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Black Culture Collective funds three new projects to mark CIC status

Local cultural group the Black Culture Collective has announced funding for three new community projects to celebrate becoming a community interest company (CIC).

Achieving CIC status marks a big step forward for the non-profit organisation, which funds and hosts arts, history and heritage-themed cultural events in Thamesmead.

Bukola Joel, of Braidz & Beatz, Krystle Downie, of The Dominoes Circle, Carmel Britto, of Black Culture Collective, and Esther Sesay, of The Life and Times of Kunta Kinte.
 

Carmel Britto, co-founder and chair of the Black Culture Collective, said: “We’re committed to funding projects that are rooted in the community. Becoming a CIC was always the target since we founded in 2020.

“Now we’ve reached that milestone, it enables us to tap into new funding streams to bring even more ambitious projects to the community in Thamesmead.

“It was also very important for us to adopt that legal status to further demonstrate our commitment to our non-profit values.”

The Black Culture Collective timed its official switch to CIC status to coincide with Black History Month in October in recognition of its work to celebrate African and Caribbean arts, culture, history and heritage in the community.

It also announced the three winners of its Connected Communities small grants fund, who each secured funding for community-led projects.

Carmel added: “We wanted projects that were a bit different. We’re delighted to be funding  three projects that are focused on sharing African and Caribbean arts and culture in Thamesmead, and will be delivered in the community for the community.”

Meet the successful projects

The Dominoes Circle

Revelling in an old Caribbean way of socialising, The Dominoes Circle will celebrate the tile-based game through lessons, historical context and competitions. There will be Caribbean food, music and dancing to provide the perfect cultural backdrop.

The intergenerational event is being organised by Krystle Downie and her mum Pauline. Krystle said: “My granny, Edna, taught me to play dominoes. At family events, we’re always a team and we rinse it! I want to bring that to people of all backgrounds.

"Bring your granny, bring your grandpa, bring your neighbour. We want to bring younger and older people together through face-to-face-interaction and a game that gets the heart pumping.”

Braidz & Beatz

A five-week programme helping children and young people to embrace looking after their natural hair. The project focused on braiding, maintaining and protecting hair, as well as looking at the history and cultural significance of natural hair.

The course, aimed at eight to 15-year-olds, ran through November and December at The Javan Coker Foundation Centre.

Organiser Bukola Joel said: “We want to empower young people with the knowledge and skills to not only enhance their self-esteem but also celebrate the rich cultural significance of haircare practices in African culture."

The Life and Times of Kunta Kinte

The story of Kunta Kinte, who was born in The Gambia, enslaved and taken to the USA, was the starting point for an exploration of Gambian and West African culture and history. The project will include an exhibition and events at The Javan Coker Foundation Centre covering African art, artefacts, crafts, food and photography.

Organiser Esther Sesay said: “It’s a Black history project that will enlighten young people and service users about Kunta Kinte. By exploring the history of topics such as Gambian and West African food, we will also look at contemporary issues such as healthy eating.”

What is the Black Culture Collective?

The Black Culture Collective was established by Thamesmead residents in 2020 with funding from Peabody.

It has hosted, supported and commissioned a wide range of different arts and cultural activities, projects and events celebrating African and Caribbean culture in Thamesmead, home to the largest West African population in the UK.

It continues to support culturally-enriching projects delivered by African and Caribbean heritage-led organisations, businesses, community groups, professionals, artists and creatives.

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