A vibrant exhibition in Coventry highlights the rich history of Black British music
Coventry: A new exhibition is lighting up the city. The Black Sound Exhibition is on until the end of February. It celebrates Black British music culture in a big way.
This event is part of a series from Coventry University. It tells the story of 100 years of musical creativity. There’s an exhibition, a panel event, and even a citizen curation day.
The goal is to honor the music pioneers who shaped Black British music. From the artists to the fans, everyone played a part. Creative director Scott Leonard mentioned this is the first time the exhibition is outside London.
It opened on January 18 at the Delia Derbyshire building. It runs until February 28. One expert noted that Coventry’s role in this story isn’t celebrated enough.
The exhibition showcases a timeline of contemporary Black music in Britain. It starts from 1919 with the Southern Syncopated Orchestra. It goes all the way to 2024’s We Know It’s Christmas remake.
Coventry is a fitting place for this event. It’s the birthplace of 2-Tone music, which mixed ska, reggae, and punk in the 1970s. The exhibition features stories from both Coventry and the wider UK.
There will be panel discussions, films, and live performances too. The Coventry Youth Orchestra and contemporary artists will perform. A special Heritage Collection Day is set for February 8.
On that day, visitors can bring objects to be scanned. This will help preserve their stories for future generations. Scott Leonard emphasized the importance of keeping these memories alive.
He said, “As time goes by, these stories are being lost. It’s vital to preserve them now.” The use of 3D scanning technology is a fantastic way to do this.
