Past
Events
Caribbean Takeover Day at the National Maritime Museum
Date: 27 September 2025
Location: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Margaret Sullivan, visits Greenwich’s National Maritime Museum to honour her memory, uncover the past, and bring meaningful conversation that connects her story to our East Sussex town.
🔗Link to event
Margaret Sullivan The Black Flower Seller - revealing the identity
Date: 24 September 2025
Location: Hastings Library
Claudine Eccleston, an independent researcher and PTRC founder retells the fascinating story she uncovered, of the Black Flower Seller who traded in St Leonards in the 1900s, a largely forgotten part of local history held at the Library. A permanent display of archival photos found on the first floor.
Red Set Girls & Jack in the Green
Date: 2 May 2025
Location: Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
A cross-cultural celebration of resistance and joy through costume, music and performance, connecting Caribbean Jonkonnu and British folk traditions.
🔗 Link to event
Date: 15 October 2024
Location: Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
PTRC founder Claudine Eccleston reveals the identity of Margaret Sullivan—the previously unnamed Black flower seller from a historic St Leonards photograph—and reunited her descendants with their family story.
🔗 Link to event
From Desmond’s to Rye Lane: An Evening of Black British Television and Film
Date: 2 October 2024
Location: De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
An evening celebrating Black British screen culture with a screening of Desmond’s and Rye Lane, followed by a Q&A with writer Trix Worrell and curator Lorna Hamilton-Brown. 🔗 Link to event
Wear Your Happy with Karen Arthur
Date: 14 July 2024
Location: Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
A creative wellbeing workshop using personal stories and dress memories to explore what joy looks and feels like through fashion.
Black Joy Panel: Looking Forward with Young Artists
Date: 23 June 2024
Location: Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
Emerging artists discuss migration, home, identity, and how they centre joy in their practice.
Curator-Led Tour: BLACK JOY! Exhibition
Date: 23 June 2024
Location: Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
A behind-the-scenes tour of the BLACK JOY! exhibition with curator Lorna Hamilton-Brown, offering deeper insight into the artists and themes.
Date: 7 June 2024
Location: Stables Theatre, The Bourne, Hastings
An award-winning dance duet reclaiming Dancehall to defiantly challenge homophobia and transphobia while celebrating queer resilience.
🔗 Link to event
Date: 6 June 2024
Location: Sussex Studio, White Rock Theatre, Hastings
A vibrant cabaret party featuring six queer performers hosted by Yshee Black, followed by DJ Sarah Buller for an evening of joyful celebration.
🔗 Link to event
Bring and Brag with Harold Offeh
Date: 9 June 2024
Location: Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
A free community gathering where artist Harold Offeh invites participants to explore memory, objects and local history to reshape museum narratives around Black Joy.
🔗 Link to event
I Am From Reykjavik by Sonia Hughes
Date: 15 June 2024
Location: Hastings Town Centre
A public installation by Sonia Hughes exploring identity and belonging through an experiential journey in the heart of Hastings.
🔗 Link to event
BLACK JOY! Up Close and Personal
Date: 4 May – 25 August 2024
Location: Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
A major group exhibition featuring over 40 Black artists from the South East, celebrating joy, resistance and creativity through painting, photography, textiles, sculpture and film.
Children’s Storytime: Celebrating Black Authors
Date: 27 July 2024
Location: Mini Playhouse, 26 White Rock, Hastings
A fun and interactive seaside-themed storytime session for children, celebrating Black authors through Ananse stories and creative play.
Playing the Race Card 2022 Exhibition
Date: 21 October – 6 November 2022
Location: Greenhalf Studio, St Leonards
An exhibition featuring 25 Black artists responding to the phrase "playing the race card" through painting, collage, film, sculpture and spoken word.
Exhibition Panel Discussion
Date: 22 October 2022
Location: Greenhalf Studio, St Leonards
Artists from the 2022 exhibition gathered to discuss their work, experiences and the wider conversations around race and creativity.
Private View – Exhibition Launch
Date: 21 October 2022
Location: Greenhalf Studio, St Leonards
A celebratory opening night welcoming audiences to meet the artists and explore the exhibition.
Collage and Chill (Youth Workshop)
Date: 9 October 2022
Location: Afri-Co-Lab, St Leonards
A hands-on creative workshop for young people to explore identity, race and storytelling through collage.
Playing the Race Card Launch Event
Date: 30 October 2020
Location: Hastings
The public launch of Playing the Race Card, featuring live performances, Caribbean food and an invitation for artists and community members to get involved.