A new art installation has opened today at Bluewater shopping centre celebrating the achievements of the black community in Britain and highlighting issues around racism.

It comes after an incident where Cephas Williams, creator of the Portrait of Black Britain exhibit, was accused of theft by House of Fraser’s security team.

Cephas Williams is the creator of Portrait of Black Britain

"The concept of doing [the exhibit] at Bluewater was born from the incident that I had there", says Cephas.

"I cannot even watch the video back myself without feeling some type of way and what becomes really interesting is when I talk about how we have been represented over time and the power of doing it again and doing it in the same place where I was profiled because of the colour of my skin, it is almost a reintroduction to the black reality.

"I say in the video, the issue here is if I am not a football player or if I am not a rapper, then I do not exist to you.

"I probably stole it because in isolation of those two things and perhaps a couple of others, a lot of people are conditioned to see black people, particularly black men, as criminals."

The campaigner says he was grabbed from behind and harassed by staff who thought he was shoplifting back in June. He then claimed he was treated this way because he is black.

Cephas added: "Bluewater is a drop in the ocean to the interest around what we can do with Landsec security and is an introduction to a much broader conversation.

"It is me very poetically putting this portrait series where I was belittled, reduced, humiliated. It is me giving something back.

"This is the start of that conversation. The black community know we need much more than a portrait series in Bluewater to change the narrative and change the economic landscape and eco-system but this is the drop in the water for that conversation.

"That is the power of us coming back here."

Shortly after the incident Cephas met Landsec, which owns the Dartford store, chief executive Mark Allan. Cephas said: "After speaking with him, I believe the commitment to driving significant change alongside myself is meaningful and not insubstantial.

"When I sat down with Mark, I saw someone who was willing to listen, learn and really commit to the work, accountability and action needed to dismantle systemic racism.

"Launching Portrait of Black Britain at Bluewater is just the start of this relationship and I am keen to explore and deliver on other aspects of our joint aspirations for societal reform.

"Mark and I may not share the same lived experience, however we have a shared understanding and passion for the change we need to see in this area and as such have become peers of the cause."

The project features 219 individuals including members of the local community but Williams' goal is to grow it to 1,000, with future exhibitions in locations across the country to create the largest collection of photographic portraits of black people living in the UK.

The exhibit is a celebration of the beauty in identity and diversity, highlighting the achievements of the black community within the British society.

Landsec says its support of the exhibition is part of making its spaces more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

Mark Allan said: "As a business we place great importance on inclusivity, enabling our people to bring their true, authentic self to work each day and reflecting the diversity of our customers and guests in the spaces we operate.

"Working with Cephas and his team has given us the opportunity to listen, learn and importantly take action.

"Portrait of Black Britain is a celebration of individual lives, to have this second instalment launching at Bluewater is testament to the commitment of our internal teams and the relationships we are building to help drive change."

Cephas is also the founder of Black British Network which works to dismantle systemic racism and improve the economic prospects of black people living in the UK.

This is the second instalment of Portrait of Black Britain and is open from today until Sunday, November 14 at Bluewater.

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