BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2026 BlackClassics
Welcome to BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2026
Welcome to Black History Month Leicester 2026. On behalf of organisers across Leicester, we are delighted to present a rich programme of music, exhibitions, films, poetry, performance and theatre, showcasing excellence from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora across the city.
For 2026, the theme for Black History Month Leicester is Black Classics, celebrating Black-led work of the highest quality across art, music, film and literature that has stood the test of time.
Black History Month Leicester launches with Black Classics in Concert, which is a profound tribute to the cultural legacies and transformative contributions of the African and African Caribbean Diaspora.
2026 marks poignant anniversaries such as 50 years since the establishment of Black History Month in
the USA. Black History Month may take place at different times of the year, explore different themes and embrace different legacies, but its fundamental principles remain the same; that Black history needs a place within cultural calendars and institutional structures are needed to make this possible.
Through the continued contributions and support of organisers, Black History Month Leicester offers high quality events that contribute to increasing knowledge, understanding, visibility and appreciation of Black history, heritage, culture, achievements and contemporary experiences.
We hope you enjoy the fantastic Black History Month Leicester programme throughout the month and continue to support Black-led events throughout the year.
Pawlet Brookes MBE CEO and Artistic Director Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
BlackClassics
I am delighted to welcome you to Black History Month 2026, a significant part of Leicester’s cultural calendar that continues to demonstrate the rich heritage and culture of the African and African Caribbean Diaspora, which is embraced in our proudly diverse city.
This year’s theme, Black Classics, resonates strongly with Leicester’s desire to celebrate communities that are a part of the city’s multicultural identity. In 2026, we mark anniversaries with local, national and international significance: 40 years since the establishment of Nelson Mandela Park in Leicester, 10 years since the first Black Lives Matter protests took place across the UK and 50 years since the establishment of Black History Month in the USA. The anniversaries remind us of the journey for
Black visibility, acknowledgment and celebration of heritage and culture, and the fundamental principles of Black History Month are still as important today as they were 50 years ago.
October features a rich and diverse programme of exhibitions, theatre, music, film and community events, offering space for reflection, learning and celebration.
I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this year’s excellent Black History Month programme and continues to platform and celebrate the African and African Caribbean communities in Leicester. I hope that residents and visitors show their support and take part in Black History Month 2026.
Sir Peter Soulsby City Mayor of Leicester
BLACK HISTORY MONTH Launch
Image Credit: Florence B Price. Photographer Duke, Litte Rock. Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries.
Black Classics in Concert
1 October | 7.30pm
Leicester Cathedral
£20 | £18
Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
To launch Black History Month 2026, Black Classics in Concert is more than a mere showcase of musical excellence; it is a profound tribute to the cultural legacies and transformative contributions of the African and African Caribbean Diaspora. Join us for an exciting evening celebrating the music of Black composers from across the Diaspora. Alison Buchanan has gathered an impressive lineup of singers to regale you with opera, song and spirituals. These performances serve as vibrant reminders of the rich tapestry of musical heritage that has been woven by Black composers and musicians throughout history, both from the classical genre, but also music from across the board that can be defined as ‘classics’ in their own right.
W: www.serendipity-uk.com
T: 0116 482 1394
E: info@serendipity-uk.com
Exhibition
Leicester Windrush Memories
1 – 18 October | 11.00am – 4.30pm
Leicester Museum and Art Gallery Free
Presented by Kainé Management and the Better Together Project with Leicester Museum and Art Gallery
Kainé Management and the Better Together Project present an exhibition dedicated to the Windrush Generation who responded to the invitation to come and re-build Britain after the Second World War.
Using oral histories, images and memories, this exhibition showcases local stories with dignity and pride - honouring the past, inspiring the present and strengthening the future of our city’s shared community.
W: www.leicestermuseums.org
T: 0116 454 4554
E: museums@leicester.gov.uk
“We Had One of Those!”
1 – 31 October | 11.00am – 4.30pm Leicester Museum and Art Gallery Free
Presented by Kainé Management with Leicester Museum and Art Gallery
Join Kainé Management in reminiscing about African Caribbean life in Britain in the decades following the Second World War. Inspired by a Murano glass fish ornament, by artist Wolde Selassie, members of the community share their memories of the precious possessions that made their family’s house a home.
Share your own memories of your home during the 1950s to the 1980s, or contribute your choice of a modern item that you will treasure for ever.
