Culture And Memory

How the Centre was Won

We will document the at-risk history of Leicester’s African Caribbean Centre (ACC), which since the early 1980s has served as the nexus for British Black, African and Caribbean (BBAC) communities. Candy Arts (CA) will support local young volunteers to interview key figures in the centre’s history while collecting photos, historical documents and newspaper articles for archiving. Volunteers will then create a drama-documentary, website/online exhibition, and podcast - available for min. 5+ years. We will enrich knowledge/skills in deprived Highfields communities (area surrounding ACC), using digital formats to inspire younger generations. CA will highlight an undocumented heritage, protecting ACC’s legacy. It will explore/document the compelling struggle of a group of determined young Black men, who fought tirelessly to establish an important community hub, within the context of serious racial inequalities. The story will have powerful resonance in other major UK cities, where historic African Caribbean Centres have been loved and lost.