What are the opening hours?

Thursday 10am - 6pm Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 6pm Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Black Cultural Archives

Home
United Kingdom
London
Black Cultural Archives

Black Cultural Archives. Uncovering the hidden histories of Britain's Black heritage.
(225)

Black Cultural Archives was founded in 1981 to collect, preserve and celebrate the contributions Black people have made to the culture, society and heritage of the UK. Our unique and growing archive collection offers insight into the history of people of African descent in Britain and includes rare documents, photographs, oral history testimonies and objects dating from the second century to the

present day. Through our public programmes and partnership work with other organisations we enable a variety of communities to learn and connect with this often hidden history. Black Cultural Archives is working on a major building project to open the UK's first Black heritage centre at Windrush Square in the heart of Brixton, London. BCA Official Site: http://www.bcaheritage.org.uk
BCA Collections: http://www.bcaheritage.org.uk/collections

18/06/2026

JUST ANNOUNCED! As part of our celebration of Windrush Day, join us at Black Cultural Archives on Wednesday 24 June for the launch of our latest exhibition, The Forgotten Generations. We are honoured to be joined by some of the veterans featured in the exhibition. Come and hear first-hand about their experiences.

Panellists:
Prince Albert Jacob, WW2 veteran
Donald Campbell, veteran RAF
Kenneth Straun, veteran RAF
Karen Kellar, veteran RAF
Dr Wanda Wyporska, Host

Tickets include access to our special exhibition, The Forgotten Generations. Most recently shown at Birmingham City Library and at various RAF sites across the UK, the exhibition features portraits by renowned photographer Vanley Burke and highlights the historical and ongoing contributions of Black individuals in the Armed Forces.

Free entry for Black Card Members | £20 ticket for non-members. Please see our event page for full details.

🗓️ Date: Wednesday 24 June
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Where: Black Cultural Archives
🎟️ Reserve your seat at https://buff.ly/vk6JjDp

As BCA marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to welcome you into the archives with open days, guided tours, and a series of evening events. We'll continue to welcome more schools and researchers, and to host exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings that reflect our ethos: Black Cultural Archives - Be Yourself, See Yourself. Keep an eye on our channels for dates and details. Thank you for being part of our story.

17/06/2026

Join us for a special evening in conversation with renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump as he discusses his new book, Worse Than a Lie.

Often described as “Black America’s attorney general,” Ben Crump has represented the families of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, George Floyd, Sonya Massey, Tyre Nichols, the estate of Henrietta Lacks, and many others whose cases have shaped the modern civil rights landscape.

In this rare London appearance, Attorney Crump will join us for a fireside chat followed by a book signing. All are welcome. Free entry for Black Card Members | £25 ticket for non-members | £50 ticket including a copy of Worse Than a Lie. Visit our event page for full details https://buff.ly/15es5Gl

🗓️ Date: Thursday 25 June
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Where: Black Cultural Archives, the event will also be livestreamed
🎟️ Reserve your seat https://buff.ly/15es5Gl

As BCA marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to welcome you into the archives with open days, guided tours, and a series of evening events. We'll continue to welcome more schools and researchers, and to host exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings that reflect our ethos: Black Cultural Archives - Be Yourself, See Yourself. Keep an eye on our channels for dates and details. Thank you for being part of our story.

27/04/2026

What does the future of museum learning look like, and how do we navigate the real pressures and possibilities facing the sector right now? These are some of the questions our Chief Executive, Dr Wanda Wyporska, will be exploring as part of an upcoming panel discussion at the Museums + Heritage Show.

This year’s Museums + Heritage Show is packed with practical insights and grounded inspiration, as sector leaders and practitioners share ideas, test innovations, and discuss real-world responses to the challenges museums and heritage organisations are grappling with.

You can secure a free two-day pass for 13–14 May at Olympia London at https://buff.ly/GvMJnNb

22/04/2026

On this Stephen Lawrence Day, 33 years after Stephen’s death, we invite you to join us in honouring his life and legacy. Through reflection, learning and action, we can continue to inspire change and shape a fairer future for our young people. Stephen’s story remains a stark reminder of the realities of institutional and systemic racism in the UK, and a call to keep pushing for justice in his name.

The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation plays a vital role in that work. Its programmes reach beyond the classroom, equipping young people with the knowledge and confidence to question inherited narratives, confront the legacies of colonialism, and lead with courage in their schools and communities. Their contribution to our collective fight against racism and to the education of the next generation is deeply significant for our community.

At BCA, we hold archival materials from the campaign for justice for Stephen Lawrence, including letters and documents that trace how the community and organisations demanded change. We invite you into our Collections to engage with this history first-hand, to reflect on how far we’ve come, and to consider what more is still required of all of us.

Ref. No.: PRESS/21: The Journal, press cutting relating to the murder of Stephen Lawrence, circa 1997 to 2000.

20/04/2026

Thank you to and for providing our BCA Youth Programme members with tickets to see ‘The Authenticator’ and ‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’!

Alongside supporting the Youth Programme through six-month projects rooted in the archives, we offer enrichment opportunities throughout the year to inspire members and introduce them to careers in the arts and heritage sector. While ‘The Authenticator’ sat well alongside the group’s exploration of archive documents, ‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’ reinforced the importance of community spaces.

If you have an enrichment opportunity you would like to share with our youth programme, we’d love to hear from you! Drop us a message at [email protected]

As BCA marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to welcome you into the archives with open days, guided tours, and a series of evening events. We'll continue to welcome more schools and researchers, and to host exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings that reflect our ethos: Black Cultural Archives - Be Yourself, See Yourself. Keep an eye on our channels for dates and details. Thank you for being part of our story.

