An evaluation of the Black British Ballet project, published today, reveals a successful national programme that has delivered significant impact for library services and individual participants.

Black British Ballet was a collaboration between Libraries Connected and Oxygen Arts based on the research of Dr Sandie Bourne into pioneering Black dance professionals. The project’s centrepiece, Into the Light: Pioneers of Black British Ballet, was an exhibition touring 25 libraries funded by a £245,500 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Oxygen Arts acted as the delivery partner for Into the Light, whilst Libraries Connected was the link to library services and provided project governance. Services made a small financial contribution to the project, in return receiving the Into the Light exhibition and a range of addition activities including the project’s flagship ballet show Island Movements.

Data submitted for the evaluation, provided by participating libraries, suggests 5789 opportunities were created to take part in a programme event or activity. Tens of thousands of people have also had the opportunity to explore Into the Light. Data from 18 of the 29 libraries estimates that 44,700 people engaged with the exhibition across these sites. 

More broadly, the evaluation shows that the programme engaged a wide range of visitors, audience members, and participants. These include people of different ages (from small children to older adults), people from different ethnic communities, as well as those with varying levels of ability in and knowledge about ballet and dance. An overwhelming majority of respondents to the main participant survey (95%) would recommend the Black British Ballet project to others. A library service lead said:

Visitors and participants commented on the pride this programme has filled them with to see the diversity of the community.

We wish to place on record our thanks to Oxygen Arts for their indefatigable work and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the vital grant which allowed the programme to go ahead. 

The full evaluation can be downloaded and read below.