Liverpool is awarding grants to creatives who have ideas for the city’s 2025 Black History Month programme

From dance, visual art and music to storytelling, community engagement and education, Liverpool City Council is on the lookout for ambitious proposals to develop work to be part of its Black History Month programme.

Black History Month is an annual programme of events, which takes place every October to recognise the contribution and achievements of those with African or Caribbean heritage whose contribution and value maybe overlooked, ignored, or distorted. 

Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team is inviting Liverpool based creatives or those who have experience of working with Black diasporas in the city to produce an artistic piece, event or activity for the Black History Month creative grants programme linked to the national theme “Standing Firm in Power & Pride”.

Made possible thanks to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, there is a total of £12,000 available for up to five creative grant commissions. While activity should take place in October, community or education engagement could run prior to this.

Successful commissions last year included Fixing Crowns by Nikki Blaze of Liverpool Hip Hop Fest, in partnership with Silk Photography: Celebrating Afro Hair on Black Children; and Roots & Routes by Ngugan Adamu of iWoman Academy CIC: Celebrating African Caribbean Migrants in Liverpool.

Submissions are welcome from Liverpool-based artists and organisations who work with local communities, as well as freelance artists and small collectives.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:

“Black History Month serves as a reminder of the importance of highlighting Black stories, voices and experiences in shaping the fabric of our city, ensuring that issues of race, racism, and the invaluable contributions of Black individuals and communities remain at the forefront of public consciousness.

“We are looking for innovative proposals that acknowledge Black History but also celebrate Black creatives and communities’ heritage today. We’d especially welcome proposals which support building a sense of pride for the people of Liverpool, as well as a sense of belonging for both artists and audiences. We want our programme to spark change and celebrate the resilience of our communities through thought-provoking events, including art showcases, spoken word performances, dance, theatre and musical exhibitions, and panel discussions.” 

For full details and to submit an application to be involved in Liverpool’s 2025 Black History Month programme, head to the Culture Liverpool website. The deadline for submissions is midnight on Wednesday 11 June.

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