Recommendations

Black History Month: What to see

Tate Britain Commission, Alvaro Barrington: GRACE, at Tate Britain 2024

We've selected some of the best exhibitions to see with a National Art Pass during Black History Month.

October is Black History Month, a nationwide celebration of Black culture, arts and history, held annually in recognition of the significant achievements and contributions of Black people to British society.

This year's theme is 'Reclaiming Narratives', highlighting the importance of Black storytelling, history and heritage to ensure that the community's full breadth and depth of experiences is captured and preserved.

To help you plan what to see during Black History Month, we've rounded up some incredible exhibitions exploring history, culture and identity by some of the most exciting artists working today.

From a celebration of contemporary Black women and non-binary artists to a deep-dive into a fashion icon, scroll down for our 10 picks – and remember to explore our full exhibition and events listings for more.

Whether you have a National Art Pass or a Teacher Art Pass, don't forget to pack yours to get great benefits at lots of these venues.

Discover some of the best exhibitions to visit with an Art Pass this Black History Month

01
Lela Harris, Afamefuna (Ebo Boy), 2022

Lela Harris: Facing the Past

See portraits of six individuals who lived in Lancaster during the 18th century in this thought-provoking exhibition by Lela Harris, who discovered their stories in church records, adverts for runaways escaping slavery, and family stories. Their portraits, based on Harris's historical research, are hung alongside paintings of individuals who benefitted from slavery, by significant artists of the time including George Romney and Joseph Wright of Derby.