Exhibitions, talks and poetry will mark Black History Month 2013 in Cumbria this October
AWAZ Cumbria and The Wordsworth Trust have teamed up to put together a programme of activities across the county to encourage people to learn more about Cumbria’s complex relationship with black history.
Peter Foley MBE, the first professional black footballer in the county and Chair, AWAZ Cumbria , said “ I am pleased that there will be a range of events including exhibitions, talks and a special Black History Month poetry reading as part of Cumbria Black History Month Celebrations 2013 being organised by diverse organistions across the county. I’d like to thank The Wordsworth Trust for their tremendously positive response to our approach – they have been excellent partners and with them I hope we will reach many hundreds of people. I’d also encourage all volantary, public and private bodies to consider partnering with us next year to make Black History Month even bigger and better”.
The month will be launched with a special reading by two award winning poets, John Agard and Grace Nichols , at the Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere. Both born in Guyana the two poets have been broadening the canvas of British poetry for nearly 30 years.
Throughout October there will be opportunities to see a pop-up exhibition highlighting black history within the Wordsworth Trust collections and a series of free talks across Cumbria.
Stephen Miller, Wordsworth Trust Community Outreach Officer, commented, “Thanks to funding from Arts Council England we have had a great opportunity to dig deeper into the diverse collections we hold in Grasmere. Wordsworth was writing at the key period in the abolition movement and was friends with the leading abolitionists of the day. I was amazed to find his sister, Dorothy, recording a ‘merry African from Longtown’ calling at Dove Cottage over 200 years ago.”
The exhibition will be at:
1-6 October, Whitehaven Library
7-13 October, Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport
14-20 October, Penrith Library
21-27 October, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle
29 October-4 November, Kendal Library
John Agard and Grace Nichols poetry reading:
3 October, 7:30pm, The Jerwood Centre, Grasmere.
Booking in advance or on the day essential Ticket cost £4.00.
The free talks will be at:
4 October, 2:30pm, Carlisle Library (01228 227321)
7 October, 2pm, Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport (01900 816168)
10 October, 10:45am, Ulverston Library (01229 404151)
21 October, 1pm, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle (01228 618718)
24 October, 3pm, Moorclose Library (01900 325190)
28 October, 6pm, The Jerwood Centre, Grasmere (01539 435544)
29 October, 2pm, Kendal Library (01539 713520)
These talks will be delivered by Sardar Aftab Khan – Development Officer, AWAZ Cumbria who will explore the origins and contributions of Black and Minority Ethnic Communities in the life, economy and heritage of Cumbria along with Stephen Miller - Community Outreach Officer, The Wordsworth Trust who will be shedding light on the diverse collections of the Wordsworth trust and Black History in Cumbria.
While admission to all the exhibitions and talks commemorating Black History Month are free, please contact the venues to book a place and sign up for the talks. For directions visit www.awazcumbria.org
[For further deatails contact : Aftab Khan, Development Officer, AWAZ Cumbria, Tel: 01228-511115, email aftab@awaz.info or Stephen Miller, Community Outreach Officer, The Wordsworth Trust, Tel: 015394 35544, E-mail: s.miller@wordsworth.org.uk ]