songs later, there is no doubt that Faye Treadwell was, and always will be, The Drifters Girl.

* Prices and discounts are subject to change and can be removed or amended at any time.

t 0116 242 3595

w curveonline.co.uk

MUSIC

BYRON WALLEN’S FOUR CORNERS

Thursday 19 October 8:00pm

Attenborough Arts Centre

£14 | £5 Students

Presented by Leicester Jazzhouse

Widely recognised as a seminal figure in world jazz, trumpeter and composer Byron Wallen has travelled the world performing alongside legendary musicians such as George Benson, Andrew Hill and Chaka Khan.

His album Portrait: Reflections on Belonging explores issues of ancestry, Diasporic journey and cultural roots. Landmarks of blues and groove are explored and re-invented and his music draws inspiration from contemporary and indigenous cultures, early Renaissance music and the styles of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter and Thelonious Monk.

w mjazz.co.uk/whats-on/0s-byron-wallen/

Image

Credit: Bryon Wallen

IDMC GOSPEL AND SOUL CHOIR

Saturday 28 October

7:00pm – 10:00pm (Doors open 6:30pm)

2Funky Music Café

£13.75 – £16.50 (includes booking fee)

Presented by 2Funky Music Arts

IDMC are around twenty-five members from various backgrounds who share a common faith and belief. The choir’s music is both infectious and inspirational, with a global message of love, hope, joy and peace.

Led by award winning musician, choir director and founder John Fisher, the choir have managed to amass a total of nine albums and various single releases containing legendary gospel soul funk classics, including Soul Food, Don’t Lose your song, Season of Love and Walk with Me.

t 07976 412759

w skiddle.com/e/36284471/

COMEDY

COBO: COMEDY SHUTDOWN BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL

Saturday 14 October 6:00pm – 8:00pm

The Y Theatre

£18

Presented by COBO

COBO: Comedy Shutdown brings a Black History Month Special to a venue near you. Round up your friends and family and join us for an uplifting night of laughter.

Acts include:

• Kane Brown (BBC, 1Xtra, Amazon Prime)

• Loyiso Gola (Live At The Apollo, Comedy Central)

• Trixx (Stand Up Comedian and Web Star From Toronto)

If you’ve never been to one of these nights before then get ready for an evening of rip-roaring, back slapping belly laughs! It’s a comedy night that is not only packed to the brim with jokes but also celebrates the vast array of comedic talent throughout Black History Month.

t 0116 233 3111

w www.luventertainment.co.uk/event/cobo

BEVERLEY KNIGHT

Tuesday 31 October

7:00pm

De Montfort Hall

£27.50 – £50

Presented by De Montfort Hall

Celebrating her incredible career over the years and her milestone fiftieth birthday, the Queen of British Soul reunites with her live band for a fun-filled night where she will perform all of her classic hits and fan favourites along with brand new songs. Knight was awarded an MBE in 2007 for services to British music and charity, has won three MOBO Awards, been nominated for Best Female at the Brit Awards three times, Best Actress at the Olivier Awards twice and Best Female at the prestigious Mercury Music Prize.

t 0116 233 3111

e dmh-office@leicester.gov.uk

Image

Credit: Beverley Knight

COMMUNITY

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ROADSHOW

Monday 2 October 10:00am – 11:00am

Various Locations

Free | Students Only

Presented by Kainé Management

Get ready for an unforgettable journey through time as we celebrate Black History Month with an exciting and inspiring roadshow coming to local FE Colleges. The event educates as well as entertains students about the rich history and heritage of Black culture. The roadshow is a great platforming event for Black History Month activities, galvanising interest and encouraging students to participate in wider events around the city. The Black History Month Roadshow is a one-of-a-kind experience designed to raise awareness, spark creativity, and foster a deeper understanding of the influential impact made by Black individuals on our society today. We will celebrate diversity and unity at these events.