W: www.leicestermuseums.org
T: 0116 454 4554
E: museums@leicester.gov.uk
Windrush: The Legacy
17 – 21 October | 11.00am – 4.30pm
Newarke Houses Museum Free
Presented by Opal22 Arts and Edutainment with Leicester Museums and Galleries
Windrush: The Legacy celebrates the lives, achievements and lasting contributions of Leicester’s Windrush Generation. Through powerful portraits by Denise Lensi, personal video testimonies and a recreated Windrush front room, visitors are invited to explore the stories of those who journeyed from the Caribbean to Britain after answering the call to help rebuild the nation following the Second World War.
Sharing memories of hope, resilience, challenge and success, the new galleries honour the generation that helped shape modern Leicester.
Curated by Tara Munroe and Opal22 Arts and Edutainment for Leicester City Council Museums Service, it preserves these important stories for future generations.
W: www.leicestermuseums.org
T: 0116 454 4554
E: museums@leicester.gov.uk
History & Heritage
The Importance of Portraiture: In Conversation with Elvy Morton and Yvadney Davis
22 October | 7.00pm Leicester Museum and Art Gallery Pay What You Can
Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
In 2026, Leicester Museum and Art Gallery’s reinvigorated collection of artworks and archival objects will go on display, including the recent acquisition of The Inimitable Mrs Morton, a portrait of Mrs Elvy Morton by Yvadney Davis, commissioned by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage for 100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark.
To celebrate the portrait in its new permanent home, Pawlet Brookes MBE, CEO and Artistic Director of Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage and the curator behind 100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark, brings together Mrs Elvy Morton and Yvadney Davis for a special in conversation. Together, they reflect on the significance of portraiture in documenting Black British history and why it is essential that galleries and museums continue to add to their collection in order to safeguard the stories of the communities that surround them.
W: www.serendipity-uk.com
T: 0116 482 1394
E: info@serendipity-uk.com
Talks
Around the Table
2, 9, 16, 23, 30 October | 12.00pm
Available on all streaming platforms
Free
Presented by Opal22 Arts and Edutainment
Join us for a heartwarming podcast series celebrating the rich traditions, stories and experiences that shape Black communities. In each episode, four guests gather around a shared meal, using food as a starting point for conversations about family life, cultural heritage, migration and belonging.
As favourite dishes spark memories, guests reflect on childhood, community, changing family dynamics and the traditions passed down through generations. Through laughter, storytelling and honest conversation, the series explores how Black culture continues to evolve while remaining deeply rooted in family, resilience and connection.
A celebration of food, memory and the stories that bring us together.
W: www.youtube.co.uk
E: info@opal22.co.uk
Black History Month Lecture: From Foreign Policy to Assassination
21 October | 7.30pm – 9.00pm African Caribbean Centre Free
Presented by the African Heritage Alliance
For more than five centuries, people of African descent have experienced exploitation, displacement and systemic oppression shaped by the pursuit of power, wealth and control. While the language and methods may have changed, many argue that the structures underpinning inequality remain embedded within contemporary political and economic systems.
This thought-provoking event explores the connections between foreign policy, resource extraction, political influence and violence, asking a challenging question: how are historical patterns of domination sustained, justified or concealed in the modern world?
Join us for an engaging discussion that examines the past, interrogates the present and encourages critical reflection on the forces shaping our global future.
W: www.africancaribbeancentre.uk
T: 0116 221 1793
E: info@africanheritagealliance.org.uk
Reel Histories 2026: Black Classics
Studio Box, Serendipity
£10 | £8 Per Film
£45 Reel Histories Pass*
Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Reel Histories is a bold and compelling film programme for Black History Month 2026 that amplifies the cinematic legacies of Black communities across the globe. For 2026, the programme explores the theme of Black Classics with a collection of landmark narrative, documentary and short films by pioneering Black film makers such as John Akomfrah, Maureen Blackwood, Isaac Julien and Horace Ové. Each week centres around a specific topic featuring a short film, main feature and conversation.
W: www.serendipity-uk.com
T: 0116 482 1394
E: info@serendipity-uk.com
*The Reel Histories Pass includes access to all screenings within the Reel Histories programme and a complimentary beverage at each screening.
Reclaiming the Narrative
7 October | 7.00pm
Playing Away
Director: Horace Ové
UK 1987, 1hr 40mins
Genre: Comedy Certificate: 15
When a West Indian cricket team from Brixton are invited to play a charity game in a small English village, members of both teams have their reservations. A weekend in the country away from the inner city produces unexpected results both on and off the field of play. Playing Away subtly explores and undermines white and Black stereotypes and succeeds in linking two familiar but strange cultures through the simple device of a cricket match.
