Paula Ogun Hector is founder/creative director of Tapestry of Black Britons CIC, designed to create a series of digitally woven tapestries depicting the African and Caribbean contribution to Britain from Romans onwards.
Influenced by the work of Professor Paul Gilroy, Professor Stuart Hall and curator Okwui Enwezor, Paula has presented inclusive histories for over 20 years firstly in TV (BBC Black Britain; BBC When Black Became Beautiful); then PR (Commission for Racial Equality, Centrepoint, BFI’s Black World Season) and as an educator, establishing and leading a provision for neurodiverse 11 to 16-year-olds.
Lack of awareness about Black British history perpetuates incomplete historical narratives, contributing to underrepresentation and exclusion of Black British stories in mainstream heritage. This new tapestry directly addresses historical erasure by creating a living artwork that presents a more inclusive understanding of British history.
Paula is dedicated to building connections between diverse communities and creative wellbeing via Tapestry programming; and also works to develop partnerships that can provide creative careers opportunities, at all ages. Paula will continue to deliver Tapestry of Black Britons workshops in primary and secondary schools, and has already worked with schools in Birmingham, Kent and London. tapestryofblackbritons.com
Dash and Miller, a Bristol based Textile Design Studio was founded in 2009 by Franki Brewer and Juliet Bailey. The studio specialises in the concept, design and R&D of woven textiles and fabric innovation, combining hands-on processes with cutting-edge technology and digital skills. Sustainability is at the core of the studio’s ethos, offering a unique understanding of materials and manufacturing within the wider industrial and ecological contexts. Dash and Miller has worked closely with fashion and homeware brands, trend agencies, artists, PR companies, Mills, CMF design teams, footwear and automotive designers, wallcovering manufacturers and many other professionals within the sphere of woven textiles. The studio has a commitment to R&D within the woven textiles industry, particularly around new and innovative materials and localised, circular textile systems. dashandmiller.com
Doreen Gittens is an award-winning master weaver with a passion for weaving. Based at London’s Oxo Building, Doreen is part of a thriving community of designers. Doreen has always lived on islands – Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada and the UK – so named her weaving company Archipelago.
Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi, the creative couple behind Adeche Atelier, are artists, storytellers, and content creators inspired by African mythology, folklore, and culture. By sharing these underrepresented narratives through their art – uniquely painted simultaneously on the same canvas – they hope to encourage others to delve deeper into African mythology. As storytellers, they strive to keep these tales alive for future generations. adeche.com
Gary Stewart is an interdisciplinary artist who for over 30 years has been interrogating social and political issues of identity, culture and technology. Working at the intersection of sound, moving image and computational creativity his practice operates through a range of theoretical, fictional, and artistic frames that traverses media art, experimental music, and research.
With fellow artist Trevor Mathison he is a founding member of the London-based artist group Dubmorphology whose work over the last two decades has emerged from their direct response to different sites and environment that frequently incorporate historical and contemporary material and content reworking historical, political and scientific archives.
Under the moniker of Bantu, he performs as part of the experimental music circuit using elements of improvised dub and musique concrète that explore and bring fresh new perspectives to “Black Noise”
He is a contributor to several publications and podcasts including Digital Diaspora: Young People, Technology and Contested Spaces for Community, Culture and Globalization (2002) published by the Rockefeller Foundation, Encounters Beyond Text: Art Transforming Lives (2011) published by Queen Mary University of London and A Culture of Possibility by Arlene Goldbard (2021)
Formerly a lecturer in Fine Art(Practice) at Goldsmiths, University of London, he is currently Artist Associate at People’s Palace Projects based at Queen Mary University of London who are part of a global network of collaborators that advocate for equality, climate justice and better health through the arts especially those from marginalised communities.
The ongoing Tate Britain Exhibition: Keith Piper and Rex Whistler features sound design by Stewart who also recently had a solo exhibition called A Ripple in Time at Orleans House Gallery, London. The work in the exhibition was described by The Wire as having “an admirable commitment to tackling complex, layered themes in a beguilingly succinct, intelligent and open-ended manner.” www.garystewart.org
Yvadney Davis is an award-winning Black British contemporary artist from South London. Her art practice is a love letter to her British Caribbean heritage, expressed through figurative works that explore themes of nostalgia, identity, and belonging. Her work weaves together memories, folklore, and the complex question of what it means to belong as a second-generation immigrant. Yvadney creates works that celebrate surface and texture, layering paint strokes, chrome ink, and linen canvas with the intricate patterns of vintage mid-century wallpaper. This aesthetic not only pays homage to the iconic interiors of the Windrush era but also bridges past and present, opening a dialogue about displacement, resilience, and the evolving concept of home. yvadney.art
Deanna Nelson-Mckie is a multidisciplinary artist and researcher based in London. Her practice delves into often rare; Black diasporic history, black / indigenous culture, and black scholar theories. Often referencing and exploring archives from black history and black scholar lectures and books. Deanna tends to express these themes through the lens of ‘’artefacts’’ or objects using a range of materials, print techniques as well as research / archival montages. visionsofblackness.co.uk
Designer, maker, specialising in woven textiles, based in South London. Marcia John, born in St Vincent and the Grenadines, has a deep-rooted passion for working with natural materials and resources such as flax, linen, coconut fibre, raffia, bamboo and palm leaves. They have formed an integral part of Marcia’s weaving processes, allowing for highly experimental hand loom designs. Marcia’s varied collection of materials are used to produce functional and non-functional art pieces for interior spaces. A Crafts Study Centre alumni, Marcia has led family crafting workshops for venues and festivals such as the V&A and Blackburn Festival. Previous exhibitions include the Surface Design Show 2020, The New Designers 2019 and The Black Artisans.
The Bristol Legacy Foundation (BLF) is a charitable organisation committed to empowering African Heritage Communities (AHC) and addressing their systemic marginalisation in cultural, creative, and public spaces. Founded in 2019, BLF fosters education, advocacy, and transformation through African epistemologies and reparatory justice.
Guided by principles of equity, reparative justice, and collective healing, BLF collaborates with key institutional partners—including the University of Bristol, Bristol City Council, the Society of Merchant Venturers, and the Church of England (Diocese of Bristol)—to drive meaningful change. A Memorandum of Understanding with Bristol City Council reinforces their support for our four core workstreams: Reparatory Justice, Memorialisation, Partnerships, Investments & Resources, and Storyhouse.
At the heart of our vision is Storyhouse, an innovative cultural space dedicated to sharing the rich and evolving narrative of African heritage in Bristol. Designed as a hub for education, art, and community engagement, Storyhouse will celebrate African heritage contributions and inspire future generations.
BLF is also leading a groundbreaking memorial to the Transatlantic Trafficking of Enslaved Africans (TTEA) in Bristol City Centre, set to launch in 2028 in collaboration with Bristol City Council. This landmark project has shortlisted four Black artists to create a powerful and lasting tribute, ensuring the legacy of African heritage is permanently acknowledged in the city’s public spaces.
Through transformative initiatives—such as the Cascade Steps Memorial and reparatory justice education programs—BLF amplifies African heritage voices while fostering cross-cultural understanding. Our mission is to position Bristol as a global leader in African reparatory justice, creating inclusive spaces, lasting legacies, and sustainable opportunities for generations to come.
The Forgotten Generations, founded by Royal Air Force veterans, is a charitable archive and resource highlighting contributions by British African and Caribbean people to the UK and Armed Forces. theforgottengenerations.com
