Liverpool unveils busy Black History Month programme

Liverpool cultural organisations are marking Black History Month with a series of events and activities throughout October.

The packed programme includes performances, workshops, debates, discussions, screenings and exhibitions at venues in Liverpool and the wider region which seek to celebrate the talent and vibrancy of the city’s black communities and creatively examine the role of black people in Liverpool and beyond.

It is driven by COoL (Creative Organisations of Liverpool) and supported by Culture Liverpool.

Events include a takeover of Tate Liverpool by Blue Saint and a posse of WoW Young writers, a piece of verbatim theatre by BlackFest and Unity Theatre, Malik Al Nasir sharing his letters to Gil Scott Heron at a book launch at LEAF, and an online talk about Black USA Today by Professor Stephen Small of California’s Berkley University.

On October 3, Collision Theatre Company presents an immersive piece, Breaking the Silence on the Slave Trade, at Ullet Road Unitarian Church.

Above: Katumba is holding a Halloween Carnival. Top: An Image from Uprisings 1981: A Commemoration due to be held at the Museum of Liverpool.

National Museums Liverpool will hold a series of events at its different venues throughout the month. They include displays, talks, screenings and storytelling.

And Routes & Roots - Festival of the African Diaspora involves community workshops featuring dance, crafts, music and other creative skills led by The Black and Brown Social Traders Network (BlaST).

Participants will be able to showcase their skills and work at the Katumba Halloween Carnival at the Bombed Out Church and other city centre locations on October 31.

Meanwhile this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Toxteth uprisings and a new exhibition, created in collaboration between Writing on the Wall and Liverpool Record Office, goes on show at Central Library from October 22 until December 22.

It includes news material from 1981 and reveals the extensive collection of the L8 Law Centre.

And Edge Hill University also has a busy programme of events as part of the month.

Black History Month runs throughout October. Details on the full programme HERE