Black Women Speak
14 October | 7.00pm
The Passion of Remembrance
Directors: Maureen Blackwood and Isaac Julien
UK 1986, 82 minutes
Genre: Drama Certificate: 15
Shifting between real and mystic landscapes, Blackwood and Julien create a visual mosaic to signify the complexity of the Black British experience and the often-overlooked intersections between race, class, gender and sexuality.
Migration and Myth
21 October | 7.00pm
Young Soul Rebels
Director: Isaac Julien
UK 1991, 105 minutes
Genre: Drama Certificate: 15
Isaac Julien’s groundbreaking inner-city murder mystery explores London subcultures of the late 1970s. Pirate radio hosts Caz and Chris decide to investigate the death of their friend, who was killed while cruising in a local park. In doing so, they must navigate suspicion from the police and bigotry in their own community.
With characters and soundtracks oscillating between ‘70s soul pirate radio, dancehall culture, National Front skirmishes and the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, Julien’s debut feature exploring contemporary British identity has lost none of its power or resonance.
Archive and Intellect
28 October | 7.00pm
The Stuart Hall Project: Revolution, politics, culture and the New Left experience
Director: John Akomfrah
UK 2013, 95 minutes
Genre: Documentary Certificate: 12
This absorbing documentary from Director John Akomfrah presents an intimate and engaging portrait of Stuart Hall, the Jamaican-born public intellectual and co-founder of the New Left Review, whose work in the field of cultural theory has profoundly influenced the academic landscape. Using extensive footage of Hall’s appearances on radio and television, the film explores its themes of memory, race and identity through the juxtaposition of events from Hall’s life and a discourse on the wider social and political events of the second half of the twentieth century, all set against a soundtrack by Hall’s favourite musician, Miles Davis.
Film
Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me
4 October | 3.30pm
Phoenix Leicester
£11 | £6.25
Presented by Phoenix Leicester
This fascinating documentary profiles Willie Mae ’Big Mama’ Thornton - a blues powerhouse who shook American music to its core. Towering in voice and presence, she made ‘HoundDog’ a number one hit before Elvis ever sang it and her ferocious ‘Ball and Chain’ launched Janis Joplin’s career. Defying gender norms in jeans, boots and cowboy hat, Big Mama captivated audiences with raw energy, humour and soul. From Alabama juke joints to European festivals, she lived hard, sang harder and left an indelible mark on rock, R&B and the blues.
W: www.phoenix.org.uk
T: 0116 242 2800
E: hello@phoenix.org.uk
I Love Boosters + Poetry Performance
30 October | 7.30pm
Phoenix Leicester
£11 | £6.25
Presented by Phoenix Leicester
The riotous new film from Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You) sees a crew of professional shoplifters take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven in order to sell the Haute couture items on the streets. As one of the crew puts it, “It’s like community service”. The fantastic cast includes Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Will Poulter on hilarious form as a preening fashionista and Don Cheadle. The screening will be preceded by performances from Black poets.
W: www.phoenix.org.uk
T: 0116 242 2800
E: hello@phoenix.org.uk
Poetry & Literature
In Conversation with Mel Pennant and Lisa Smith
2 October | 2.00pm
Leicester Central Library
£3 library members | £5 non-members
Presented by Leicester Libraries
In conversation with author and award-winning playwright, Mel Pennant and Lisa Smith, author of Jamaica Road. Hosted by broadcaster, Merisha Stevenson.
W: ww.tinyurl.com/bdetw7kj
T: 0116 454 0290
E: central-library@leicester.gov.uk
Leicester Liming: Grace Nichols and Special Guests
8 October | 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Attenborough Arts Centre
Pay What You Can (recommended price £10)
Presented by Word! and Renaissance One
Join us for a Black History Month celebration featuring the poetry and wordplay of international poet Grace Nichols and special guests. Based on a Trinidadian cultural institution that happens around the Caribbean, Liming mashes up poetry and spoken word with carnival and encourages going with the flow and socialising. Nichols will read from her classic works and new book TheTracksofMyName.
Co-hosted by Melanie Abrahams and Kamisha, the evening will include local sensations Imani Ahiro and Ashanti Wenham and more, and is brought to you through a collaboration between Renaissance One and WORD!
