Take a walk through an immersive, giant-sized record of untold stories from Hertfordshire’s Black heritage and discover the histories of a diverse local community.
Opening this October at St Albans Museum + Gallery for Black History Month, Our Stories; Tracing Black Histories in Hertfordshire is inspired by research from the museum’s Black History Research Group (BHRG).
The exhibition is brought to life through powerful artworks and an imaginative life-size zine installation. Alongside the display, a special one-off publication of the zine has been developed into a lasting resource for the community, ensuring these stories continue to be shared long after the exhibition closes.
The BHRG’s zine reflects four years of work by 30 local volunteers, shining light on overlooked aspects of St Albans and Hertfordshire’s Black history.
The research spans 2,000 years, from Roman Verulamium to the present, and considers both the difficult realities of slavery, exclusion, and persecution as well as stories of resilience, entrepreneurship, and family life within the Black community.
The exhibition is co-curated by Aisha Adi, chair of BHRG and founder of The Collective Gallery on Holywell Hill, and Laura Lennard of St Albans Museums.
Aisha said: “Our Stories exhibition and the publication of an A5 zine is the first time a project of this kind has taken place in St Albans. The history of Black people in this country is often falsely portrayed or ignored and it’s important to document this history in a way that is honest and accessible. The exhibition and zine seek to do this with a focus on the history of Black people in Hertfordshire.
“The research undertaken and stories told by the BHRG is an important and permanent resource for St Albans Museums. Ensuring that these histories are available for the public and are a resource to learn from and share. We are especially proud that copies of the zine will be delivered to schools and libraries across the district, providing educational resources for young people on Black history in the region.”
The exhibition includes artwork created by accomplished Black artists who responded to the group’s research to bring local histories and stories to life. The six chosen pieces will sit alongside work by renowned Black artists such as Peter Brathwaite, who recreated portraits of Black people from throughout history.
One of the featured artists, London-based award-winning Jahnavi Inniss, known for her powerful Black history quilting, said: “This project is a fantastic opportunity to engage people with new stories that empower Black communities in St Albans, Hertfordshire and across the wider UK. This is crucial in challenging the exclusion of Black people within narratives surrounding Britain’s past, present and future.”
While journeying through the seven-foot-high zine, visitors can also experience soundscapes, poetry recordings, and oral histories from the Windrush generation, alongside historical zines, magazines and objects.
A reflection area offers space to rest and contemplate and to learn about local community groups, while empty zine pages invite visitors to contribute their own reflections and responses.
Farhana Begum, Arts, Tourism, heritage and culture manager at St Albans City & District Council and head of St Albans Museums, said: “By making the BHRG’s findings accessible and presenting them in engaging formats that can be shared widely, we are hoping to open up important conversations across our community. We are proud to celebrate the group’s ongoing work and remain committed to Black history programming. Thanks to generous funding from Arts Council England, we can continue to bring these stories to life in imaginative ways and enrich our archive as a resource for the future.”
Lead councillor for heritage at St Albans City & District Council, Terrie Smith, says: “The dedication of the BHRG has uncovered a vital part of St Albans’ past and we are proud to support projects like this that deepen our understanding of local history and ensure these narratives remain part of our city’s story for generations to come.”
Alongside the exhibition, St Albans Museum + Gallery will host a series of engaging events including a family cook-along session and a mindful collage workshop. Artwork will be displayed on the railings of the museum from November 8 to December 10.
The zine will be available to buy for £6 in the museum shop and will be gifted to schools, libraries and community partners.
The project doesn’t end here. To learn more or to join the BHRG, email museum@stalbans.gov.uk
Our Stories; Tracing Black Histories in Hertfordshire is a free exhibition which runs from October 2 to November 2 at St Albans Museum + Gallery in the Assembly Room.
Photo credit: St Albans Museums & Greaves family / Aislinn Finnegan for St Albans Museums
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