Stevenage You Were Wonderful! Celebrating Our First Black History Month Weekend at Westgate Stevenage
Updated: 12 hours ago
Our first Black History Month Cultural Pop-Up Market and Workshop Weekend in Stevenage was a special milestone for Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC.
On 10th and 11th October 2026, we brought our celebration of African and Caribbean cultures to Westgate Stevenage, filling Unit 7 with independent businesses, music, exhibitions and creative activities.
We received a wonderful welcome from Westgate Stevenage and the local community. Throughout the weekend, visitors explored the stalls, enjoyed the entertainment, discovered new stories and joined in with the activities.
 | Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC works to make cultural experiences accessible to local people while creating opportunities for independent businesses and artists to reach new audiences. Taking our Black History Month Cultural Pop-Up Market and Workshop Weekend to Stevenage gave us the opportunity to meet new people, make connections and share what these celebrations have to offer. |
Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC works to make cultural experiences accessible to local people while creating opportunities for independent businesses and artists to reach new audiences. Taking our Black History Month Cultural Pop-Up Market and Workshop Weekend to Stevenage gave us the opportunity to meet new people, make connections and share what these celebrations have to offer.
A New Partnership in the Heart of Stevenage
Bringing the event to a new town takes teamwork. Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC led the organisation of the weekend, working alongside Westgate Stevenage to bring the celebration into the shopping centre.
Located in Unit 7, opposite River Island, the event introduced our cultural celebration to shoppers and families while giving independent traders an opportunity to showcase their products to new audiences.
The partnership also brought additional activity into the town centre, giving visitors another reason to stop and explore.
We were pleased to hear that shopper numbers had increased during the event and that neighbouring stores had also reported increased sales. It was encouraging to hear that the weekend had benefited the wider shopping centre as well as those attending the event.
We'd like to thank Gemma Careli, Centre Manager at Westgate Stevenage, and the wider centre team for working with us to make our first Stevenage event possible.
Something for Everyone
One of the things we love about our events is seeing people enjoy them in different ways. Some visitors come to shop, others are drawn in by the music, while families stop to take part in activities or discover something new together.
Our weekend brought together African and Caribbean products, crafts, beauty, fashion, books, gifts and food, alongside live entertainment, exhibitions, traditional games and creative activities.
For visitors, it was an opportunity to meet independent traders, explore different cultural traditions and enjoy something a little different. For businesses, it offered the chance to reach new customers, make connections and share their products and services.
Supporting independent businesses remains an important part of Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC's work. Many traders also have knowledge and experience they can share with younger generations who may be considering turning their own interests and ideas into businesses.
Our face painter brought extra colour and joy to the weekend, creating beautiful designs inspired by cultural heritage for adults, alongside the wonderful, colourful creations the children imagined. It gave families another reason to stop, take part and enjoy the experience together. Activities like these are an important part of making cultural events accessible and enjoyable for different ages.
The Sound of Culture Bringing People Together
Music played an important part in the atmosphere of the weekend, including traditional Ghanaian drumming, Caribbean steel pan band and traditional Jamaican folk songs, with performances inviting audience participation through dancing and singing.
For some visitors, the performances were a reason to stop and enjoy the event. For others, they offered an introduction to sounds, rhythms and traditions they may not have experienced before.
These performances allow people to experience culture first-hand while giving artists and performers the opportunity to share their skills and traditions with new audiences.
We are very grateful to Stevenage Community Trust, whose funding helped to support many elements of the weekend. They want to make a positive difference to local people’s lives and saw firsthand how the event brings the community together.
Reflections: Courageous Black Women Then and Now
A central feature of the weekend was Reflections: Courageous Black Women Then and Now, our free exhibition celebrating remarkable Black women from history and the present day.
Supported by A2Dominion's Black History Month 365 Fund, the exhibition brought together stories of women whose achievements have helped shape communities, countries and the wider world.
 | Visitors explored women from different backgrounds and generations, spanning activism, philanthropy, sport, music, media, food and politics. By placing women from the past alongside contemporary figures, the exhibition highlighted their achievements and the opportunities they helped create for future generations. The exhibition is researched and put together by volunteers, with considerable time dedicated to bringing these stories together. We are grateful to A2Dominion for supporting the exhibition and helping us share these important stories in Stevenage. |
Representation matters. Discovering stories that may be missing from the history we have been taught can spark curiosity, encourage further learning and offer new inspiration. We hope visitors left with a few new names to remember, stories to share and reasons to keep exploring the contributions of Black women throughout history and today. Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC would love to see Reflections: Courageous Black Women Then and Now reach more audiences through future exhibition opportunities. Schools and community organisations interested in hosting the exhibition are welcome to get in touch. |  |
Raising Awareness with Endometriosis UK
We were also pleased to welcome Endometriosis UK back to the event, helping to raise awareness of endometriosis and adenomyosis in Stevenage and explaining the impact it can have on people's lives.