W: www.attenborougharts.co.uk
T: 0116 252 2455
E: arts-centre@le.ac.uk
Lemn Sissay –Let the Light Pour In
27 October | 7.30pm
Curve
From £31.50
Presented by Curve
Spend an evening with a master of the spoken word, BAFTA award-winning author, activist, performer and Sunday Times number one bestseller, Lemn Sissay OBE as he returns to the stage with this acclaimed show.
With live readings from his books, Sissay will unravel some of the original stories behind the poems and how they have been used in people’s lives and his own. Expect the unexpected. A night bursting with light to stave off the dark.
Age guidance: 14+
W: www.curveonline.co.uk
T: 0116 242 3595
E: tickets@curvetheatre.co.uk
Poetry & Literature
An Evening with Gerard Alfonzo Daley
28 October | 7.00pm
Leicester Central Library Free
Presented by Opal22 Arts and Edutainment
Join us at Leicester Central Library for a free author talk with acclaimed writer Gerard Alfonzo Daley, featuring a reading from his award-winning novel The Book of Erin, followed by an audience Q&A.
Set in seventeenth century Montserrat, The Book of Erin brings to life a fascinating and often overlooked chapter of Caribbean history, exploring themes of migration, identity, colonialism and resistance. Through vivid storytelling and rich historical detail, Daley uncovers the complex connections between Africa, the Caribbean and the wider Atlantic world.
Following the reading, audiences will have the opportunity to hear directly from the author about the inspiration behind the novel, the historical research that informed it and the power of storytelling to illuminate hidden histories. A must-attend event for lovers of history, literature and Black heritage.
W: www.eventbrite.co.uk
E: info@opal22.co.uk
Overcome Book Launch
31 October | 6.00pm African Caribbean Centre £5
Presented by The Overcome Group
Join a group of African Caribbean women as they share, through prose and poetry, personal stories of resilience, identity and transformation. Drawing on lived experiences, the contributors reflect on overcoming significant life challenges while exploring themes of self-worth, belonging, African heritage and Black history.
Celebrating the launch of Overcome, this collaborative publication amplifies the voices of African Caribbean women and highlights the importance of storytelling in preserving cultural memory, sharing experiences and inspiring future generations.
Overcome is a powerful testament to the strength, creativity and resilience of women across the African Diaspora, encouraging audiences to reflect on the journeys, contributions and experiences that continue to shape Black communities today.
W: www.overcomegroup.com
T: 07904179336
E: info@overcomegroup.com
Black Classics Symposium
1 October | 2.00pm – 4.30pm
Studio Box, Serendipity
£35 includes ticket to Black Classics in Concert
Presented by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
The symposium brings together leading artistic directors, composers and musicians to examine the landscape of Black-led classical music and opera. The discussion will reflect on the legacy of historic pioneers such as Florence Price, Chevalier de Saint-Georges and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, while foregrounding contemporary practitioners who are reshaping the field today. Together, the contributors will consider how classical music continues to evolve as a living tradition, informed by diverse voices, practices and experiences.
W: www.serendipity-uk.com
T: 0116 482 1394
E: info@serendipity-uk.com
Songbath – A Celebration of Black History Month Special
5 October | 12.00pm
LCB Depot (Garden Room)
£11.11 | £7.77
Presented by BAKUYARD
A gentle one-hour soundbath-style performance with voice, live looping, meditative soundscapes, healingfrequency instruments and healing songs from artist Mellow Baku’s Afro-Trinidadian mixed lineage.
Come relax, with an optional invitation to join a sound-offering libation honouring our ancestors for Black History Month.
A restorative lunchtime space to release, restore and reset, with chair seating and floor cushion options.
W: www.ticketsource.com/bakuyard-productions
E: bakuyardproductions@gmail.com
Mellow Baku Quartet –Booksong
15 October | 8.00pm
Attenborough Arts Centre
£16 | £8 NUS
Presented by Leicester Jazz House
A uniquely compelling performer with a voice that moves through all shades of feeling, Mellow Baku has spent two decades on stages across the UK and internationally.
From solo to orchestra, from 20s jazz at Cadogan Hall to touring with Afro dub band Soothsayers, from performing with Zoe Rahman to Joe ArmonJones, from North Sea Jazz Festival to New York, Baku is at home in the centre of live improvised musical storytelling through jazz and blues song.
