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Black History Month tours

Past
  • Free
  • Gallery tour
Photograph of Isabelle Gapomo in a Wellcome Collection gallery space.
Isabelle Gapomo at Wellcome Collection, Steven Pocock. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

What you’ll do

Join facilitator Isabelle Gapomo for a series of five talks and tours on Thursday evenings throughout October as part of Black History Month.

Each session will take about 45 minutes, with the chance to ask questions at the end.

Dates

Past

Past events

Thursday 3 October 2024

  • Gallery tour
The body as a disposable tool of production
Information Point
Join Isabelle Gapomo for a tour of the Plantation section of ‘Hard Graft: Work, Health and Rights’. Isabelle will discuss some of the objects in the exhibition that illustrate connections between work, health, Black bodies and their objectification. Together we’ll explore how the plantation system served as a blueprint for using timekeeping to control workers, who were seen as disposable tools that could be replaced.

Thursday 10 October 2024

  • Gallery tour
Incarcerated workers and punishment
Information Point
Join Isabelle Gapomo for a tour of the Plantation section of the ‘Hard Graft’ exhibition and a discussion about incarcerated labour. Isabelle will explore the various ways imprisoned people have been forced to work and how these echo systems of slavery. We will draw connections with the legal forced labour that happens today and reflect on who benefits from it.

Thursday 17 October 2024

  • Gallery tour
Kola nuts as seeds of peace
Information Point
Join Isabelle Gapomo for a tour of ‘The Kola Nut Cannot Be Contained’ and discover the rich history and cultural significance of kola nuts. We’ll explore the nuts’ healing properties and their transformation into a global commodity. The event will be conducted in the ceremonial style of a kola-nut gathering, starting with a symbolic opening. Let’s celebrate the kola nut’s legacy!

Thursday 24 October 2024

  • Discussion
The toxic legacy of old industrial sites
Viewing Room
Join Isabelle Gapomo in the Viewing Room for an illustrated discussion about the profound impact of industrial sites on people’s health. We’ll explore how pollution from these sites can lead to chronic health issues, which often emerge long after sites have closed and work has stopped. Together we will think about the long-term consequences of contaminated air, water and soil.

Thursday 31 October 2024

  • Gallery tour
Medical advancements beyond consent
Information Point
Join Isabelle Gapomo for a tour of the ‘Being Human’ exhibition, where we’ll discuss the intersections of race, ethics, consent and health. We will delve into the complex history of medical research and examine how the quest for advancement has often relied on the exploitation of vulnerable people. We’ll talk about the broader implications of these practices on modern medicine and healthcare.

Need to know

Location

We’ll meet at the Information Point, which is on level 0, directly in front of you as you enter Wellcome Collection.

Place not guaranteed

Booking a ticket for a free event does not guarantee you a place. You should aim to arrive 15 minutes before the event is scheduled to start to claim your place. If you do not arrive on time, your place may be given to someone on the waiting list.

Waiting list

If this event is fully booked, you may still be able to attend. We will operate a waiting list, which opens 30 minutes before this event starts. Arrive early, and we’ll give you a numbered ticket. If there are any unfilled places just before the start time, we will invite you to enter in order of ticket number.

For more information, please visit our Accessibility page. If you have any queries about accessibility, please email us at access@wellcomecollection.org or call 0 2 0. 7 6 1 1. 2 2 2 2

Our event terms and conditions

About your facilitator

Photograph of Isabelle Gapomo

Isabelle Gapomo

Isabelle Gapomo is a visitor experience and engagement facilitator at Wellcome Collection, where she fosters critical dialogue and reflection in an inclusive environment. Isabelle has a keen interest in connecting historical and contemporary issues, including developing a series of talks that explore the impact of labour and health in Black communities and beyond.