October is Black History Month, and once again we’re supporting events and activities taking place across the county. Here’s an overview of what’s on, with links to friends and partners websites for more info. If you have any events taking place as part of this year’s Black History Month, let us know and we’ll add it to our listings!

Black History Month on ECDP Radio
https://essexcdp.com/ecdp-radio/

Listen to a variety of special guests talk about Black History Month, sharing experiences of growing up in Essex, the black music scene in the country, art and various events that have taken place over the last few years.

BHM 2022
https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk

The theme for Black History Month UK 2022 is Time for Change: Action Not Words, with the aim to learn from the past and improve the future. Visit the official website for an overview of events throughout the country.

Black History Month Colchester: Community Hub
bhmcolchester.co.uk

Black History Month Colchester 2022 theme this year is Health and Well-Being focusing on celebration, acknowledgement and the achievements of black people in the UK, and addressing issues around safeguarding Mental Health in our diverse communities. Throughout October BHM Colchester will be based at the One Colcheter Community Hub, hosting exhibitions, displays, events and performances. Pop in, make connections, and find out what’s happening throughout the town this October.

• 3 October – 2 November
• One Colchester Community Hub, 2/6 Long Wyre Street, Colchester, CO1 1LH
• Free

Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories, EVEWRIGHT
www.evewrightarts.org

Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories is an art and sound installation by Artist EVEWRIGHT. It is the first site-specific art and sound installation to be held at the Port of Tilbury in Essex and the UK dedicated to people of the Windrush Generation. It is an immersive visual art experience, installed on 432 panes of glass collaged with photographs, documents, original boat passenger tickets and memorabilia. The artwork is installed in an original passenger walkway 55 metres long. As you walk through, you can listen to audio stories about the lives of some of the elders whose images are featured in the installation.

• Tilbury Bridge Walkway, London Cruise Terminal, Fort Road, Tilbury, Essex RM18 7NJ

Black History Month at Essex Library Services

Essex Libraries will be marking Black History Month with a number of activities in libraries across Colchester and beyond, with reading lists, displays, children’s events reviews by members of their diverse networks and more. Follow them on social media to find out more.

twitter.com/EssexLibraries
facebook.com/EssexLibraries
youtube.com/user/EssexLibraries

Windrush Exhibition at Essex Libraries
https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/news/windrush-exhibition/

Essex Cultural Diversity Project’s pop-up Windrush exhibition continues to tour Essex Libraries and is currently in Waltham Abbey for September, then throughout October the exhibition will be going out with the outreach mobile library for Black History Month.

Harlow Black History Festival 2022
1 October | 11.30am – 5.30pm | Free
Venue: Harlow Bandstand, Park Lane, Harlow CM20 2QQ
Organised by PATACC

The Motive: Black History Month Community Event
Saturday 22 October 2022 | 6 – 9pm | Free (suggested donation of £5)
Venue: The Beech Community Hub, 8 Austen Road, Basildon SS14 3RZ
Book on Eventbrite

The Flex Youth and Community Group host their first MOTIVE in partnership with NGDA Ltd. This will be the first of many, with showcase performances, a live DJ set, poetry, a topical discussion panel, and food.

Black History Month Chelmsford
Sunday 23 October | 12-4pm | Free
Chelmsford High Street (outside Barclays)

Come and join the New Generation Development Agency to celebrate Black History Month in Chelmsford this year, with live music, black arts and craft stalls, and prize giveaways. All welcome!