Born in London to a Blues-singing hippie and Trinidadian Rastafarian activist, she was raised in the Midlands in a cult from age 5 to 20. Baku escaped to study art in Leicester and has been exploring creativity and recovery through music, art, writing and cultural exploration ever since.
Booksong weaves lyrical revisioning of standards with original songs, shaped by cultural heritage and the journey of a self-healing anti-disciplinary artist.
W: www.attenborougharts.co.uk
T: 0116 252 2455
E: arts-centre@le.ac.uk
Theatre & Performance
Black History Month
Scratch Night
16 October | 7.00pm
Curve
£12
Presented by Curve
Curve’s third successful BHM Scratch Night, a special evening celebrating creativity, culture, and community. Shining a spotlight on local theatre-makers and artists from African, Caribbean and African Latinx heritage and backgrounds, showcasing a diverse range of artforms and inspiring performances. Come and encounter some new emerging work, support local artists, and be part of the creative conversation.
Applications to perform at Curve’s Black History Month Scratch Night are open until Monday 17 August, 12pm. Find out more and apply at: https:// forms.office.com/e/vZUQ68gvBP
W: www.curveonline.co.uk
T: 0116 242 3595
E: tickets@curvetheatre.co.uk
Virgo Multiverse
22 October | 7.00pm
Attenborough Arts Centre
£5 - £20
Presented by Taylormade Studios
(Logos x Mythos) + (Reason x Emotion) + (Reality x Fantasy) + (Science x Fiction) + (Afro x Futurism) + (Steam x Funk) = Virgo Multiverse; themes of intergalactic Diaspora explored through multimedia multidisciplinary melanated minds and movement combined with open source software and lo-fi hardware.
Artist Vidal Montgomery presents and performs work with and from local Afrofuturist artists and featured writers from his Virgo Multiverse Substack.
W: www.attenborougharts.co.uk
T: 0116 252 2455
E: arts-centre@le.ac.uk
And Still I Rise
23 October | 7.30pm
The Y Theatre
£10 standard | £6 concession | £25 family ticket
Presented by 2Funky Arts
2Funky Arts showcases powerful new performances across a variety of art forms that are brave, honest, inspiring and deeply resonant. Crafted by upand-coming Midlands artists of Black, African and Caribbean heritage, these works transform personal stories into compelling performance pieces that evoke raw emotion. “And Still I Rise” explores prejudice, power and Black Lives Matter through music, poetry and more—an unmissable showcase that shines with truth and resilience.
W: www.ytheatre.co.uk
T: 0116 255 7066
E: boxoffice@ytheatre.co.uk
Better Together Windrush Showcase
28 October | 6.00pm Curve
£10 - £12
Presented by Kainé Management
The Better Together Windrush Showcase is a vibrant, intergenerational celebration honouring the legacy, resilience and brilliance of the Windrush Generation. It brings together elders, young people, artists and local partners for a joy filled evening of presentations, songs, poetry and drama.
We are committed to heritage and community empowerment and seek through this event, to amplify unheard voices and emphasise the importance of preserving Black British history for future generations.
W: www.curveonline.co.uk
T: 0116 242 3595
E: tickets@curvetheatre.co.uk
COBO Comedy Shutdown: Black History Month Special
11 October | 8.15pm
The Y Theatre
£20.50
Presented by LuvEntertainment
COBO Comedy Shutdown proudly presents a Black History Month Special, returning to Leicester! Gather your friends and family for an unforgettable evening of uproarious laughter and celebration. The line-up features Gbemi Oladipo (ITV, BBC One), Travis Jay (Supacell), Nancy Macdonald (Vibrant, quick-witted rising comedy talent), Richard Blackwood (MTV, ITV, BBC, CH4) and Eddie Kadi (Strictly Come Dancing).
W: www.ytheatre.co.uk
T: 0116 255 7066
E: boxoffice@ytheatre.co.uk
Aurie Styla: Maverick
15 October | 7.30pm
The Y Theatre
£17.50
Presented by The Y Theatre and Ebdon Management
Aurie Styla is one of the most naturally charismatic and hilarious comedians around. Following his acclaimed 100+ date worldwide tour, he’s back on the road with his brand new show Maverick.
Maverick looks at life from the end of The Aurator Tour onwards and although everything seems nice and ‘cushty’, something is throwing off the scales of wins and fails. The show hilariously explores his bad work-life balance, family influence, relationships, health and more.
