WHAT’S ON
INSPIRED BY
IDENTITY
Devised with pride and personal experience in mind, Renfrewshire’s forthcoming Black History Month cultural celebrations are shaping up to be the best yet.
H
ot on the heels of last year’s landmark online programme, Renfrewshire is celebrating the diverse array of communities that we have right here in our towns and villages as part of Black History Month 2021. Courtesy of placing organisations such as the Ethic Communities Cultural Steering Group at the forefront, the diverse array of perspectives on offer will ensure that this year’s celebrations are more robust and authentic than ever. Structured around the nationwide theme of “Proud To Be”, the steering group are taking the foundations that were laid across the successful curation of UWS’ ‘Celebrate Culture’ event and their expansive Refugee Week itinerary to produce a calendar of events that’s centred around the key tenets of culture, arts and creativity. Tawona Sitholé
12 MILL
Musicians in Exile Food Workshop
From hosting poet Sean Wai Keung’s “Sharing Food Experiences” workshop to the ongoing delivery of their incredible Pen Pals project which has now become a Scottish Government-funded platform for engagement between Renfrewshire’s School of African Cultures and migrant communities across the nation, the steering group have been positively impacting Renfrewshire’s BAME families from its inception and hope to channel that momentum into their plans for October. Led with progression and inclusivity at its heart, the steering group features representatives from organisations such as Pachedu’s Johannes Gonani, Inspiring Families Development Networks’ Unyimeobong Matthew and Jambo Radio’s George Tah Meh who will work in collaboration with Renfrewshire Leisure’s experienced cultural services and marketing team to bring the event to life. Having pledged to showcase more work curated and programmed by BAME artists for all audiences, Renfrewshire’s 2021 edition of Black History Month is sure to be a turning point in which more local people from all manner of backgrounds are engaged and educated through music,
film, panel discussions and a myriad of other creative disciplines. By providing such a compelling programme, it will hopefully go a long way in contributing to the continued transformation of the area and fostering a more open, empathic and inclusive Renfrewshire than ever seen before. For more on what’s on offer, visit renfrewshireleisure. com for programme updates from Friday 10th September. The Renfrewshire Black History Month Cultural Programme is made possible with the support of Future Paisley and partners’ funding contributions. Future Paisley is a radical and wide-ranging programme of events, activity and investment, using the town’s unique and internationally-significant cultural stories to transform its future.
