Black Creatives Hub: 2 years on – continuing the work for our community
- Written byStudent Communications
- Published date 18 May 2026
This month marks 2 years since the launch of our Black Creatives Hub - an initiative dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the exceptional talents, achievements and contributions of UAL’s Black creative community.
Bringing together students, graduates, alumni, staff and the wider industry, the hub offers a space for connection, collaboration and fundamentally, community – championing Black voices, platforming our creativity and providing opportunities to support and advocate for Black talent across the creative industries.
The Black Creatives Hub responds to the underrepresentation of the Black community across the creative sector, existing alongside the University’s wider anti-racism strategy and ongoing efforts to dismantle systemic racism within the arts.
Join us at our 2-year celebration
To celebrate the 2-year anniversary of the Hub, we’re hosting an evening on Tuesday 26 May at Central Saint Martins. The special anniversary event brings together Black creatives and allies for an inspiring evening of honest conversations, shared experiences and a chance to connect.
The evening features a panel of leading creatives and cultural voices including Rayvenn Shaleigha D'Clark, digital sculptor; Ade "Àsìkò" Okelarin, multidisciplinary visual artist; Adryan Abii-Smith, product designer and self-taught illustrator and Danielle Udogaranya, multi-award-winning creative technologist, cultural innovator and Founder of EBONIX.
The panel is chaired by Maureen Salmon, Associate Dean of Knowledge Exchange at London College of Communication and producer of the documentary Windrush75: Forging Ahead, alongside a live performance by actor and UAL student, Kathryn Lagon-Stanislaus.
This event is open to UAL students, staff, alumni and external guests with an interest in the arts.
Book your place and find out more about our talented panel
I’m so proud to see how far the Hub has come over the past 2 years and all that we have achieved over the last year. Supporting our community is something I’m really passionate about. I am excited for what the future holds for this space and the impact we will continue to have in supporting existing and emerging Black Creatives.
Bunmi Ekundayo, Black Creatives Hub Project Lead
Highlights so far
Since its launch in 2024, the Black Creatives Hub has continued to grow in visibility and impact. Here is a look at what has been achieved:
May 2025
Last May, we celebrated the 1 year anniversary of the Black Creatives Hub with an evening that brought together some of the most exciting and influential voices across the arts. One of the first physical events for the Hub, the event successfully provided a space for the network to come together, learn, share and reflect.
October 2025
We launched our termly newsletter, a go-to source for community news, updates, opportunities and upcoming events. Designed to keep our network connected, the newsletter shares a snapshot of what’s happening across the community and what’s coming next. Sign up to join our mailing list if you haven’t already.
January 2026
The Hub was awarded funding of £4,000 from UAL’s Social Purpose Innovation Fund. The funding will be invested into the pilot of a fashion design competition, a new phase for the Hub. Offering recognition for fashion talent emerging from the University, the competition will amplify the work of Black designers working in the fashion industry.
March 2026
We held a successful event with artists, storytellers and co-founders of Adeche Atelier, Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi. The talk offered insight into running an award-winning business within the arts, as well as inviting the audience to rethink how African mythology, folklore and culture are represented in contemporary art and media.
April 2026
The Black Creatives Hub collaborated with UAL’s African and Caribbean Society for a networking event. The event strengthened connections between our networks and provided a chance to hear directly from African and Caribbean creatives at the University.
May 2026
This month, we launched the Black Creative Colouring book competition. We partnered with not just a shop to offer students and recent graduates the opportunity to have their illustration designs featured in the first-ever UAL Black Creatives adult colouring collection. The collection will be sold online and in-store at not just a shop from October 2026, marking the beginning of Black History Month. All proceeds will be reinvested back into supporting the development of the Black Creatives Hub.
Looking ahead: what’s next for the Hub
In an increasingly challenging landscape for the creative industries, 2 years on, it’s clearer than ever just how important the Hub is for our community. As we move forward, our goal is to build on the foundations that have been set – strengthening and expanding the Black Creatives Hub as a sustainable initiative that drives meaningful change within the sector.
Developing our physical presence
- Continue bringing the Black Creatives Hub into physical spaces across UAL
- Launching an annual programme of events, including talks and panel conversations
- Hosting physical activations, such as exhibitions, showrooms and competitions
Providing more development opportunities
- Establishing mentoring initiatives for emerging creatives
- Introducing awards and bursaries to support creative development
Growing our network
- Expanding collaboration with industry and community partners
- Growing networks of Black creatives locally and globally
Securing the future of the Hub
- Building long-term stability and sustainability for the Hub
- Securing designated funding for planned initiatives and future growth
- Strengthening governance and leadership
Thank you to everyone who has supported the development of the Hub so far. Your contributions have been integral to its growth. We look forward to continuing to build together and celebrating even more accomplishments in the years ahead.
We invite everyone to explore the Black Creatives Hub, engage with its content, share the resource within your circles and continue to champion Black creative talent.
Want to get involved or collaborate?
Get in touch via blackcreatives@arts.ac.uk or explore the Black Creatives Hub.