696: Celebrating Black Music in South London
Discover the 696 Programme at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, that showcased Black British music in south London #BlackLiveMusicMatters
Roxanne - Showcase (2021) by Nick TaghaviHorniman Museum and Gardens
What was 696 ?
696 was a 2 year project platforming south London's live music scene, from Afrofuturist hip-hop to reggae, jazz and soul, curated by Adem Holness FRSA.
Afronaut Zu (2020) by Nick TaghaviHorniman Museum and Gardens
Form 696
From 2006 to 2017, Metropolitan Police risk assessment form 696 made it harder for London music venues to put on Black music events.
Thumbs Up! (2021) by Elena LedgisterHorniman Museum and Gardens
The 696 project focused on championing music genres, and the people working in them, that have been disproportionately affected by this bias in legislation. It asks questions about the relationship between public spaces and Black live music.
R.A.E and her DJ (2021) by Elena LedgisterHorniman Museum and Gardens
Gigs, Installations, Collaborations
The 696 programme featured live gigs, installations, collaborations, residencies, talks, specially commissioned works and a summer music festival.
Find out more about the Black British sounds of south London that took centre stage at the Horniman Museum and Gardens for the 696 programme.
Mya K and her guitarist. (2021) by Elena LedgisterHorniman Museum and Gardens
696 Festival
The 696 Festival offered a mix of free and paid events, with some shows both live and live streamed. Plus ‘pay what you can afford’ for some events with tiered ticketing to suit a range of budgets.
J hosting on stage (2021) by Elena LedgisterHorniman Museum and Gardens
696 Promoters
The 696 Promoters were a group of young people aged 16 – 25 who are passionate about producing live music events. For 10 weeks participants worked with music industry experts to produce high quality events, develop professional skills and build networks.
696 Resident Artists (2020) by Nick TaghaviHorniman Museum and Gardens
Resident Artists
5 south London musicians were appointed as resident artists to the Horniman’s 696 music programme - Afronaut Zu, DemiMa, Eerf Evil, Richie and Roxanne Tataei.
They developed an artistic project in response to the Horniman’s collection of musical instruments.
Music Curator Adem Holness talks to us about 696
"696 is more than a celebration of the music I love. By taking its name from the 2006-2017 Metropolitan Police form, 696 acknowledges the way in which Black British music has routinely been pushed out of public spaces."
"The Horniman was gifted to the people of London by our founder, so it’s right that our spaces and collections should be useful to, and used by, the people on our doorstep, including our local music community." - Adem Holness FRSA, Music Curator
Richie - horniman collection (2021) by Mitch AllenHorniman Museum and Gardens
The 696 Programme was supported by:
Museums Association, Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund, Youth Music, Lottery Fun, Arts Council England, Cockayne, The London Community Foundation, PRS Foundation's The Open Fund.
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