15/04/2026

Visit our Reading Room and Library! We’re open Wednesday to Friday for research and exploration, with advance booking required.

Our Reading Room and Library opening times:
Wednesday: 12:00 - 17:00 (arrival window: 12:00 - 14:00)
Thursday: 11:00 - 17:00 (arrival window: 11:00 - 13:00)
Friday: 11:00 - 17:00 (arrival window: 11:00 - 13:00)

To arrange your visit, please visit https://buff.ly/2XaiLeI for full details and instructions.

As BCA marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to welcome you into the archives with open days, guided tours, and a series of evening events. We'll continue to welcome more schools and researchers, and to host exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings that reflect our ethos: Black Cultural Archives - Be Yourself, See Yourself. Keep an eye on our channels for future dates and details. Thank you for being part of our story.

09/04/2026

Thank you to the students at King’s College London’s Department of History for completing “Black in the Union Jack? Black Lives in Modern London.”

This innovative undergraduate module, delivered in partnership between King’s College London and Black Cultural Archives, has been an example of what’s possible when universities and community archives work together to explore Black histories in London.

Across the module, it explored the experiences and agency of Black Londoners, mapped Black spaces across the city, and traced the connections between local struggles, national debates and global anti‑racist movements and cultural networks.

A distinctive feature of the module was that it was partly taught at BCA, where students worked directly with our archival materials to deepen their understanding of postcolonial legacies and the making of “Black Britain” in the capital.

Pictured: King’s College London Professor Alana Harris; BCA Learning & Engagement Manager, Dr Ayshah Johnston; and participants from King’s College London

As BCA marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to welcome you into the archives with open days, guided tours, and a series of evening events. We'll continue to welcome more schools and researchers, and to host exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings that reflect our ethos: Black Cultural Archives - Be Yourself, See Yourself. Keep an eye on our channels for dates and details. Thank you for being part of our story.

08/04/2026

The Windrush National Vigil took place earlier this week to commemorate the legacy and ongoing impact of the Home Office scandal. Together, we remembered and honoured all those affected by the scandal, and particularly, those who have passed away without receiving justice.

During the vigil last year, the Immigration Minister pledged a “fundamental reset” for the Windrush Generation, but it’s clear that far deeper reform is still needed. Our CEO, Dr Wanda Wyporska, called for the Government to honour the pledges it made to survivors.

We were honoured to host survivors and families at BCA for a rich repast, and thank the Windrush National Organisation, Friends of Windrush Square, Rev Clive Foster (Independent Windrush Commissioner), Helen Hayes MP and Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP. A special thank you to WWII veteran Prince Albert Jacob for his presence and testimony, along with veterans from The Forgotten Generations. BCA will be hosting their Lest We Forget Exhibition in June.

We remain in solidarity with all those who have suffered at the hands of racist legislation and their ongoing campaign for justice.

As BCA marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to welcome you into the archives with open days, guided tours, and a series of evening events. We'll continue to welcome more schools and researchers, and to host exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings that reflect our ethos: Black Cultural Archives - Be Yourself, See Yourself. Keep an eye on our channels for future dates and details. Thank you for being part of our story.

02/04/2026

What a day!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Open Day at Black Cultural Archives this weekend. From the moment doors opened, there was a real buzz in the building, and visitors told us how excited they were just to be in the space, surrounded by Black British history.

Highlights included:
• BCA Learning & Engagement Manager, Dr Ayshah Johnston, who guided us through ‘The Black Presence in Britain through 6 Objects’ in an interactive, thought‑provoking session.
• BCA Chief Executive, Dr Wanda Wyporska, who led a powerful and accessible session on genealogy, ‘Black Family History for All’, giving people practical routes into exploring their own stories.
• BCA Learning & Engagement Officer, Hannah Shury-Smith, led attendees through an arts and crafts session about the history, music and costumes of Jonkonnu.
• A retrospective of former exhibitions and archive materials selected by Collections Researcher, Talia Sanchez and Venue Manager, Michael Williams.

Thank you to everyone who came through, asked questions, created, learned, and donated to support our work.

As BCA marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to welcome you into the archives with open days, guided tours, and a series of evening events. We'll continue to welcome more schools and researchers, and to host exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings that reflect our ethos: Black Cultural Archives - Be Yourself, See Yourself. Keep an eye on our channels for future dates and details. Thank you for being part of our story.

01/04/2026

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us for the first event in our new Black Salon Series, and to Professor David Stovall for an electrifying conversation.

It was a privilege to welcome him to Black Cultural Archives for this special UK appearance to discuss his groundbreaking book Engineered Conflict: Structural Violence and the Future of Black Life in Chicago.

Through housing instability, school closures and criminalisation, Engineered Conflict shows how state policy can displace and isolate Black working‑class communities, manufacturing conflict between neighbours while obscuring the real forces of capitalism and white supremacy. Hearing Professor Stovall unpack these ideas in person and connect them to our own local contexts was powerful and deeply necessary.

Thank you to everyone who came with open minds, sharp questions and generous attention. We’re excited to continue these conversations in future Black Salon Series events.

📷 : Image 1 - Professor David Stovall

As BCA marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to welcome you into the archives with open days, guided tours, and a series of evening events. We'll continue to welcome more schools and researchers, and to host exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings that reflect our ethos: Black Cultural Archives - Be Yourself, See Yourself. Keep an eye on our channels for dates and details. Thank you for being part of our story.

Address

1 Windrush Square
London
SW21EF

Opening Hours

Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 6pm
Saturday	10am - 6pm
Sunday	12pm - 5pm

Website

https://blackculturalarchives.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Black Cultural Archives posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Featured

British DJ & MC Academy
The grangeway
Hephzibar Foundation