In early November, 2025, B-HUGs was commissioned by the ESRC Festival of Social Science (ESRC FoSS) to put on the public event, We are, We belong at Positive Lights Projects in central Exeter. This meant we had the privilege of commissioning and supporting four talented youth artists to curate an interactive exhibition of creative contributions from young, Black heritage writers, visual artists, film makers and musicians that they titled Echoes of us. Over two days, the preparation for We are, We belong with the youth curators and the B-HUGs team working alongside one another, followed by the event and exhibition itself became a powerful display of creativity, collaboration, and remarkable teamwork.

Echoes of us featured work by 12 creatives aged 9 to 25 and the exhibition will be next be touring University of Exeter campuses. Our four curators, whose dedication and engagement were exceptional, each presented their own artworks ranging from photographs and paintings to drawings and sculptures and they demonstrated a strong ability to share their stories and express themselves artistically. They each organized their own exhibition wall, selecting frames, arranging fabrics, and designing the space with thoughtful intention.

The exhibition also included two large canvases celebrating Black heritage, focusing specifically on African queens. These works are collaborative pieces created by local Black artist Jedidah Chick Exeter with high school students in our partner schools. Vibrant colours, rich textures, and a youthful energy filled these beautiful, fearless, and empowering pieces, leaving us all deeply moved. It was a liberating act of reclaiming Black history, emphasising the importance of positive representation within Black communities.

Both the team and the public were able to connect and reflect on the artwork through immersive audio recordings of students discussing how the collaborative project affected them, touching on themes of identity, self-confidence and social justice. This reinforced how powerful representation is for young people, the role of the creative process for social justice work and highlighted the core purpose of the B-HUGs initiative.

The exhibition featured fun and interactive activities, including a Black-heritage quiz created by the B-HUGs team. As the exhibition was open to the public, the quiz served as a brilliant way to welcome visitors without any awkwardness or pressure. Response contributors received hair-care products, a reward that sparked even more excitement, conversation, and friendly exchanges among young people, some even managing to trade their way to an extra box!

Throughout the event we had our youth curator music playlist going and in addition, live music breaks brought young people, their families, the public, and the B-HUGs team together, creating a lively atmosphere. We were honoured to have talented Black female musicians, also university students, whose performances blended African rhythms and jazz influences. Their soothing voices and electric guitar playing added depth to the artistic immersion of the exhibition.

By organising this event, B-HUGs fostered a sense of belonging while celebrating creativity, identity, and heritage. Echoes of Us, We Are, We Belong also reinforced the importance of representation, community, and self-expression for young Black students.

– Pierre-Angela