Shaping the Story House: What Bristol’s African Heritage Community Envisions
Bristol Legacy Foundation Chair, Asher Craig, welcomes attendees.
Last week, on the 27th of November, the Bristol Legacy Foundation hosted “Our Storyhouse: How Do We Memorialise Our Stories?” at the Malcolm X Community Centre.
This groundbreaking project is more than just a museum—it’s a hub for connection, education, and empowerment, designed to celebrate the rich tapestry of African and Caribbean heritage while fostering a brighter, more inclusive future.
The event featured insights from BLF Chair Asher Craig, the Head of Culture and Creative Industries at Bristol City Council (Phil Walker), BLF Project Coordinator (Morayo Omogbenigun), and Memorialisation Task Group Chairs (Cleo Lake and Ruth Pitter). Together, they shared the BLF’s journey so far and its collaborative vision with the Council.
We have been working with the Bristol City Council Regeneration Team and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands (LDS), who are the architects creating the Master Plan for the Western Harbour Project. LDS will convene three workshops with the BLF on the following:
Formulate a brief that BLF can use to find an architect/team of our choosing to design and develop the BLF Story House.
Review potential locations for the Story House within the emerging Western Harbour Masterplan, or consider a new build.
Assist/advise on the procedure for selecting a team (architects/designers/ exhibition designers/ artists, etc) to take the proposals forward
The Western Harbour Development.
What is the Story House?
The Story House is a community-driven initiative envisioned as a safe space for storytelling, reflection, and action. It will highlight Bristol’s role in the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans (TTEA) while showcasing narratives of resilience, triumph, and excellence from African and Caribbean communities.
Participants answering consultation questions.
What did our African Heritage Community have to say?
Who is the Story House For?
The overwhelming sentiment was that the Story House should be for everyone. While it will be rooted in the stories and experiences of Bristol’s African and Caribbean communities, its aim is universal: to educate, inspire, and connect people of all races, classes, and generations.
Community members described it as:
A place to empower the Black community and honour its history of resilience and triumph.
A hub for young people to learn, grow, and reconnect with their heritage.
A welcoming space for visitors from across the globe to engage with stories of justice, migration, and cultural excellence.
What Should Visitors Experience?
Those who shared their thoughts want the Story House to evoke a range of emotions—curiosity, connection, and a deep sense of belonging. The space should leave visitors inspired and eager to share what they’ve learned with others.
Here’s how they envisioned it:
Interactive and dynamic: With immersive experiences like workshops, tactile exhibits, and cutting-edge technology.
Educational and healing: Focusing on the healing of descendants of colonial atrocities while celebrating resilience and success.
Emotionally impactful: Encouraging people to engage with stories on a personal level, sparking dialogue and reflection.
How Should the Space Be Used?
Community members called for the Story House to be a versatile, multi-use space that serves as a gathering point for education, celebration, and creativity. Ideas included:
A family-friendly venue with intergenerational spaces.
A social hub with a café and cultural dining experiences.
A place to host workshops, music, and events that reflect African and Caribbean traditions.
A performance venue for multidisciplinary art.
Exhibition spaces for African Heritage Communities.
Accessible and welcoming spaces for community groups to meet and collaborate.
What Stories Should Be Told?
The community’s vision for the stories to be featured in the Story House is broad and interconnected:
Celebrating African and Caribbean heritage before colonisation, highlighting spirituality, artistry, and excellence.
Exploring migration stories and the impacts of colonisation and systemic racism.
Uplifting narratives of success, resilience, and modern-day achievements within the diaspora.
Bridging past, present, and future through stories that inspire generations to come.
A Community-Driven Vision
Flexibility and adaptability were key themes throughout the consultation. People want the Story House to grow and evolve alongside the community, ensuring it remains relevant and impactful. It should be a living space—not static or constrained—where new ideas, voices, and collaborations can flourish.
This is just the beginning of an exciting journey. The ideas shared by Bristol’s African Heritage Community provide a foundation for the Story House to become a transformative space for connection, empowerment, and education.
Written by Morayo Omogbenigun, BLF Project Coordinator.
Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with our developments!