Your Community

From music and dance to poetry and exhibitions see a highlight of events below taking place at various venues across the city throughout Black History Month and visit the websites for more information.  

Black History Month @ The Drum

To celebrate Black History Month The Drum has an exciting agenda of performances:

Andy Hamilton celebrates 60th anniversary of Windrush

DATE: 26 Oct, 1pm
VENUE: The Drum

Andy Hamilton

Legendary saxophonist Andy Hamilton will perform a very special session to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Empire Windrush’s arrival on British shores.

Soon Come (exhibition by artist Anne Marie Salmon)

DATE: 6 Oct- Fri 31 Oct, (Artist talk Fri 17 Oct, 7pm)
VENUE: The Drum

Soon Come is a photography exhibition that celebrates the passengers of The Empire Windrush who helped pave their way for the steady stream of Caribbean migrants that followed.

Sweet Tooth, Rivers to Cross

DATE: Thu 23 Oct, 7.30pm, £5, (£3)
VENUE: The Drum

Soon Come - artist Anne Marie Salmon

Sweet Tooth, Rivers to Cross will take you on a multimedia journey throughout history into Colonialism and Empire, segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, the arrival of Windrush and more.

Babul and the Blue Bear

DATE: 29th - 30th October 2008
VENUE: The Drum

A fresh piece of theatre bringing together hip hop, mask, pupperty and street art. The play explores the themes of cultural identity, divided loyalties, racial tension and belonging in a multi-cultural Britian.i

Let Freedom Reign

DATE: Saturday 1st November 2008
VENUE: The Drum

A community event featuring local artists including Yaz Alexander, Lytie, Annette B and Singing D  - music supplied by Shekinah Ministries.

Tickets £7 ( £10 on the door )

Critical Mass

Calling all Black and Minority Ethnic Playwrights from the West Midlands and East Midlands!

Are you an emerging or established playwright? Are you looking for a master class course where you can work with some of the finest script writers in the UK? Do you want to take your play writing skills to the next level?

The Drum, Birmingham and the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry are joining forces with the Royal Court Theatre, London to seek out the most original work from Black and Minority Ethnic Writers.

Critical Mass is running a 10 week ‘Introduction to Playwriting Course’ this autumn at the Drum, Birmingham (for participants aged 18+) £2 (£1) and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (for participants aged 16 – 25) (Free).

To Apply: The deadline for applying to a Critical Mass playwriting course is 31 October 2008. To find out more about the courses visit www.royalcourttheatre.com/criticalmass

For more information regarding any of the above events please call 0121 333 2444 or visit the Drum website.

More Black History Month events in Birmingham

Do you recognize these people?

Recognize

DATE: Sunday 26th October
VENUE: The K Bar, Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4BN
TIME: Start time 3pm (ticket price £3)

A series of presentations exploring the past of black people and their significant achievements to black history. This will be portrayed through through films and presentations. Embark on a journey to discover more black history stories.

For more details call: 07594 325579

The Birmingham Black International Film Festival

DATE: 29th October - 2nd November
VENUE: Varius venues across the city

The Birmingham Black International Film is now it's 2nd year, with an eclectic mix of film, music, ‘live’ arts, seminars, exhibitions, and master-classes across the city of Birmingham also various lavish parties and nightly live music venues throughout the festival and the glitzy Music, Video and Screen Awards (MVSA) ceremony at the ICC on Saturday 1st November

For more information visit the BIFF website   

Let's Get Together

DATE: Tuesday 28th October 2008
VENUE: Summerfield Community Centre, Winson Green
Time: 10 - 4pm ( Free event )

A day to celebrate community life in Ladywood - try art from Africa and Austraila, taste foods from around the world, have a mendhi tattoo and try some African drumming. There's something for the whole family.

Handsworth Revelations

DATE: Until 2 November (Tuesdays – Sundays 11.30am – 4.00pm)
VENUE: Soho House Museum

A local community exhibition created by young people funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. See the results of their work with Vanley Burke, Milton Godfrey and Birmingham City Archives.

A family day out at Handsworth Revelations

Activities throughout the day include an interactive South American music workshop with guest artist Caliche visitors can create their own digital self portrait with Brian Homer, enjoy steel pan and rap performances with Handsworth young people, singing workshops with Milton Godfrey and participate in a filming workshop with Mikey Godfrey. 

There will also be the chance to chat with members of the Handsworth Photographic Society, whose ‘In the Picture’ exhibition is currently on display at Soho House Museum.  

Free admission

Building a Legacy (Council of Black Led Churches)

DATE: Friday 24th October
VENUE: The Council House Banqueting Suite, Victoria Square

The 3rd annual Council of Black Led Churches Achievement Awards ceremony. Keynote speakers include Councillor Alan Rudge - hosts Nikki Tapper (BBC WM) and Sydney Thompson. Award nominations include: black male and female of the year, youth development and minister of the year and many more...

Tickets: £40 available from Wesley Owen and CLC bookshop (ticket price includes a three course meal) This is a black event.

For more information contact: 0121 236 3001

Hair exhibition

Hair Exhibition

DATE: Until 1st March 2009
VENUE: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

An interactive exhibition showing until 1 March 2009 exploring Asian, African-Caribbean and punk rock hairstyles, in an exciting programme of events including talks and interactive family activities.

For a full events listings happening across Birmingham visit the Birmingham Black History website

Black History Month at Birmingham Libraries

From poets to storytellers and performers there are events for all ages at Birmingham libraries throughout Otober including half-term.

Empire Windrush

Breaking the chains with Knowledge

DATE: 29th October, 7.00pm
VENUE: Handsworth Library

A production of a play developed and produced with young people.

For full listings visit the Birmingham libraries website.

Black History month in the Black Country

Wolverhampton Arts and Museums marks the 60th anniversary of the landing of the HMS Windrush with a series of special events and exhibitions for Black History Month.

Celebrate with Jamaica’s favourite dub poet Yasus Afari at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, take part in the interactive show Waters of Change at Bantock House, listen to stories from Peter Chand and much more….

Visit the Wolverhampton Arts and Museums website for more information.

Celebrating Black History Month

Black History Month in Dudley

Each year Dudley Council in partnership with community and voluntary groups publishes Black History Month activities to promote cultural heritage and diversity in the borough and the UK.

Moving Here

DATE: 2 - 31 October
VENUE: Dudley Archives and Local History Service, Mount Pleasant St, Coseley.
Moving here exhibition Exhibition that tells the story of people that migrated to the West Midlands.

Dudley Archives and Local History Service Tel no: 01384 812770.

Black Expressions Awards Evening Awards evening

DATE: 1 November, 6pm
VENUE: Claughton Youth and Community Centre, Blowers Green Rd, Dudley
A celebration of African Culture.

Contact: African Caribbean Community Network, Tel no: 07886 718215

For more information and full listings visit the Dudley Council website.

Are you holding an event to celebrate Black History Month? Tell us about your event and we will add it to our listings, email: birmingham@bbc.co.uk