W: www.ytheatre.co.uk
T: 0116 255 7066
E: boxoffice@ytheatre.co.uk
Lenny Henry: Still at Large
18 October | 7.00pm Curve
From £34
Presented by Curve
For over five decades, Lenny Henry has been telling stories—on stage, on screen and through a host of characters etched into our collective memory.
Part stand-up, part storytelling and part conversation with himself (and with you), this new live show sees Lenny Henry return to the experiences that shaped him while also exploring the ideas, challenges and creative sparks driving him today.
Expect big laughs, heart and a celebration of the many versions of Lenny Henry: the actor, the impressionist, the comedian, the fundraiser and the Stand-Up Anecdotalist.
Age guidance: 16+
W: www.curveonline.co.uk
T: 0116 242 3595
E: tickets@curvetheatre.co.uk
Community
Island Grace Community Fashion Show
3 October | 5.30pm – 8.30pm African Caribbean Centre
Adults £10 | Child £7 | Under 5s Free Family of four £30
Presented by The Sewing Circle
Presented by The Sewing Circle Trustees, where Caribbean heritage meets timeless African elegance. Join us for a beautiful evening of fashion, culture, creativity and community, as families take to the runway showcasing handcrafted garments and accessories created through The Sewing Circle. This special intergenerational celebration highlights the talent, confidence and creativity of elderly Caribbean women alongside children and family members, bringing together tradition and heritage through fashion.
Experience an uplifting evening filled with style, music, culture and community spirit as we celebrate the power of creativity across generations.
E: thesewingcircletrustees@gmail.com
Black History Month Community Day
10 October | 12.00pm – 4.00pm Curve Free
Presented by Curve
Head to Curve for Black History Month Community Day, a FREE afternoon of culture, creativity and community.
The day will feature local artists, creatives and practitioners of African and Caribbean heritage, celebrating the richness, diversity and impact of Black artistic practice.
Enjoy live performances of spoken word, dance and music by Black artists on our foyer stage, showcasing work inspired by African and Caribbean cultures, histories and contemporary experiences.
A welcoming and vibrant event for all ages, offering opportunities to engage with Black creativity, develop new skills and celebrate the contribution of African and Caribbean cultures to Leicester’s cultural life.
W: www.curveonline.co.uk
T: 0116 242 3595
E: tickets@curvetheatre.co.uk
Community
Little Curve
13 October | 10.30am – 11.15am Curve
£3 per family group
Presented by Curve
A playful and interactive session for children aged 18 months – 5 years and their grown-ups. Led by Curve’s Creative Programmes Facilitator, Tamika Gore, who is a local creative whose work centres around imaginative storytelling, movement and joyful early years play.
Focusing on the book StrongLikeMe by Kelechi Okafor and Michaela Dias-Hayes, “a beautiful celebrationofstrengthinallitsforms”, this exploration will be through the form of storytelling, rhythm, music and movement inspired by cultural narratives. It celebrates Black stories from the Diaspora and themes of community, identity and belonging through playful participation. It supports children to develop confidence, curiosity and creative expression, whilst gaining an understanding of Black heritage, storytelling traditions and cultural pride.
W: www.curveonline.co.uk
T: 0116 242 3595
E: tickets@curvetheatre.co.uk
Health & Wellbeing
African Caribbean Health and Wellbeing Day
7 October |11.00am – 4.00pm
African Caribbean Centre
Free | £55 for stall holders
Presented by the African Heritage Alliance and the Pamela Campbell-Morris Health Awareness Alliance
As part of Black History Month, this flagship event celebrates African and Caribbean communities while addressing health inequalities.
This year’s programme features health information, screenings, workshops, wellbeing activities and free health checks, alongside collaboration with NHS organisations and healthcare professionals to promote culturally responsive care and improve health outcomes.
Bringing together community members and health professionals, the day provides opportunities to share experiences, best practice and practical solutions for a healthier, more equitable future.
W: www.eventbrite.co.uk
T: 0116 221 1793
E: info@africanheritagealliance.org.uk
Workshop on Wellbeing and Resilience
8 October | 4.00pm – 5.30pm
Attenborough Arts Centre
Pay What You Can (recommended price £10)
Presented by Word! and Renaissance One
This creative session facilitated by curator and speaker Melanie Abrahams and supported by writers and performers/facilitators Michael Brome and Lydia Towsey will support participants to develop their speaking and writing skills and focus on the importance and the value of using literature and voice, for change and for progress. We will look at the practices of writers and artists of Caribbean and British-Caribbean communities within the legacy of Black History Month - particularly the late Jean 'Binta' Breeze who was a local fixture and treasured by many communities around the world - to explore the ways that we can learn and benefit from approaches and models that can become part of our creative process.