This condition affect around 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth in the UK, yet many people still face long waits for diagnosis and a lack of understanding about the condition. Having Endometriosis UK at the event gave visitors the opportunity to find out more, ask questions and learn where to access information and support.
 | Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC, have been raising awareness at their events for 4 years, in support of one of their volunteers who knows the reality of living with these conditions all too well. It is particularly important to bring these conversations into Black communities, where women can face additional barriers to having their symptoms recognised and taken seriously. We wanted to make space for this conversation as part of our wider aim to share knowledge, highlight different experiences and make sure important issues are not overlooked. |
Thank you to Endometriosis UK for helping to raise awareness in a new community, share information and let visitors know that support is available.
Express Yourself
One of the special parts of the weekend was seeing visitors contribute to the Express Yourself activity, creating a collaborative artwork called Many Pieces, One Community.
The activity invited children and families to express themselves creatively, adding their own contributions to a shared display celebrating the different people, backgrounds and cultures that make up a community. Looked after by our wonderful volunteer Sangita, the wall looked remarkable by the end of the weekend.
We loved seeing families get involved and take an interest in what would happen to the finished artwork. One visitor told us:
“We need more things like this in Stevenage! My daughter enjoyed the community activity and is looking forward to seeing it displayed. I also purchased some beautiful jewellery.”
 | It was lovely to hear that the activity had made such an impression. Community art gives children an opportunity to share their ideas, see their contributions valued and take pride in being part of something created together. Many thanks to our volunteer Sangita for looking after the activity, greeting the many children that took part and for offering assistance to parents when they needed it; she made sure the activity remained fun and enjoyable for all. |
We look forward to seeing the finished artwork displayed and celebrating everyone who took part.
Hearing from the Stevenage Community
We were delighted by the feedback visitors shared throughout the weekend. It was particularly encouraging to hear people asking for more opportunities to celebrate culture locally.
One visitor told us:
“The school mentioned this event in their newsletter and I'm so glad it is happening.”
It was lovely to know that the event had reached families through local school communications and that people were pleased to see this kind of celebration taking place in Stevenage.
Another visitor shared their enthusiasm for getting involved in the future:
“I would love to be involved in this and will sign up to volunteer. It's created such a lovely atmosphere.”
Hearing that someone wants to give their time to help is particularly special. We rely on people who are willing to share their skills, ideas and enthusiasm to help bring these events to life.
Independent Businesses at the Heart of the Weekend
The handcrafted independent traders are a vital part of our cultural celebrations. They bring their talent, creativity, knowledge and personal stories into the space, giving visitors the chance to discover products and services they may not find on the high street.
From jewellery and gifts to beauty, fashion, crafts, books and food, the marketplace offered plenty to explore while giving visitors an opportunity to support the people behind the businesses.
We were pleased to see visitors browsing, making purchases and taking an interest in what our traders had to offer. Every conversation and sale helps independent businesses reach new people and build recognition.
A big thank you to all the traders who joined us in Stevenage. We appreciate you being part of our first event in the town.
The People and Support Behind the Weekend
Events like this take a team effort. From the volunteers organising the details to the performers, traders, centre team and funders, everyone has a part to play.
As a volunteer-led CIC, we put considerable time and effort into planning and delivering the cultural celebrations. We are passionate about making these experiences available to local communities, and we recognise how important support and collaboration are in making them happen.
Looking Ahead
Our first Stevenage event was an encouraging step non-profit organisation. It gave us the opportunity to meet a new audience, work with Westgate Stevenage, introduce visitors to independent businesses and share cultural experiences in a busy public space.
The feedback reinforced how much people value opportunities to come together, learn about different cultures and enjoy activities as a community. We were particularly pleased to hear visitors asking for more events like this in Stevenage.
Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC will continue exploring opportunities to bring cultural celebrations, exhibitions, pop-up markets and workshops to communities across Hertfordshire.
If you are a local business, performer, artist, community group or someone who would like to volunteer, we'd love to hear from you. You might have a cultural tradition to share, a skill to offer, an idea for an activity or simply the enthusiasm to help, email us at: hatfieldculturalconnection@gmail.com
Thank You, Stevenage!
To everyone who visited us at Westgate Stevenage; thank you for supporting our traders and making our first Stevenage Black History Month Cultural Pop-Up Market and Workshop Weekend such a welcoming experience; we're left with wonderful memories, new connections and plenty of encouragement for the future.
Black History Month may be celebrated in October, but culture, heritage and the stories we share deserve to be celebrated all year round.
