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Enjoy a family day out at the National Maritime Museum this April courtesy of the friends at the Caribbean Social Forum!

This unique event celebrates the fusion of cultures from Africa, the Caribbean and Britain. From free masterclasses to fabulous performances on the Great Map, Saturday 9th April is dedicated to celebrating black history and culture in Britain.

Royal Museum Greenwich' partners the Caribbean Social Forum will be taking over the Museum for the entire day, inviting special guests, artists, musicians and more to share their skills and experiences.

Note: the National Maritime Museum is FREE, but you'll need a ticket to enter. Book tickets online now to guarantee your place on 9th April.

Performances and Shows:
Opening Ceremony - 10:45am
Hear from speakers and find out what's in store as part of the Caribbean Takeover Opening Ceremony.

Quiz hosted by Shaun Wallace - 2:00pm
Come along and put your knowledge to the test against The Chase star Shaun Wallace!

Grand Finale - 3:15pm
Head to the Great Map for Quadrille dance performances, African drumming and acrobats, as we bring Caribbean Takeover to an epic conclusion.

Creative Workshops:
Games Without Wires -  10:30am - 2:00pm 
Meet members of the Caribbean Social Forum and learn how to play African and Caribbean games.

Create a Craft - 10:30am - 3:00pm
Join in and make-your-own craft as a family.

Quadrille Dancing Workshop - 12 noon - 1:00pm
Learn the tradition of Quadrille dancing, a French type of couples dance that was taken to the colonies in the Caribbean and evolved into unique styles in many different Caribbean countries.

Silhouette Cutting Workshop - 11:00am - 4:00pm
Find the silhouette artist and have your portrait created using just paper and a pair of scissors.

African Head Dress Demonstration and Workshop - 11:00am - 3:00pm 
A chance for anyone to have their own head dressed or to observe and ask questions.

Printing Workshop - 11:00am - 3:30pm 
Join artist Ling for a printing workshop. Images of ships that have journeyed between Africa, the Caribbean and Britain will be added to material using printing techniques.

Ethnovox - 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Join in with an exciting and informative workshop, led by CeCelia Wickham Anderson, singing songs of African and West Indian heritage, that bring to life the joys and sorrows of the collective struggle for peace, unity and equality. 

Talks and Encounters:
‘John Blanke’ by Michael Ohajuru - 11:30am
Join Michael Ohajuru, director of ‘The John Blanke Project’, to hear about John Blanke, a trumpeter of African origin employed in the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII.

Character Encounter with John Simmonds - 12noon, 1:00pm, 2:00pm & 3:00pm
John Simmonds (1783–1858) was a black sailor who served with Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Developed with John’s descendants and using over 40 years of family research, the performance will take you on a journey through the National Maritime Museum, from Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle by Yinka Shonibare CBE to the Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery.

Walking Images: Character Encounters - 11:00am - 4:00pm
Encounter historical figures from the past and ask them all about their fascinating lives.