Brighton BASH Carnival crowd

Afrori Books logo

Black at Sussex - Portraits panel at display on Brighton seafront

Black at Sussex is proud to announce a series of impactful projects for the 2025–26 academic year. These proposals, selected for their commitment to community, culture, and collaboration, will bring a rich calendar of events and initiatives to life. Each one has been chosen because it powerfully meets the programme’s core aims to:

• Celebrate Black culture among current and former students and staff
  

• Establish and develop collaborative partnerships with Black-led organisations
  

• Promote the University to Black students and staff
  

Following a competitive round of applications, the Steering Committee introduced a formal scoring system for evaluating proposals. This new framework ensures decisions are fair, consistent and aligned with Black at Sussex priorities. Proposals were scored out of five based on how well they met the initiative's core objectives, as well as their feasibility, impact and long-term value.

A score of five represents a high-impact, strategic proposal that receives full funding, while lower scores result in scaled recommendations. This structured approach has not only strengthened transparency but also helps ensure funded activities deliver tangible outcomes for the Black Sussex community.

Afrori Books: Amplifying Black Voices Through Literature

Running across the academic year, Afrori Books will lead a dynamic, literature-based engagement programme. Highlights include:

• A Freshers Week pop-up bookshop
  

• Two book clubs with free books and Black authors
  

• Two public lectures by Afrori founder Carolynn Bain
  

• A student-led live interview
  

This project brings Black-authored literature to the centre of student life, while boosting institutional visibility through Afrori’s extensive online network. It also partners with other Black-led orgs including Women of Colour Brighton and Men of Melanin.

Ongoing – September 2025 to Summer 2026

Mid Street Lab: RECLAIM – Black Creativity in the Arts

RECLAIM is a three-part event series celebrating Black creativity and arts leadership:

• A curated exhibition featuring Black student and alumni artists
  

• A panel/networking event with Black-led creative organisations
  

• A professional pathways workshop and showcase
  

Led by Mid Street Lab, this autumn initiative puts Black voices at the forefront of the creative industries and connects students with real career opportunities.

October to December 2025 

Tapestry of Black Britons

An innovative heritage project led by Sussex alum Paula Ogun Hector, this initiative includes:

• A lecture on Black British history and tapestry art
  

• A co-creation workshop for a new Black at Sussex tapestry panel
  

• A virtual showcase of previous tapestry works
  

This artistic approach to archival storytelling will result in a permanent digital and physical tapestry installation celebrating Black history, past and present.

September to December 2025

Black Brilliance in Business

A student-led series delivering one themed event per term, each spotlighting Black excellence in business. Activities include:

• Guest speakers from Black business and alumni networks
  

• Cultural celebration through food, music and décor
  

• Paid opportunities and training for Black student organisers
  

The events will build community pride and give students tangible leadership experience.

Autumn 2025 to Spring 2026

Women of Colour Brighton: Self Love Festival

This award-winning collective will deliver two events:

• A large Brighton-based wellness festival in February 2026
  

• A Sussex-campus workshop for Black women and non-binary people
  

The workshops focus on healing, rest, creativity and joy—affirming Black cultural wellbeing in a deeply meaningful and accessible way.

February 2026

Brighton Book Festival: Student Curatorship Programme

This collaboration gives Black Sussex students the opportunity to:

• Curate and deliver pop-up literature events across the year
  

• Receive professional development and training
  

• Design a major event for the Brighton Book Festival in June 2026
  

It’s a powerful model of creative leadership and sustainable, year-round engagement between the University and a major Black-led cultural organisation.

Autumn 2025 to June 2026

BLK Brighton: Cultural Content and Mentorship

BLK Brighton will launch two exciting outputs:

• A printed academic calendar spotlighting Black culture and events
  

• A digital storytelling series shared monthly on Instagram
  

This collaboration also includes advisory and mentorship support for students involved in content creation and community building.

Launches September 2025

BARCO x Black at Sussex: Hair & Crowns & Carnival

This year-long partnership with BARCO includes:

• A Sussex stall at BASH Carnival 2025
  

• Hair & Crowns cultural workshops in local schools
  

• A student-facing community event on campus
  

This multi-touchpoint campaign positions Sussex as a place where Black identity is respected, celebrated and visible across Brighton and beyond.

July 2025 to February 2026

BLACADEMIA 2025: Research, Art & Dialogue

Back for another year, this hybrid event offers an immersive mix of:

• Panels, performances and lectures by leading Black creatives and scholars
  

• Art exhibitions and creative showcases
  

• Online and in-person engagement across two days
  

Delivered by flo creative, BLACADEMIA celebrates academic and artistic contributions from the global majority, amplifying the excellence within and beyond Sussex.

October 2025

These nine proposals represent the depth and vibrancy of Black culture at Sussex. From poetry and publishing to wellness, business, and visual arts, they continue to build a university community where Black joy, creativity and leadership thrive.

Guest lecturing

We have had a very positive start to our guest lecturing call out and the following guest lectures have been booked;

• Topher Campbell

• Jude Idada

• Eddie Otechere

• Paula Ogun 

• Carolynn Bain

All of which will take place in the 2025/6 academic year. Further details will follow on the website.

Additional material

Black Student Guide - Working collaboratively with student connectors via the Student and Engagement Enhancement Team a guide for Black Students arriving at the university has been co-created. This guide is currently being finalised and will be available as part of welcome week.

Alumni Portraits Launch - On October 15th the launch of the alumni portraits project will take place in the library, coupled with a talk/interview with Eddie Otechere who co-led the project.

Steering Committee update

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the following committee members who have stepped down from their roles:

• Dr Sindi F. Gordon
  

• Erin James
  

• Jada Orlebar-Earle
  

Each of them has made invaluable contributions to the programme, and their decisions to step back were made for personal or professional reasons. All expressed a desire to continue supporting Black at Sussex in some capacity, and we remain deeply grateful for their commitment and leadership.

We are now inviting expressions of interest from Black members of the University community—including staff, students and alumni—who are passionate about the Black at Sussex initiative and have the capacity to actively contribute to the work of the Steering Committee. If you're interested, please contact blackatsussex@sussex.ac.uk for more information.

Stay tuned for dates, tickets and ways to get involved – and if you have ideas for future events or collaborations, email us at blackatsussex@sussex.ac.uk.