The session is suitable for early to mid-career writers, poets and artists who are using writing and speaking in their practice. Featured as an accompanying prelude to the evening performance and showcase featuring Grace Nichols and guests, we particularly welcome participants of Caribbean heritage and other Black, global majority and intersectional backgrounds. Developed as a partnership between WORD! and Renaissance One.
W: www.attenborougharts.co.uk
T: 0116 252 2455
E: arts-centre@le.ac.uk
Health & Wellbeing
We Are the Ancestors
21 October | 2.00pm – 4.00pm LCB Depot (Garden Room) £15 | £10
Presented by BAKUYARD
A creative, hands-on playshop session exploring ancestry through music, altar making, sound offerings and the creation of art as ritual with Mellow Baku - anti-disciplinary artist, facilitator and space-maker. Discover the healing power of connection with ancestors, earth and cultural practices in a relaxed and welcoming space of creativity, ceremony, learning and conversation. Materials provided. No experience needed, just curiosity.
The event is recommended for adults, however young people aged 15 and above are welcome when accompanied by an adult.
W: www.ticketsource.com/bakuyard-productions E: bakuyardproductions@gmail.com
BlackInk
Issue 7
Available from 1 October 2026
£20 Print | £14 Digital
BlackInk is a journal focusing on Black arts, heritage and cultural politics. BlackInk is a creative response bringing together a range of interconnected international voices from across the African and African Caribbean Diaspora and Indigenous communities. Issue 7 explores the theme of Black Classics that celebrates Black excellence across theatre and classical music.
Pre-order or purchase from: www.serendipity-uk.com
Programme Changes
All details were correct at the time of print. Whilst every effort will be made to keep to the announced programme, it may be necessary to make changes without notice and in accordance with current government guidelines. Refunds or exchanges will be made at the venue or event organiser’s discretion. Please see terms and conditions for further details.
Access Information
For further information on accessibility including details such as venue layouts, details of events with British Sign Language and Audio Description or for marketing materials in accessible formats, please visit the event organisers’ website, where possible these details will also be listed at www.serendipity-uk.com.
Concessions
Where stated, concessions are available subject to the terms and conditions of each event organiser. Please be prepared to provide proof of concessionary status.
Booking Fees
A non-refundable booking fee may be added to all orders where a monetary value is attributed to the ticket price, subject to individual event organisers’ policy. The booking fee is not included in the advertised ticket price and will be usually applied to the order at checkout. The current known booking fees for the following event organisers are:
• Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage - £1
• The Y - £1.50
• Curve - £2
Booking fees are usually exempt from any discount, promotion or offer attached to the advertised ticket price and cannot be removed, discounted, amended or refunded and is exempt from any ticket protection purchase.
Terms and Conditions
All tickets are sold subject to the event organisers’ respective Terms and Conditions of Sale and Attendance, which includes the booking fee. Tickets are usually exempt from statutory cancellation rights. This means tickets are non-refundable except in the case of a cancelled or rescheduled event, once your purchase has been made and a contract formed. Please contact the event organiser or venue for further details.
COMMUNITY DAY
FREE
An afternoon of culture, creativity and community celebrating Black heritage.
Winner of Best New Musical at the Black British Theatre Awards.
Tickets: From £26* plus a £2 booking fee per order*
LITTLE CURVE CQ EARLIES
FREE
Explore and bring stories to life in celebration of Black heritage through a creative session for families.
TUE 13 OCT • 10.30am - 11.15am FRI 16 OCT • 7pm
Join Creative Programmes
Facilitator, Tamika Gore, for a session on weaving Black folk storytelling, movement and joyful celebration of Black history.
Tickets: £3 plus a £2 booking fee per order*
An evening of inspiring performances from local theatremakers and artists from African, Caribbean and African Latinx heritage and backgrounds.
Tickets: £12* plus a £2 booking fee per order*
SAT 18 OCT • 7pm TUE 27 OCT • 7.30pm
Expect big laughs, heart and a celebration of the many versions of Lenny: the actor, the impressionist, the comedian, the fundraiser and the Stand-Up Anecdotalist.
