Black History Month 2023

In celebration of Black History Month 2023, we're delighted to be introducing a brand new line-up of events.

Join us for a series of talks, film screenings and workshops – all centred around this year's theme, 'Celebrating our Sisters'. Most events are free to attend, but as space is limited for some, you'll need to book your place beforehand.

Film screening: The Colour Purple

Weds 11 October (2pm)

Based on the novel The Colour Purple by Alice Walker, this compelling and cherished classic tells the story of Celie.

Raped by the man she calls her father, her two children are taken from her and she is forced into an ugly marriage. She has no one to talk to but God, until she meets a woman who offers love and support.

Trigger warning: Moderate references to sex/nudity, incest and rape.

Book now

Students' Union Art Jam

Weds 11 October (1pm)

Come join us at Locksbrook Campus to create crafts that celebrate Black History Month! Some of the crafts will be published in a zine to highlight the work of our  students.

Find out more

Black, Female and Animated: Breaking Barriers in the Animation Industry

Mon 16 October (3pm)

Join Olivia Hylton – who previously studied Film, Television and Digital Production here at Bath Spa – in celebrating the pioneering black women who paved the way for us, and exploring the challenges we face today.

As a black woman navigating the world of animation, Olivia will chat about how our identities shape storytelling, the magic of diverse representation, and the lasting influence of black female characters.

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Recruiting people of colour at Bath Spa: Where are we? (Part 2)

Tues 17 October (1pm)

This year we've been working with Educate Group to look at our recruitment processes, to ensure that we, as a University, are being as inclusive as possible.

In March 2023 we ran an event updating you about this project – and now we're back with more updates, and we want to hear from you! Join Suman Ghosh, Arlene Stone and Megan Robertson as they share the next steps for our Diversifying Recruitment Project. 

This event will take place online.

Book now

Film screening: Saint Omer

Weds 18 October (2pm)

Saint Omer (2022) is a French legal drama directed by Alice Diop, starring Kayije Kagame and Guslagie Malanda. In the film, Rama (Kagame) is a pregnant young novelist who attends the trial of Laurence Coly (Malanda), a Senegalese woman accused of murdering her 15-month-old child by leaving her on a beach to be swept away by the tide, in order to turn the tragic event into a literary retelling of Medea.

It's based on the French court case of Fabienne Kabou, who was convicted of the same crime. Diop attended Kabou's trial in 2016.

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Windrush 75

Weds 25 October (2pm)

Join Pauline Swaby-Wallace and Estlyn Mcfarquar from Fairfield House as they discuss the origin of the Empire Windrush, the Windrush Scandal, the contribution of people in BaNES, and much more.

Estlyn Mcfarquhar arrived in the UK in the 1960s to train as a nurse, and she later became a midwife. She has been involved in racial equality work and continues to influence change in the BME communities through her leadership at Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association.

Book now

Live dance performance: It begins in darkness

Thurs 26 October (7:30pm)

In this stark, stripped back performance, five dancers move through a series of mysterious and experimental rites of passage, channeling past, present and future tensions through their bodies and voices.

It begins in darkness is an environment for processing the fear, anger and confusion which arise from the histories of slavery and colonialism that haunt the present.

Book now

Street fair at Locksbrook Campus

Mon 30 October (12.30pm)

Join us for an indoor 'street fair' at Locksbrook Campus, where you can meet our Staff Global Inclusivity Network (GIN), representatives from Fairfield House, student societies and more.

This will give us a chance to gather feedback as well as think about how else we can celebrate and learn about our black, brown and Asian communities. There will also be free food!

Making sense of allyship

Weds 1 November (1pm)

Existentialist coach Lou Chiu explores what allyship is, why it's important and the principles that underline what we do.

In this session, Lou will enable you to explore anti-oppressive and difference-centred communication and relationship-building methods that can build trust and promote healing to co-create a more equitable and inclusive culture.

This event will take place online.

Book now

The Bath Spa Students' Union is also hosting several events throughout October. You can find out more on their website.