Black Cultural Archives

The Black Cultural Archives (BCA) is the only national heritage centre dedicated to collecting, preserving, and celebrating the histories of African and Caribbean people in Britain. Their mission is to inspire and give strength to individuals, communities and society.

Urban Symbiotic’s was appointed by the BCA with an initial brief to co-create a vision for the BCA building through an inclusive visitor and stakeholder engagement strategy, capable of providing the foundation to the BCA 2030 vision and re-imagine programme.

Stakeholder and visitor workshops, questionnaires and co-design activities were carried out to deliver insight into the repurposing of space alongside the physical and digital synergies needed to facilitate future access to the archives.

Our second brief emerged as a result of the COVID pandemic and was to design and implement measures to ensure that the BCA could continue to serve the community during the pandemic. We achieved this by creating safe, ambient, enhanced spaces with clear wayfinding; ensuring significant history remained accessible. We also designed and implemented a pop-up community garden that provided a valuable green sanctuary throughout the pandemic. With the re-opening of businesses and cultural establishments we are now working with the BCA to realise the re-imagining
vision after receiving full backing from the BCA Board.

ClientBe FirstLocationBarking, London, UKServicesCo-design, Co-buildYear2021 AccoladesNLA 2021 - Shortlisted in the MEANWHILE categoryCollaboratorsFabrik, Waites, Be First