Project 4.1 Project Background 

Black Heritage in Northern Ireland: The Hidden History Project is a major National Lottery Heritage Fund supported initiative led by NWMF. The delivery phase runs from 1 June 2024 to 22 October 2027. The  project received a delivery grant award of £497,189 towards total delivery costs of £619,037. 

The current project builds on a previous development phase involving archival research and oral-history  collection. This delivery phase is designed to uncover, preserve, interpret, celebrate and widely disseminate  the often-overlooked histories and contributions of Black people, particularly people of African and  Caribbean descent, to Northern Ireland. 

The project uses tangible and intangible heritage, including archival material, oral histories, community  memories, traditions, places, objects and contemporary voices, to broaden understanding of Northern  Ireland’s heritage and challenge the historic absence or marginalisation of Black heritage within public  narratives, education and institutions.

4.2 Principal Project Activities and Outputs 

• A moveable/travelling Black history exhibition, developed from archival research, oral histories and  community co-creation, including approximately 50 exhibition panels and associated digital/interpretive  content. 
• Community and educational workshops, with particular engagement with schools, colleges and the  wider education sector. 
• Annual Black History Month Summits in Belfast and Derry/other agreed locations, providing platforms  for learning, dialogue and public engagement. 
• Development of age-appropriate educational and racial-literacy resources for schools and educators. • Engagement with the Education Authority and other relevant organisations around curriculum reform  and inclusion of minority heritage. 
• Editing and interpretation of oral-history interviews gathered during the development phase. • Creation of a Black history map and publication/book, with digital resources designed to provide a  lasting public and educational legacy. 
• Training and development of volunteers/facilitators to deliver workshops and increase heritage,  facilitation, public-speaking and racial-literacy skills. 
• Engagement with academics, researchers, heritage professionals, Black communities, public institutions  and policymakers. 
• A second exhibition/content phase incorporating contemporary Black voices and communities. • A learning exchange involving educators and policymakers and a final project celebration/Black History  Summit. 

4.3 Approved Heritage Fund Purposes Relevant to Evaluation 

• Evaluate the project in line with best practice guidance. 
• Develop a moveable exhibition based on the project themes. 
• Produce resources for proposed work with schools. 
• Work with the Education Authority and other relevant organisations around reform of the school  curriculum and inclusion of minority heritage. 
• Consult relevant experts in development of project content. 
• Edit oral-history interviews gathered during the development phase for use in the exhibition and other  materials. 
• Create a Black history map and produce a book. 
• Deliver annual Black History Month Summits. 
• Ensure appropriate acknowledgement of National Lottery Heritage Fund support. 

4.4 Purpose of the Independent Evaluation 

The independent evaluation will provide an objective assessment of the project’s delivery, outcomes, impact,  learning, value and legacy. It should go beyond activity counts to assess what changed, for whom, how and  why, and the extent to which the project contributed to those changes. 

• Assess whether previously hidden, overlooked or at-risk Black heritage has been identified, interpreted,  preserved and made more accessible.

• Assess whether Black heritage is better explained, understood, valued and recognised as part of  Northern Ireland’s wider heritage. 
• Assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, empathy, racial literacy and understanding among audiences and  participants. 
• Assess whether the project has challenged stereotypes, racism, anti-Blackness and narrow or binary  understandings of Northern Irish history. 
• Evaluate the reach, quality, accessibility and learning impact of the travelling exhibition.
•  Evaluate school workshops, educational resources, educator engagement and progress towards greater  inclusion of Black heritage in education. 
• Evaluate the reach and contribution of Black History Month Summits and other public events. 
• Assess the quality and authenticity of community participation and co-creation, particularly the role and  ownership of Black communities. 
• Assess skills gained by volunteers, interns, facilitators, staff and other participants.
•  Explore effects on identity, pride, recognition, wellbeing and belonging, particularly among Black and  mixed-heritage participants. 
• Assess the quality, accessibility and likely legacy of tangible outputs including exhibition content, oral  histories, digital resources, educational resources, the map and book. 
• Assess evidence of influence on schools, universities, museums, councils, educational bodies,  policymakers and other public institutions. 
• Assess organisational learning and resilience generated through delivery. 
• Identify intended and unintended outcomes and provide recommendations for future heritage,  education and racial-equality work. 
• Assess sustainability and how project heritage, resources, partnerships, learning and public engagement  can continue beyond October 2027. 

4.5 Heritage Fund Outcomes / Areas of Change to Examine 

• A wider range of people will be involved in heritage. 
• Heritage will be identified, better explained and placed in better condition through documentation,  interpretation and preservation. 
• People will have developed skills. 
• People will have learned about heritage, with resulting changes in ideas and/or actions. • People will have greater wellbeing, including through recognition, identity, belonging and participation. • NWMF will be more resilient through strengthened skills, expertise, relationships and organisational  capacity. 
• Northern Ireland and participating localities will be better places to live, work or visit through greater  inclusion, understanding and celebration of diversity. 

4.6 Reach and Evidence Base 

The approved project anticipated increasing heritage engagement from approximately 1,000 visitors in the  previous financial year to approximately 10,000 visitors per year following the project. The evaluator should  test reach and participation using verified project evidence and assess the depth and quality of engagement  rather than relying on attendance figures alone. The evaluator will be expected to review and triangulate  existing evidence including quarterly reports, participation records, pre- and post-activity surveys, satisfaction  surveys, informal participant feedback, staff observations, Advisory Committee records, photographs, video,  interviews, social-media/public-engagement evidence, workshop data, educational materials and relevant  project/funder records.

4.7 Lot 1 evaluation budget and timing 

Maximum available budget for Lot 1: £12,000 inclusive of all professional fees, travel, expenses and other  costs, with VAT clearly identified where applicable. 

The approved project provides for an external/independent evaluation towards project completion. The  final project period runs to 22 October 2027. The appointed evaluator will agree an inception and fieldwork  timetable with NWMF that allows sufficient evidence collection, interim learning and completion of the  final evaluation in line with Heritage Fund requirements.