Black Cultural Archives Building Pic: Fiyon Gibson
The national heritage centre Black Cultural Archives (BCA) in Brixton will not close despite the withdrawal of its four-year £4.5m Heritage Lottery funding.
On the 70th anniversary year of the Windrush, BCA remains open in the heart of where the Windrush predominantly occurred.
BCA, the only national institution that preserves the African and Caribbean history of people in Britain, did not say where they are getting the money from in order to keep the centre open.
A spokesperson said: “While BCA, like many other charity organisations serving the needs of our community, faces serious financial challenges after the end of its Heritage Lottery funding, we are not closing.”
They had been under threat since, 31 March 2017, when the package of funding for the BCA from the Heritage Lottery Fund ended.
This triggered a campaign on social media, #BackBCA, where MPs and members of the public, raised more awareness of BCA’s financial issues.
A librarian at Brixton Library, Rita Chakraborty, described the big impact that the absence of the BCA would have on the library and their ‘historical records’ in the area. She said: “We would have more people coming, wanting very specific information and as a public library, we do not house a huge archive collection.”
Funding has also been a problem for Lambeth libraries due to severe cuts from central government. Chakraborty explained how BCA assists Brixton library in terms of providing historic resources in their centre also.
Without the BCA, she said: “We would then need to probably increase our stock and we are also losing funding and constantly having to cut back as well. We are not going to be able to replace a resource like that, once it’s lost, it’s lost for good.”
Chuka Umunna, the MP for Streatham, attempted to persuade the Prime Minister, Theresa May, in parliament during, Prime Ministers Questions, to help with funding and said: “However unlike other national institutions like the National Gallery or the British Museum, which get over 40% of their funding from central government, the BCA currently receives none and is it a threat of closure.”
More than 100 MPs signed a letter to the culture secretary demanding immediate help from the government towards funds of the BCA. The letter said: “The national institution cannot be allowed to fail in the Windrush anniversary year, at a time when its work has never been more important.”
BCA acknowledged the support that has been given. A spokesperson said: “We are grateful for the support of cross-party MPs, BCA friends, Patrons, Sponsors a specially from the community. Your moral and financial support will help us meet these challenges.”
