A ground-breaking project that will share stories of Black identity and belonging in the West of England has secured £1.25m.
The 'UnMuseum' will be launched by racial justice organisation Black South West Network (BSWN) after it received cash from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The region-wide initiative will place Black and racially minoritised communities in control of how their cultural heritage is defined, curated and celebrated, according to those behind the plans.
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From Bristol to Falmouth, Plymouth to Bournemouth, the project will work in collaboration with local, Black-led organisations to deliver participatory events, commission new cultural works and create spaces of learning.
The programme will culminate in a regional Festival of Black Identity and Belonging that celebrates and honours the cultural heritage of Black communities across the South West.
BSWN’s director Sado Jirde, a recent recipient of the 海角视频 Activist Museum Award 2025, said: “This funding marks a transformative moment for Black cultural heritage in the South West.
"For far too long, our stories have been marginalised, misrepresented, or left out entirely. The UnMuseum is not just about preservation, it’s about power, healing, and visibility.
"It’s about communities defining their own narratives, on their own terms. We are incredibly proud to lead this work and grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for recognising its importance. This project will create a lasting legacy, not in a glass case, but in the lives, voices, and creative expressions of the people who carry this heritage every day.”
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According to the BSWN, there are 650,000 Black and racially minoritised people living in the South West, spanning 107 nationalities and speaking more than 90 languages.
Stuart McLeod, director of England - London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Inclusive heritage is very important to us at the Heritage Fund which is why we’re proud to support Black South West Network with the UnMuseum.
"This vital project will highlight the stories and heritage of many Black and diverse ethnic communities and share these in a new and innovative way. We want to make sure that everyone is represented in the heritage we support and it's thanks to projects like this that these barriers are being removed.”
The project will also support the long-term development of the BSWN's centre Coach House, on Upper York Street. It will become a hub for black enterprise and cultural heritage, with studios and exhibition space.
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