“Our archive is a living one—it reflects a genealogy of Black and international artists that belong to all of us. We must preserve and activate it, not just for memory’s sake, but as a way to inspire and empower future generations.”
— Sepake Angiama, Artistic Director, iniva
Living Legacies is a transformative four-year project rooted in the legacies of Global Majority artistic practice. It activates iniva’s unique visual arts archive centred on radical global art histories and reconnects it with contemporary communities in Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark through co-created exhibitions, events, podcasts and digital resources. The project foregrounds identity, belonging and cultural memory through intergenerational partnerships with young people (16–25) and older adults (65+), artists, educators and grassroots organisations.
Launched with a development grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Living Legacies is grounded in inclusivity, creativity and care. The project will:
- Improve access through inclusive communication, digital tools and physical accessibility
- Increase engagement by activating the archive through storytelling and creative interpretation
- Grow knowledge and skills by supporting underrepresented people into heritage and archiving roles
During the Development Phase (2024–25), Living Legacies bring artists, elders and youth together in zine-making, archiving and emotional learning workshops that explored home, identity and memory. These sessions demonstrate the power of the archive as a tool for care, connection and transformation. This lays the foundation for deeper, long-term partnerships across London’s diverse communities.
Living Legacies is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.