Brixton’s Black Cultural Archives is to get £200,000 from central government to secure its “immediate future”, Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright announced today (13 December).
He said the investment would ensure the BCA remained open while a long-term funding strategy was developed.
The funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) builds on a separate grant from Lambeth council.
A DCMS statement said that the funding recognised the important role the BCA plays in preserving and promoting the histories of African and Caribbean people in Britain.
Heritage Lottery Fund awards of more than £4 million since 2014 enabled the BCA to develop the UK’s first dedicated Black Heritage Centre.
DCMS would support BCA “to deliver a step-change in their activity and extend their national reach”.
The department will work with other organisations to identify and explore a range of support and funding opportunities to help the BCA to develop.
Jeremy Wright said: “The Black Cultural Archives does incredibly important work in preserving and promoting the history of African and Caribbean communities in the UK.
“This £200,000 funding is a crucial step in securing its future. We are working closely with the Archives to put it on a long-term sustainable footing so that it can continue to educate the public and celebrate Black history in Britain.”
Stuart Hobley, head of Heritage Lottery Fund, London said: “Our funding of £4.1m from the National Lottery has helped establish a home for the Black Cultural Archives and their compelling collections.
“It’s great news that the government is supporting them with a further £200,000 to help ensure they remain resilient, fit for the future and an essential part of our cultural life.”
Founded in Brixton in 1981, the archives document the lives of Black British people from the Roman period to the present day. They are an important resource for supporting the community and for promoting the teaching, learning and understanding of the contribution that African and Caribbean people have made to British society.
