Join an evening of archival footage and social scanning, curated by Abel Holsborough reflecting on the representation of Black British histories in film archives, and how selective memories are preserved.

Tracing Posterity, on show at the Women's Museum, was inspired by the Dagenham Cooperative Film Society, a group of residents who screened and made films about life in the borough over 70 years ago. These productions created an archive of local people in ordinary moments - neighbours chatting, children playing, people working and the places they called home.

Even without full on production, home-movies and photos of everyday life from birthday parties to weddings, schools plays, or even someone showing off a new car, all build the important story of an area as communities change through time.

This event is led by and centres Black residents of Barking and Dagenham. To mark Black History Month, the programme offers a moment to watch and discuss films and clips that explore these everyday moments through short films and footage that explore the representation of Black British life and how community archives are shaped.

It's also an invitation to dust off and bring in family photo albums, DVDs and tapes (that your TV probably can no longer play) to have them scanned/digitised, whilst finding out how to protect and preserve your memories. Following the screenings, a social scanning workshop and conversation will invite the creation of a community-created live archive celebrating family histories. Visitors are invited to bring along images or footage from their family collections to contribute to a borough wide collection that shows Black life in Barking and Dagenham.

Film Programme:
Early Years - Morgan Quaintance
Super Sam - Sandi Hudson Francis
Eileen's Party - A home movie by local resident Eileen

This event is free to access, and those who are unable to arrive by 17:30 are welcome to drop until 7pm.