Black History 365
Black History Season 2026: Small grants now open!
Do you have a great idea for this year's Black History Season? Hackney Council is providing small grants to organisations, venues and artists to deliver cultural events in the community as part of the borough's annual programme.
Activities must be delivered in Hackney during October and November 2026 and you are welcome to explore this year's national theme 'Honouring our Communities'. The deadline is 9am Monday August 17th. Check out who we funded in 2025 below.
Find out more via the application form.
Black History 365
If you’re hosting a Hackney-based event that celebrates Black history or culture, complete this form for the opportunity to appear in our listings.
Black History Season 2025: Meet our grant winners!
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Cultural Fashion & Arts CIC
Cultural Fashion & Arts hosted two buzzing workshops combining an educational presentation with hands-on headwrap lessons at Hackney Museum. @Culturalfashionandarts
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Dance Ups
Dance Ups’ series of workshops culminated in a vibrant showcase where young girls celebrated African heritage and self-empowerment through dance. @Danceups.uk
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Faggamuffin Bloc Party
Faggamuffin Bloc Party celebrated Black British identity through carnival culture, centering LGBTQ+ visibility through workshops and talks. @faggamuffinblocparty
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More Curricular CIC
Across three imaginative walks, teams took part in a quest dedicated to Hackney’s Black history in Dalston and Stoke Newington. Prizes were won! @More_curricular
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Rio Cinema
Rio Cinema had a full Carnival takeover thanks to the films of Shari Petti, Horace Over and workshops from Tropical Isles!
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June Givanni Archive
The June Givanni Pan African Cinema Archive revisited the 1984-85 GLC Anti-Racist Film Programme followed by a screening of Coconut Head Generation at the Rio. Riveting discussions were had!
On now & coming up
Black History reading list
Hackney Libraries are spotlighting a selection of brilliant African writers who have taken the publishing market by storm in the last few months. We have collected together some of the most inspiring fiction, non-fiction and poetry from 2024 and early 2025.
Hackney Black History 365
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Hackney Museum: Explore Hackney history
Did you know you can search Hackney Museum’s collections for items that help tell the story of Hackney’s Black communities? What will you find?
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Hackney Windrush
Hackney’s ongoing commitment to the Windrush Generation and their descendants. Information on the festival in June, plus access to resources and support.
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The story behind BRAFA Square
Find out more about the story behind the name and what came to be known as ‘Hackney’s answer to Live Aid’ in 1985.
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Black History 365 YouTube playlist
Revisit some of the most significant moments of our borough from Veronica Ryan’s sculpture unveiling to our legendary Windrush Day parties.
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Hackney's Diverse Curriculum
Devised by teachers ‘Hackney's Diverse Curriculum - the Black Contribution’ provides free resources for Early Years through to KS3 and 4.
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Hackney's African and Caribbean history
Hackney Museum's trove of fascinating stories from its African and Caribbean communities. Visit their website to find out more…
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