CUBA SOLIDARITY EVENT

Sunday 8 October

1:00pm – 5:00pm

Abbey Sports and Leisure Club

£10 Donation for Two People

Presented by Leicester City NEU

Please support Leicester City Black Educators fundraise for educational supplies and braille machines for schools in Cuba with a Caribbean Tea Party. The event recognises the long-term solidarity and exchanges between British and Cuban teachers. In Cuba, many are affected by an ongoing blockade by the USA, meaning essential resources for schools are difficult to access.

w 01162552928

t leicesterneu.org.uk

BEAUTY INSIDE AND OUT

Tuesday 17 October 5:30pm – 8:00pm

Mayflower Road Church Community Rooms

£2.50

Presented by Kainé Management

Indulge in an evening of pampering, self-care, and wellness at our young women’s health and beauty evening “beauty inside and out”. Designed to celebrate the beauty, health well-being and mental health of Black women, providing young women to come together and prioritise their physical, mental, and emotional health.

t 07961697205

EXHIBITION

ARTS AND CRAFTS

DESIGNING YOUR OWN TOTE BAG USING AFRICAN STENCILS

Tuesday 3 October 11:00am – 2:30pm

Highfields Library Free

Presented by Neighbourhood Services

You are invited to design your own canvas tote bag, using stencils inspired by traditional African designs. Letters, fabric paints and stencils provided. Come along and enjoy an interesting journey creating your own unique Tote bag.

Suitable for 16 years and over. Book a space at this event by contacting the library.

t 0116 299 5494

HABIB HAJALLIE: BLACK PEN PORTRAITS

Friday 20 October 12:00noon – 5:00pm

Attenborough Arts Centre Free

Presented by Attenborough Arts Centre

Habib Hajallie champions figures from ethnically diverse backgrounds that have been conspicuously omitted from traditional British portraiture. He specialises in the use of the everyday medium of black ballpoint pen to celebrate figures that should be given a greater visibility. Born in Southeast London, his work is often informed by his Sierra Leonean and Lebanese heritage.

t 0116 2522455

w www.attenborougharts.com

Image Credit: Mary Seacole by Habib Hajallie

UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK SIP AND CLAY PARTY NIGHT

Friday 13 October 7:00pm – 11:00pm

African Caribbean Centre

£10

Presented by Opal 22 Arts and Edutainment in partnership with the African Caribbean Centre

An event for the adults! Let’s have some fun whilst we try our hand at a new skill. You will be supported by one of Britain’s leading Black Ceramists Faye Munroe. Accompanied by live DJ Glamour and host Presto, expect party scenes as we reconnect with our inner child, play, sip and clay.

In partnership with Leicester Museum and Art Gallery.

t eventbrite.co.uk/e/unapologeticallyblack-leicesters-late-night-arts-festivaltickets-660516702237

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE BLACK HISTORY MONTH HALF TERM ACTIVITIES

Friday 20 October 12:00noon – 4:00pm

African Caribbean Centre Free

Presented by Neighbourhood Services

We will be running Children and Young People Black History Month Workshops, which will include Black History, crafts sessions creating traditional African bead bracelets, African jewellery, dance and more.

For children and young people 6 years and over. Book a space at this event by contacting the centre.

t 0116 221 1793

SERENDIPITY CONNECT

JOIN OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY!

Serendipity Connect is Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage’s popular membership scheme that offers a range of exclusive benefits for those who are passionate about Black arts and culture. As a member, you will have access to a range of events, exhibitions, and workshops, as well as discounts on tickets and merchandise. You will also receive our regular newsletter, which features news and updates about our latest projects and collaborations, as well as interviews with artists and other cultural figures.

Membership benefits include:

• Priority booking

• Access to festival programmes and tickets before official release

• Discounts

• 20% off all performances

• 15% off all masterclasses and screenings

• Free subscription to Vanguard e-magazine

• Our bi-annual magazine exploring diversity in the arts and heritage sector along with industry news, opportunities, reviews and a showcase of emerging talent

• International dance news

• Share news with fellow members and keep up to date with industry news with our e-newsletter

• Access to the Living Archive

By becoming a Connect member, you will be joining a vibrant community of artists, art lovers, and cultural enthusiasts who are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the arts. You will have the opportunity to attend exclusive members-only events, meet like-minded people, and support our work in promoting Black arts and culture.