CHILDREN & AUTHORS’ Literary FANFARE EVENING
Event on Eventbrite
28 October | 5.00 – 8.30pm
Venue: Online
Are you ready to be entertained by some AmaZing Multicultural Book AUTHORS? Join us for this free family-friendly Event for ages 4-14. Organised by Sade Fadipe with support from Essex Cultural Diversity Project and Essex Book Festival

BHM COLCHESTER
bhmcolchester.co.uk

Black Owned Essex (We Are the Minories)
http://www.bhmcolchester.co.uk/event/black-owned-essex
1 October | 10.00am-4.00pm | Free
Venue: One Colchester Communty Hub, 2/6 Long Wyre Street, Colchester, CO1 1LH=

Colchester Institute (Colchester Campus) BHM Colchester
http://www.bhmcolchester.co.uk/event/colchester-institute-colchester-campus-bhm-colchester/
6 & 14 October | 12.00-3.00pm | Free
Venue: Colchester Institute, Unit A Sheepen Road, Colchester, CO3 3LL
Colchester Institute present a celebration of Black History Month Colchester with the “I Have a Dream Tree” and Black History Month Seminars 12-1pm & 2pm-3pm

Mixed Darts Open League
http://www.bhmcolchester.co.uk/event/mixed-darts-open-league/
6 October | 8-10pm | Free
Venue: TBC

Black History Month Community Day Celebration
http://www.bhmcolchester.co.uk/event/black-history-month-colchester-community-celebration/
8 October | 10am-4.30pm | Free
Venue: Firstsite, Colchester
An open community event, with food, entertainment and cultural arts, hosted by Firstsite and organised by Colchester Black History Month, celebrating the recognition of the achievements of black people in the UK with talks, poetry, Caribbean food, performances and demonstrations, workshops and stalls.

Hair & Adornment Project
www.bhmcolchester.co.uk/event/one-colchester-community-hub-black-history-month-event
8 October | 2pm-4pm | Free
Venue: Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, Essex CO1 1PT

Palaver Party
https://www.colchesterartscentre.com/events/kids/palaver-party/
8 October | 12-5pm | £8
Venue: Colchester Arts Centre
Join a spectacular line-up of drag and cabaret performers for the most exciting family disco Colchester has ever seen. Get ready for music, performances, DIY costume-making, party games, sing-a-longs, glitter, and a rainbow disco for all the family. Suitable for ages 3-8 (and fabulous for grown-ups too)

Colchester Institute (Braintree Campus) BHM Colchester
http://www.bhmcolchester.co.uk/event/colchester-institute-braintree-campus
8 October | 12.00-3.00pm | Free
Venue: Colchester Institute, Unit A Sheepen Road, CO3 3LL
Colchester Institute present a celebration of Black History Month Colchester with the “I Have a Dream Tree” and Black History Month Seminars 12-1pm & 2pm-3pm

Lea Anderson: Shuffle
https://www.colchesterartscentre.com/events/performance/wonderful-wednesdays–lea-anderson-shuffle/
12 October | 7.30pm | Pay what you can afford
Venue: Colchester Arts Centre
Born from a desire to create a different way to shape dance; a new interactive performance based on the random track selection of an iPod Shuffle and emulating the relationship between the club dance floor and the DJ. Shuffle invites the audience to vote for sections of performance to shuffle or rewind. With a repertoire of house dance, popping, waacking, vogue and contemporary, this is a time-bending trip through a night out.

BHM Youth Voice Conference
http://www.bhmcolchester.co.uk/event/youth-voice-conference/
22 October | 10-4.00pm
Venue: Anglia Ruskin University Chelmsford

BHM Music, Dance and Performance Showcase
www.bhmcolchester.co.uk/event/black-history-month-music-dance-and-preformance-showcase
27 October | 7pm onwards
Venue: Charter Hall Colchester, Colchester Leisure World, Colchester, CO1 1YH

Black Out
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/event/lates-celebration-of-black-history-month
28 October | 7.30pm | Free
Venue: Mercury Theatre, Colchester
As part of Black History Month the Mercury presents Black Out, hosted by talented creatives Gail Egbeson and Chileya Mwampulo. An event celebrating talent, culture and heritage we will showcase local Essex artists, Colchester’s finest wordsmiths and premiere a short film that pays homage to the ever-growing community in Essex.

Courtney Pine: Song (the Ballad Book)
www.colchesterartscentre.com/events/jazz/courtney-pine-song-the-ballad-book–1
29 October | 8.00-11.30pm | £25/20
Venue: Colchester Arts Centre