03 Dec 2025
How a chance encounter sparked a community-led cultural programme
Black History Month 2025 unfolded differently at Republic London. What began as a chance conversation between neighbours grew into a co-produced cultural programme that reshaped how the campus thinks about space, partnership and civic responsibility.
The spark came during a Talkaoke session in Aberfeldy, where local resident Julie Elizabeth introduced the remarkable private collection she has built over decades, featuring portraits, archival prints and works that foreground Black British histories, diasporic identity and intergenerational memory. A few weeks later, a local Docklands history walk brought the team into conversation with Sandra Shakespeare of Museum X, whose expertise in Black British heritage added further context and direction.
From these informal encounters, ideas gathered momentum. Rather than emerging from a pre-designed plan, Black History Month took shape through the voices of people already active in Poplar and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The result was a series of exhibitions, workshops and events that brought students, residents and partners together across the campus. It also revealed that the site is far more than an educational estate. It has the capacity to act as a cultural and civic space, one that reflects the borough’s diversity and gives local stories a visible platform.
A new role for campus spaces
One of the most significant discoveries during BHM25 was the potential of Export Atrium. The large-scale artworks completely transformed the space, proving it can comfortably host ambitious visual work without disrupting the everyday flow of student life. People lingered, photographed the pieces and used the atrium in a more reflective way.
The success of this display has prompted renewed interest in using the atrium and other shared areas for future exhibitions, launches, panel discussions and cultural programming. What started as a one-month installation has helped the campus reimagine its physical environment as a site of artistic and intellectual exchange.
Building a campus that reflects its community
Republic sits in one of the most culturally rich boroughs in the UK. Hosting Black History Month was not only about celebrating heritage but also about demonstrating the campus’s civic mission. The programme attracted a wide range of participants, with over 100 people attending the launch event and workshops typically drawing between 12 and 18 people. The exhibitions saw much higher daily footfall as students, staff and visitors engaged with the work.
Feedback has been consistently positive. Workshops felt welcoming and culturally affirming, and partners valued the care taken in presenting the work in accessible, everyday environments rather than traditional gallery settings.
Future cultural programming at Republic
The Campus Experience Team now plans to build on the momentum created this year. There is strong interest in continuing to support community-led cultural work, with an emphasis on:
- Exhibitions rooted in local heritage and identity
- Collaborations with artists, collectives and educators
- Workshops and talks that speak to the lived experiences of students and residents
- Longer-term partnerships rather than one-off bookings
The aim is to create a rhythm of programming that reflects local histories, amplifies underrepresented voices and enables students to understand the cultural landscape around them.
Developing a simple guide for future collaborators
BHM25 highlighted that local organisations are often keen to create cultural or heritage-focused events but are unsure where to begin. In response, the Campus Experience Team is developing a short, practical guide for groups interested in working with the campus. The guide will outline the types of projects that align with Republic’s civic mission, how to submit an initial proposal and what support the team can offer.
It will also set out expectations around curation, accessibility and partnership working, along with basic logistics such as space types, equipment, timelines and risk assessments. Drawing on examples from this year’s programme, the aim is to make the process welcoming, transparent and values-led.
Collaborating with the community
Republic does not hire out its spaces. Instead, the campus offers them for free to community groups, charities, CICs and not-for-profits whose work benefits local people and aligns with the campus’s social and civic goals. This includes organisations interested in culture, heritage, skills, wellbeing and community development.
Anyone interested can begin the conversation by emailing community@republic.london. From there, the Social Impact Manager will arrange a visit, show potential collaborators around the spaces and explore ideas together. The process is relational rather than transactional, with a focus on partnerships that evolve over time.
A campus reimagined
Black History Month 2025 demonstrated what becomes possible when universities and communities shape programmes together. It opened new creative possibilities, helped the campus understand its wider civic role and revealed the potential of Republic’s spaces to host ambitious cultural work.
What began as a chance encounter has developed into a model for how Republic can continue to collaborate with its neighbours, creating a campus that reflects the surrounding communities and offering a platform for cultural expression, dialogue and belonging.
Republic London welcomes proposals from artists, educators, curators, and community groups interested in running exhibitions, workshops, or cultural programmes that explore heritage, identity, and place.
Contact community@republic.london with a short idea or expression of interest. The team will arrange a visit and explore potential collaboration.
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