Making Poverty History was an exhibition of  contemporary African that was held at HM Treasury as part of Black History Month in October 2005. It was sponsored by Barclays Bank and Allen & Overy and was organised in response to Chancellor Gordon Brown’s agenda to alleviate poverty in Africa through the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign inspired by Nelson Mandela. 

Through the general awareness created by the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign, the exhibition was an opportunity to highlight the plight of artists in Africa, giving an insight into the reality of their poverty, a true life expose into artists hardship and perseverance in a land of scarce art resources and minimal infrastructural support.

The exhibition was also an opportunity to continue to raise the voice of the unheard African artist. This was against the backdrop of the Arts Council’s Africa 05 programme which actively elevated the profile of African arts and culture in 2005.