Stroud Against Racism is bringing an afternoon of performance, film and discussion to Lansdown Hall and Gallery as part of this year’s Black History Month.
The anti-racism group will host its Black Futures event on Saturday, October 24, from 1pm to 6pm. The programme is intended to celebrate the year-round history, culture, art and achievements of people of colour.
Organisers have scheduled live spoken word and music for the opening part of the afternoon. The session will run from 1pm to 3pm and will honour Genevieve Ray, a poet and former co-chair of Stroud Against Racism who died earlier this year.
Artists performing in the opening session
The performers listed for the first session include Tallulah Blue and JAGUR, whose work brings together neo-soul, R&B and poetic rap. Their live performances are described as distinctive and intended to leave audiences with the feeling that they have discovered something rare.
Also appearing is Halima Malik, a bilingual poet and spoken word artist. Her work explores cultural identity, migration, family expectations and consent.
Multidisciplinary artist Jussara Nazare will present work centred on afro-queer surrealism. The programme description says her spoken word and creative dance explore cultural themes and the magic of nature.
Kezzabelle Ambler, a published performance poet, is also due to take part. Her artistry is described as combining wit, wisdom, humour and love.
Film screening and discussion
After the live performances, the event will move to a screening of Black Power: A Story of British Resistance. The film is scheduled from 3pm to 5.30pm.
Described by the organisers as award-winning, it looks back at the Black Power movement in the United Kingdom during the late 1960s and 1970s. It examines the individuals and cultural forces that shaped that period of resistance and change, alongside the continuing fight against racism.
The film also presents the movement as one of the key cultural revolutions in the history of the nation. A facilitated audience discussion will follow the screening, giving attendees an opportunity to reflect on the film and its themes.
With performances, historical material and a conversation following the film, the Black Futures event will run across the afternoon and into the early evening at Lansdown Hall and Gallery.