Insider Membership from £70 per year

VIP Membership from £100 per year

BLACKINK

Issue 4

Available from 1 October 2023

£15 Print | £12 Digital

Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

BlackInk is a magazine focusing on Black arts, heritage and cultural politics. An interface between a physical magazine and digital content, BlackInk is a creative response bringing together a range of interconnected international voices from across the African and African Caribbean Diaspora and indigenous communities.

Pre-Order or purchase from: serendipity-uk.com

Image Credit: Sunlight by Mel Larsen

THE LIVING ARCHIVE

SERENDIPITY INSTITUTE FOR BLACK ARTS AND HERITAGE IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE LIVING ARCHIVE.

The Living Archive forms a significant part of Serendipity, Unearthed: Forgotten Histories a project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project seeks to make a structural difference to the recording, documentation and sharing of Black history and heritage in the UK and to give back hidden histories for everyone to share.

The Living Archive is a digital collections and accessible interactive website that provides a home to archival materials, that can be used by artists, academics and researchers through responses to heritage and collections, inspiring conversations, learning and creativity but also digital content that brings them to life through artistic responses, events, exhibitions, podcasts and films.

The ethos for the Living Archive acknowledges the archive not as a static structure where objects are labelled definitively, but one that continues to evolve through interpretation and reinterpretation that can be used to deliver unique experiences where art responds to and is informed by heritage and used to tell stories. In turn, this opens up an exchange, reconnecting back to heritage so that the Living Archive is active and animated.

For more information visit serendipity-uk.com

Image Credit: Herdle White

The Owl Who Came For

© John Hay and Garry Parsons 2022 – Macmillan Children’s

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

VENUES

2Funky Music Café

23A New Park Street

Leicester

LE3 5NH

t 0797 641 2759

w 2funkycomplex.co.uk

Abbey Sports and Leisure Club

70 Slater Street LE3 5AS

African Caribbean Centre

Maidstone Road

Leicester

LE2 0UA

t 0116 221 1793

Attenborough Arts

Centre

Lancaster Road

Leicester

LE1 7HA

t 0116 252 2455

e arts-centre@le.ac.uk

w attenborougharts.com

Curve

60 Rutland Street

Leicester

LE1 1 SB

t 0116 242 3595

e tickets@curvetheatre. co.uk

w curveonline.co.uk

De Montfort Hall

Granville Road

Leicester

LE1 7RU

t 0116 233 3111

e dmh-office@leicester. gov.uk

w demontforthall.co.uk

De Montfort University

The Gateway

Leicester

LE1 9BH

t 0116 255 1551

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

21 Bowling Green Street

Leicester LE1 6AS

t 0116 482 1394

e info@serendipity-uk.com

w serendipity-uk.com

@SerendipityInfo

@SerendipityInstitueUK

@SerendipityInstituteUK

Serendipity Artists Movement Limited

Company Registration number in England and Wales 07248813

Charity Registration Number in England and Wales 1160035

Dialogue Box

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

21 Bowling Green Street

Leicester

LE1 6AS

t 0116 482 1394

e info@serendipity-uk. com

w serendipity-uk.com

The Guildhall

Guildhall Lane

Leicester

LE1 5FQ

t 0116 253 2569

Highfields Library

98 Melbourne Road

Leicester

LE2 0DS

t 0116 299 5494

Leicester Central Library

Bishop Street

Leicester

LE1 6AA

t 0116 299 5401

Leicester Museum and Art Gallery

53 New Walk

Leicester

LE1 7EA

t 0116 225 4900

w leicestermuseums.org

Mayflower Road Church Community Rooms

Ethel Road

Leicester

LE5 5ND

t 0796 169 7205

Phoenix 4 Midland Street

Leicester LE1 1TG

t 0116 242 2800

w phoenix.org.uk

The Y Theatre

7 East Street

Leicester

LE1 6EY

t 0116 255 7066

e boxoffice@ytheatre. co.uk

w ytheatre.co.uk

Please note all details were correct at the time of going to print. Whilst every effort will be made to keep to the announced programme, it may be necessary to make changes without notice and in line with current government guidelines. Refunds or exchanges will only be made at the venue or organiser’s discretion, please see terms and conditions for further details. For information about access, transaction fees and other ticket related queries, please contact the venue or organiser.