Tickets: From £39.50* plus a £2 booking fee per order*
An evening with a master of the spoken word, BAFTA award-winning author, activist, performer and Sunday Times number one bestseller, Lemn Sissay OBE.
Tickets: From £31.50* plus a £2 booking fee per order*
Calendar of Events
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage Studio Box, Serendipity £35 includes ticket to Black Classics in Concert
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage Leicester Cathedral
Kainé Management and the Better Together Project with Leicester Museum and Art Gallery
| £18
Leicester Museum and Art Gallery Free
Kainé Management with Leicester Museum and Art Gallery Leicester Museum and Art Gallery Free
Leicester Libraries
Opal22 Arts and Edutainment Available on all streaming platforms
| £3
African Heritage Alliance and Pamela Campbell-Morris Health Awareness Alliance
Caribbean Centre
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage Studio Box, Serendipity
Word! and Renaissance One
Attenborough Arts Centre
Word! and Renaissance One Attenborough Arts Centre
| £55 for stall holders
| £8 £45 Reel Histories Pass
What You Can (recommended price £10)
What You Can (recommended price £10)
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Y Theatre and Ebdon Management
| £8
Reel Histories Pass
Calendar of Events
Organiser
Curve Curve
Opal22 Arts and Edutainment with Leicester Museums and Galleries
£12
Newarke Houses Museum Free
Curve Curve From £34
BAKUYARD
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
LCB Depot (Garden Room) £15 | £10
Studio Box, Serendipity
£10 | £8
£45 Reel Histories Pass
African Heritage Alliance African Caribbean Centre Free
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Taylormade Studios
2Funky Arts
Leicester Museum and Art Gallery Pay What You Can
Attenborough Arts Centre
The Y Theatre
£5 - £20
£10 Standard | £6 Concession
£25 Family Ticket
Curve Curve From £31.50
Kainé Management Curve
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Studio Box, Serendipity
£10 - £12
£10 | £8
£45 Reel Histories Pass
Opal22 Arts and Edutainment Leicester Central Library Free
£11 | £6.25
The Overcome Group
Caribbean Centre £5
Venues
African Caribbean Centre
Maidstone Road
Leicester, LE2 0UA
W: www.africancaribbeancentre.uk
T: 0116 221 1793
E: info@africanheritagealliance.org.uk
Attenborough Arts Centre
Lancaster Road
Leicester , LE1 7HA
W: www.attenborougharts.co.uk
T: 0116 252 2455
E: arts-centre@le.ac.uk
Curve
60 Rutland Street
Leicester, LE1 1SB
W: www.curveonline.co.uk
T: 0116 242 3595
E: tickets@curvetheatre.co.uk
LCB Depot
31 Rutland Street
Leicester, LE1 1RE
W: www.lcbdepot.co.uk
T: 0116 261 6800
E: info@lcbdepot.co.uk
Leicester Cathedral
2 Peacock Lane
Leicester, LE1 5PZ
T: 0116 261 5389
Leicester Central Library
Bishop Street
Leicester, LE1 6AA
W: www.leicestercathedral.org
T: 0116 299 5401
Leicester Museum and Art Gallery
53 New Walk
Leicester, LE1 7EA
W: www.leicestermuseums.org
T: 0116 454 4554
E: museums@leicester.gov.uk
Newarke Houses Museum
20 The Newarke
Leicester, LE2 7BY
W: www.leicestermuseums.org/newarke-houses
T: 0116 454 4554
E: museums@leicester.gov.uk
Phoenix Leicester
4 Midland Street
Leicester, LE1 1TG
W: www.phoenix.org.uk
T: 0116 242 2800
E: hello@phoenix.org.uk
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
8 Bowling Green Street
Leicester, LE1 6AT
W: www.serendipity-uk.com
T: 0116 482 1394
E: info@serendipity-uk.com
The Y Theatre
7 East Street
Leicester, LE1 6EY
W: www.ytheatre.co.uk
T: 0116 255 7066
BlackClassics
8 Bowling Green Street
Leicester LE1 6AT
T: 0116 482 1394
E: info@serendipity-uk.com
W: www.serendipity-uk.com
Facebook @SerendipityInstituteUK
Instagram @SerendipityInstituteUK
Serendipity Artists Movement Limited
Company Registration number in England and Wales 07248813
Charity Registration Number in England and Wales 1160035
Cover Image: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. (c. 1905). Photograph by Breitkopf and Hartel. incamerastock / Alamy.