Image: Creole Woman. Martinique 1900. picryl.com. Public Domain.
Conference examines how power structures influence cultural policy, collecting practices and interpretation of Black heritage.
On Thursday 5 November 2026, Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage will present the second edition of its flagship conference, Black Heritage Voices: Mapping Creole Worlds, Diasporic Futures and the Stories Britain Forgot.
Following the success of the inaugural conference in 2025, Black Heritage Voices returns as a vital gathering for heritage professionals, researchers, artists, archivists, students and anyone passionate about the preservation and interpretation of Black history and culture. The conference provides a dedicated space to challenge, celebrate and reimagine how Black heritage is documented, shared and understood.
At a time when conversations around identity, belonging and representation remain central to public discourse, Black Heritage Voices creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue, knowledge exchange and critical reflection. Through a programme of keynote presentations and discussions, delegates will explore how archives, museums, cultural institutions and communities can work together to broaden perspectives and ultimately change the gaze.
This year’s theme, Mapping Creole Worlds, Diasporic Futures and the Stories Britain Forgot, examines the complex histories, identities and cultural exchanges that have shaped Britain through its connections with Africa, the Caribbean and the wider Diaspora. It asks important questions about whose stories are remembered, whose are overlooked and how historical narratives continue to influence contemporary understandings of citizenship, culture and nationhood.
The conference will explore hidden heritage, creole identities and the enduring legacies of empire, considering how historical power structures continue to influence cultural policy, collecting practices, funding decisions and public interpretation. By bringing together international thought leaders and practitioners, Black Heritage Voices invites participants to reflect on archival responsibility, cultural authorship and the importance of ensuring that diverse histories are preserved and accessible for future generations.
The 2026 programme features an exceptional line-up of internationally respected speakers:
- Opening Keynote: Professor Verene A. Shepherd – internationally renowned historian, advocate for reparatory justice and one of the Caribbean’s leading scholars on race, gender and social equality. Professor Shepherd currently serves as one of the Vice-Chairs of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission.
- Dr Stella Dadzie – Black British feminist, educator and activist. A founding member of the Organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent (OWAAD), she is best known as co-author of The Heart of the Race: Black Women’s Lives in Britain, a landmark text in Black British history.
- Dr Michael McMillan – playwright, artist, curator and scholar whose acclaimed work, including The Front Room, explores memory, migration, material culture and Caribbean domestic spaces through an interdisciplinary approach.
- Professor Stephen Small – Professor Emeritus of African Diaspora Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and a leading scholar of slavery, race and the African Diaspora. He is also a faculty member of the internationally respected Black Europe Summer School.
- Dr Bob Ramdhanie MBE – Festival Director of the Rapununi Music and Arts Festival and a pioneering cultural leader whose work has helped shape Black arts practice in Britain for more than four decades. His contributions span dance, music, cultural development and community engagement.
- Dr Kwame Nimako – Founder and Director of the Black Europe Summer School in Amsterdam and a distinguished scholar whose work has significantly influenced discussions on race, migration and Black European identity.
- Closing Keynote: Professor Roshini Kempadoo – media artist, photographer and scholar whose innovative practice explores memory, migration, visual culture and Caribbean identities. She is Reader at the Centre for Research and Education in Arts and Media (CREAM), University of Westminster.
Hosted at Serendipity’s Grade II listed home in Leicester city centre, the conference offers a unique opportunity to engage with leading international voices, build professional networks and contribute to conversations shaping the future of Black heritage, archives and cultural practice.
Whether you work in museums, archives, libraries, higher education, the arts or community heritage, Black Heritage Voices offers a thought-provoking and inspiring day of discussion, debate and discovery.
Ticket Information
Standard Ticket: £135
Early Bird Ticket: £120
Early bird ticket sales end on 30 June 2026.
To make attendance more accessible, Serendipity offers interest-free payment options:
- Four interest-free payments through Clearpay
- Three interest-free payments through Klarna
Payment plans can be selected at checkout.
For tickets and further information, visit serendipity-uk.com.
About Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Founded in 2010, Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage is committed to centring perspectives from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora as an integral part of cultural experiences for all. Through its ambitious programme of festivals, lectures, publications, archives and artist development initiatives, Serendipity has established itself as a leading voice in Black arts, heritage and cultural practice both nationally and internationally.
Its programmes include the internationally recognised Let’s Dance International Frontiers festival, Black History Month Leicester, the Annual Windrush Day Lecture and the Living Archive, which documents and preserves Black arts, heritage and culture for future generations.
