A Black & African Heritage project

Verd de gris arts works to promote and celebrate cultural heritage in communities across the North of England. We are particularly interested in the ways in which cultural heritage can help minority / marginalised communities respond to e.g. community identity, racial intolerance, health and well-being inequalities, social and economic disadvantage.

LightUp Black and African Heritage has one of its core aims to protect and safeguard African culture and heritage in Calderdale.

As custodians of Black and African Culture and Heritage BAHC want to find ways to commission African cultural and social events: to promote and raise the profile of the Black / African community in the region, and facilitate a better understanding of African culture and heritage within other local communities. This will include developing ways to help shine light the multifarious aspects of individual countries and people’s culture from precolonial and colonial times.

BAHC is establishing itself as the most representative forum / support organisation for Calderdale’s Black / Black British community. It has 8 trustees and over 50 active members keen to explore ways to enhance its reach and impact.

The ‘Light Up African Heritage’ project will be a unique and innovative intergenerational project with the aim of inspiring and empowering members of the Black / Black African community in Calderdale: to meet, to talk, to share and learn more about the importance of cultural heritage, whilst also informing the rest of society in regard to African traditions, identities and forms of cultural expression.

The project will narrate and celebrate the stories of recent Black / Black African migration to Calderdale: why they came to this place; their experiences both positive and negative; the importance of preserving customs and traditions as they raise their families and settle in their adopted society. The project will also articulate and celebrate their aspirations for the future.

This project is funded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund