Brixton Town Centre - Raleigh Hall

We often forget that history is written by winners and the tribulations of the other side are rarely chronicled. It is only through organisations like Raleigh Hall do we realise that another side also exists. It is also relatable for anyone who cherishes their cultural background.

Aims

To this end, the Brixton Town Centre office is working closely with Black Cultural Archives, a longstanding Brixton based organisation, to realise their aspirations to develop Raleigh Hall as a centre for black heritage and culture of national reach.

History

The background to the project goes back over 20 years and started with parents concerned about the educational under-achievement of their children within the British education system, as evidence strongly suggested that the system was failing black children.

In addition, since 2000 the Brixton Area Forum has been working with the council on Raleigh Hall and the immediate spaces of Windrush Square, Brixton Oval and Tate Gardens. This eventually became known as the Brixton Central Square Development.

Over the last two years these combined efforts and concerns have resulted in Raleigh Hall being strongly considered as the permanent home for Black Cultural Archives. The intended community facility will display collections as well as interactive and living history elements, such as oral and video testimony, in permanent exhibitions to tell the story of the Black presence in Britain, with a focus on the post 1945 period. It will include temporary galleries that will offer additional opportunities for community projects and the hosting of relevant touring exhibitions.

The future

There is a tremendous amount of work that remains to be done but the project has a great chance and has received support from the BAF, BAC, Lambeth Council, Lambeth First and ABL Consulting. The approximate date of opening is scheduled for 2009- 2010.

"A people without knowledge of their past and history is like a tree without roots"

Further information

For further information on Raleigh Hall contact:
Sam Walker at BCA on 020 7582 8516 or
Paul Reid at Brixton Town Centre office on 020 7926 1096.