About us

The Black Art Hub CIC is a Black‑led creative, cultural, and community organisation dedicated to empowering Black British artists, poets, researchers, and storytellers.

Founded in March 2024 by Michi Masumi—a photographer, artist, and PhD researcher at Canterbury Christ Church University—the Hub was created to provide a space where research, development, networking, and exhibiting are firmly centred within Black British leadership, culture, and lived experience.

We exist to nurture creativity, amplify marginalised voices, and build an accessible platform for artistic and academic expression across Medway and the UK.

We are a proudly all‑Black, female‑led organisation, dedicated to empowering our communities through creativity, research, cultural preservation, and inclusive opportunities.

Our growth has been supported by partners such as Arts Council England, Medway Council’s Culture Team, local organisations, small businesses, and our community members.

photo_2026-02-04_23-08-36 (2)_edited.jpg

Our Community Impact

We deliver free and affordable activities for residents, including:

The annual Medway Black History Month Art Trail
Creative, academic, business, and technical workshops
Menopause wellbeing sessions
Volunteer opportunities in curating, events, outreach, social media, and more
Local exhibitions, artist showcases, and community-led cultural events

Our Core Goals

Research

We prioritise new knowledge creation through the lens of lived experience, celebrating the diversity of Black British identity and documenting the breadth of our cultural and creative landscapes.

Development

We deliver practical workshops that support creative careers, technical skills, employability, and a clearer understanding of the UK art and cultural sector.

Networking

We provide a welcoming, informal space for connection—where ideas, collaborations, shared experiences, and creative partnerships can flourish.

Exhibiting

We champion accessibility, visibility, and inclusion by working with local partners to showcase Black British creativity in both traditional and non‑traditional art spaces.

Our Roots and Community Commitment

With a professional background spanning community development, educational governance, welfare to work, coaching, startups, NFP leadership, and public policy, the directors, advisory board and volunteers bring a wealth of experience to the organisation. Guided by a diverse advisory board, The Black Art Hub CIC ensures that every programme and service remains ethical, relevant, and community‑driven.

We believe in nurturing grassroots talent through practical support, including:

Affordable in‑house large‑format printing
Artist support funding
Black-led creative and academic research opportunities
Safe, inclusive spaces for creative expression

As a proudly Black‑led organisation, we welcome everyone—while maintaining our core commitment to uplifting Black British and global majority communities across Medway, the UK and the world.

Working in Partnership:

At The Black Art Hub CIC, we believe that meaningful partnerships strengthen communities and create long‑lasting impact.

We work collaboratively with schools, Medway Libraries, Nucleus Arts, HMP Cookham Wood, and HMP Rochester to develop high‑quality creative, cultural, and educational events and workshops.

Our partnerships allow us to deliver inclusive programmes that combine arts, heritage, creativity, well-being, and lifelong learning.

By partnering with us, organisations benefit from:

Culturally grounded expertise rooted in Black British arts, research, and lived experience
Tailored workshops and events designed around community needs, curriculum goals, or institutional aims
Improved engagement and participation, especially among underrepresented and global majority communities
Access to our creative network of artists, educators, researchers, wellbeing facilitators, and partners
A shared commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and social impact

Together, we co-produce initiatives that support creativity, encourage positive expression, widen participation in the arts, and foster greater cultural understanding across Medway and beyond.

If you would like to explore a partnership or bring a project to your organisation, we welcome collaboration and conversation.

WhatsApp Image 2024-10-05 at 19.02.20_5be2d20d.jpg

The Benjamin Zephaniah Digital Archival Library

Our current major initiative is the development of the Benjamin Zephaniah Digital Archival Library:
a Black British visual-first, digital-native archival library dedicated to preserving contemporary and historical Black British history, arts, poetry, research, and lived experience.

This free, community-focused digital resource will make knowledge accessible, preserve today’s stories, and support future generations of researchers, artists, families, and educators.

📚 Support the Library & Join Our Fundraising Effort:
👉 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/thebenjaminzephaniahdigitalarchivallibrary

Work With Us

We collaborate with community organisations, cultural institutions, artists, educators, and local groups across Medway and beyond.
If you would like to partner with The Black Art Hub CIC, host a workshop, co‑produce an exhibition, or bring our services to your community, contact us:

📧 theblackarthub02@gmail.com