[@Tate] kick start their Black History Month online events and digital content

For Black History Month, Tate have curated online events and digital content to celebrate this October. The public have the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the galleries, learn more about their favourite art and artists; and get creative in workshops and hear from Tate staff, associates and collaborators.

On the 1^st of October, UNIQLO Tate Lates Night in explored Hyundai Commission: Kara Walker’s Fons Americanus. The first stream was a talk from historian, writer and broadcaster David Olusoga OBE, who spoke with curator of Fons Americanus, Clara Kim, about monuments, racial injustice and the interconnected histories of the UK and US. American artist, activist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement Patriss Cullors was also in conversation with Tate curator Osei Bonsu, discussing the relationship between art and social justice. Moroccan artist Mohammed Laouli’s film Les Sculptures n’étaient pas blanches screened, addressing the compounding of colonial commemoration with anti-racist actions contained within a monument in the heart of Marseille.

See below to watch on YouTube:

The second stream features writer Abondance Matanda’s poetic response toFons Americanus, reflecting on the changing relationship with the artwork a year after its installation. Creative director Henrietta Gallina, design researcher Alyse Archer-Coité and a Vibe Called Tech’s founder Charlene Prempeh discuss how to amplify the voices of Black women working in cultural industries. Alongside how we make sense of Fons Americanus in light of the ever-changing political landscape. In addition to this, the screening of Angolan artist Kiluanji Kia Henda’s short Havemos de Voltar is also shown, which reflects on Angola’s colonial history and present day through the eyes of a taxidermied antelope.

See below to watch on YouTube:

All events and content will be available for free on the Tate website or through Tate’s social media channels.