A new £7million building was designed by Pringle Richards Sharratt to be a unique space, dedicated to black heritage in Britain.

The archives include many important artefacts including:

• a coin depicting Septimus Severus, the African-born Roman Emperor
• the Nestor tablet, a square resin cast of a wall-plaque that tells the story of a black servant called Nestor who died aged 36
• a compilation of oral histories including interviews with individuals from the Windrush generation and the Black Women’s Movement of the 1980s

The new centre will offer a schools’ programme and engage learners with histories of black people in Britain through hands-on exploration sessions, exhibitions, tours and workshops. It will also host a number of culturally-centred exhibitions with its own community arts and educational prorgrammes, special events, talks and workshops.

Matthew Ryder, Chairman of the BCA, said: “The movement of BCA to a permanent, purpose-built home, is itself an historic moment. We believe it will enable the BCA to become a global resource and a leading heritage site in London.”