Revisiting the British Empire Exhibition 100 Years On

Local Voices Reframe the British Empire in New Exhibition at Brent Museum and Archives

A powerful new exhibition at Brent Museum and Archives showcases the work of local volunteers who have re-examined the legacy of the 1924 and 1925 British Empire Exhibition through essays. Developed as part of the Becoming Brent project, this community-led initiative uses archival research, oral history, and hands-on creativity to confront colonial narratives and reimagine how Brent’s imperial past is remembered today.

Through a series of reflective essays, collaged postcards, volunteers have created a bold counter-archive that puts community voices at the heart of heritage. Their work reveals how history can be reinterpreted from the ground up — not only in institutions, but in streets, memory, and lived experience.

The exhibition invites visitors to explore a more inclusive, challenging, and participatory approach to public history — one that amplifies stories often overlooked in traditional narratives.

Becoming Brent: Revisiting the British Empire Exhibition 100 Years On runs at Brent Museum and Archives until the 17th August 2025 and is free to visit.

• Time: Monday to Friday: 10:30am to 8pm. Saturday: 10:30am to 5pm. Sunday: 12pm to 5pm.
• Venue: The Library at Willesden Green. 95 High Road, Willesden. NW10 2SF.

Please feedback too. Your input is invaluable as we work to create a dynamic, inclusive, and thought-provoking initiative called, Becoming Brent.