Arike Oke is a noted cultural leader, archivist, and curator. She leads the screen heritage and education missions of the British Film Institute, and the BFI National Archive, in the role of Executive Director of Knowledge, Learning and Collections. Her practice is rooted in social justice and the role of culture in giving strength to, and inspiring, individuals and communities. Formerly she was the Managing Director for Black Cultural Archives, the home of Black British history.

She’s previously worked in heritage across the UK, from the seminal Connecting Histories project in Birmingham, to developing Wellcome Collection’s archive, and co-convening Hull’s first official Black History Month. Her interest in supporting the sector has included setting up the BFI National Lottery Screen Heritage Fund, as well as serving on funding panels for Wellcome Trust, the Royal Society and the National Archives, assessing higher education research impact for REF and judging the 2022 Write on Art Prize.

Formerly Co-Chair of the Association of Performing Arts Collections, she has advised the National Archives, BAFTA, and UK government. She is a trustee of Iniva and of the Institute of Historical Research Trust, an executive committee member of the International Federation of Film Archives, and is a fellow of the Arts Council’s Museums and Resilient Leadership programme.

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