Museum Late: Voices of London

Expert talks programme

Cubic Theatre, Lower Ground Floor (entrance near shop) 

The Foundations of Modern Black Britain – Diane Louise Jordan 

19:30 – 20:00 The 1948 Nationality Act became the bridge between Britain’s imperial past and the modern diverse country we live in today. Join Diane Louise Jordan as she shares the true story of The Making of Black Britain oral history project, an antidote to polarised views. 

Legacy Generations 

20:30 – 21:00 Challenging us to go beyond race, Diane Louise Jordan speaks to 3 generations of one black British Caribbean family, in a bid to understand what it really means to be British. 

The Rise of Black British Gospel Music 

21:15 – 21:45 Reverend Bazil Meade, co-founder of the London Community Gospel Choir, talks all things Gospel with Diane Louise Jordan. 

Creative workshops

African headwrapping workshop with Sylvia Emodi

Luke’s Skills Space, First Floor

19:15 – 19:50

20:15 – 20:50

21:15 – 21:50 

Learn African headwrapping styles, and practice creating head wraps on yourself and others, before taking the printed fabric home with you. This workshop has limited capacity and places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. 

Conversations with Clay

Transportorium, Ground Floor 

18:45 – 22:00 Create a pinch pot to take home with you inspired by pots from around the world, and what home and origin means to you. Starting with a free-play warmup before moving on to learning clay techniques such as modelling, coiling and joining, you’ll be guided through conversations about the history of pottery and how it meets your own identity whilst enjoying the therapeutic process of pottery hand building. Drop-in.  

Object-based creative writing workshop

Canteen, First Floor, entrance via Shop 

19:30 – 20:00 

20:30 – 21:00 

21:30 – 22:00 

Unlock personal memories and take inspiration from handling museum objects to create a piece of writing. Start with a conversational ice breaker before delving into your writing. This workshop has limited capacity and places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. 

Storytelling

Herbert Kendall, Jamaican-born Station Master 

London By Design Gallery, Ground Floor 

19:30 – 20:10 

20:45 – 21:25 

Valentine Hanson plays Herbert Kendall, telling the story of how he was recruited by London Transport and travelled over from the  Caribbean. 

Film screening

Oral Histories collected by The Making of Black Britain 

Cubic Foyer, Lower Ground Floor, entrance via Shop 

18:45 – 22:00 Drop in and catch a screening of oral histories collected and curated by The Making of Black Britain. 

Oral History Recording Booth 

Metropolitan Chesham Set, First Floor  

19:15 – 20:00 

20:15 – 20:30 

20:45 – 21:00 

21:15 – 21:30 

21:45 – 22:00 

Take a seat in one of our vintage vehicles to have a go at recording oral histories. Take on the role of interviewer to select from a range of questions to ask, or delve into your own story as interviewee. This activity has limited capacity and places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. 

Shop at the book stall 

Connections Board, Main Gallery, Ground Floor 

18:45 – 22:00 The UK’s first Black publisher, specialist bookshop and international book distributor New Beacon Books will be bringing a selection of non-fiction and African, Caribbean and Black British literature. 

Music

Main Gallery, Ground Floor  

18:45 – 22:00 DJ Dubplate Pearl will be on the decks with a mixture of soul, jazz and reggae. Originally from West London, Pearl was musically influenced by Grenadian parents who listened to jazz, soul, calypso, reggae, and pop.  

Gallery Trail 

18:45 – 22:00 Collect your trail card from the ticket desk when you enter the museum, and explore the galleries and London Transport Museum’s collection through a gallery trail spotlighting the voices of Londoners of every colour, class, and creed. Be in with a chance of winning a Black History Tube Map or a copy of Eliza Southwood’s ‘London is the Place for Me’ poster, based on the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks. 

Explore the Museum  

18:45 – 22:00 Explore the Museum’s galleries after hours. Don’t miss our award-nominated exhibition Legacies: London Transport’s Caribbean Workforce!   

‘Drive’ our buses and trains 

18:45 – 22:00 Fancy playing train driver? Hop into the driver’s seat of our Elizabeth line train simulator - and take the chance to climb on board many of our historic vehicles. 

Refreshments

Auntie Bonnie’s Jerk Pit 

The Garden, Main Gallery, Ground Floor 

18:45 – 21:45 Enjoy jerk chicken, curry goat and patties from Acton favourite Auntie Bonnie’s Jerk Pit. 

Taste of Jamaica 

Main Gallery, Leyland Bus, Ground Floor 

18:45 – 21:30 Choose from a selection of drinks including beers, Ting, a selection of rums, dawa, jabula and palm wine from the Taste of Jamaica bar. 

Museum shop 

Ground Floor 

18:45 – 21:45 Pick up a souvenir from one of the exclusive ranges on sale at our Shop!