A number of events are on offer to mark this year’s Black History Month across the Wokingham Borough which celebrates the contribution of carnivals and festivals to community cohesion.
Throughout the month, an exhibition will be open to the public at the Mall Gallery at Shute End, Civic Offices. The free exhibition, which was opened Wokingham Borough’s Mayor on Wednesday 11 October, contains contributions from volunteers across Wokingham Borough explaining a variety of cultural and religious celebrations.
In addition, the BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) Forum will be hosting the annual Black History Month Taster and Performance Evening on Saturday 18 November 2017 from 7pm to 10pm, at Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way. The free event will be showcasing performances of music and dance from a diverse range of community groups and an array of delicious food from around the world will be on offer.
Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Rob Stanton said: “Black History Month is a fantastic way for us to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures that we have in the Wokingham Borough. I was honoured to have had the opportunity to open this year’s exhibition at the Mall Gallery, and I hope that many residents take the opportunity to see some of the though-provoking work on display.”
Black History Month, which originated in the US, is an international initiative to celebrate the contributions of black people to society. It is held annually in the UK every October, and aims to promote a greater knowledge of black history, culture and heritage through the arts. In Wokingham in particular the scope of Black History month has been traditionally broadened to celebrate contributions of minority cultural and faith communities, and celebrate the Borough’s rich diversity.
