In the UK, October is the month which is observed as Black History Month. First celebrated in 1987, it provided an opportunity for the contribution made by people of African and Caribbean backgrounds to be recognised.

This month, our regular Explore & Draw sessions explored the Crossings, community and refuge exhibition.

Multi-award-winning children's author Onjali Raúf joined us for an evening by the Lampedusa Cross to talk about the real-life places and people who inspire her writings and works, and replenish her hopes for a world open to helping all refugees, and ending the inhumanities of racism.

An evening with Dan Rafiqi, Bert Portal and Tessa Murdoch discussing the first hand accounts of Huguenot refugees Suzanna de Robillard and Issac Minet as part of the Crossings: community and refuge exhibition.

The showcase event of the British Museum Spotlight Loan’s Crossings: community and refuge featured talks from Isaam Kourbaj, artist behind Dark Water, Burning Worlds, and Dr Jill Cook of the British Museum, curator of the Crossings tour.

A British Museum Spotlight Loan Crossings: community and refuge is touring the Lampedusa Cross around the UK. The exhibition at Rochester Cathedral is a focus for several talks and events.