From Brent Cultural Services:
This summer Brent Culture Service will be marking the 70th anniversary
of the arrival of Empire Windrush with an exhibition and a number of
themed events.
Windrush 70 – Brent’s Pioneering Windrush Generation traces the
historic journey and explores Brent’s Caribbean Heritage through the
eyes of its residents. Using a mixture of photographic portraits,
stories collected from residents, historic objects and unique artist
commissions it celebrates 70 years of the United Kingdom’s Caribbean
diaspora.
Intimate portraits of Brent’s Caribbean community by artist and
photographer Nadia Nervo offer an insight into their daily lives. Two
original poems by Malika Booker narrate the experiences of the
community’s first arrival in the ‘Mother Country’.
A commission by Mahogany Carnival Design - made by students from
Queens Park Community School, Harlesden Primary School and Alperton High
School combines tradition with legacy. An installation of a traditional
‘West Indian’ living room closes the exhibition representing the many
homes that have been made in Brent.
Since receiving a master’s degree in Art Communication & Design
from the Royal College of Art in 2003, Nervo has participated in
numerous group and solo exhibitions. Investigating the relationship
between photographer and subject, Nervo often works with strangers to
explore the nature of how connections are formed.
Zerritha Brown, Cultural Operations Manager and Artistic Director for Windrush 70 said:
It was important to mark the 70th anniversary particularly as Brent
has a large Caribbean community. The Caribbean diaspora is present in
modern life, with influences evident in fashion, music, dance as well as
the world of entertainment, sport and politics, yet still the story of
Windrush is not widely known. I wanted the exhibition to provide a
platform to showcase the stories of the Windrush generation.
It has been an honour developing Windrush70. We have met some
inspirational people and uncovered some truly emotional stories which
has highlighted the resilience, pride and courage of the Windrush
community who came here to strive for a better life.
Intern Assistant Project Producer, Kyron Greenwood said:
I already knew quite a bit about Windrush before I began work on the
project , I am of Caribbean descent and have a Grandfather who came
over to the UK a few years after the Empire Windrush. I am aware though,
that a lot of young people, even those who are of Caribbean descent,
don’t know much about this history and I think this project is a great
way to raise awareness of these moving and interesting stories.
The ‘Windrush’ generation were named from the ship, Empire Windrush,
which arrived at the Tilbury docks on 22 June 1948 from the Caribbean.
The passengers had been invited to come to Britain to help with the
post-war reconstruction. This event is often seen as the beginning of
immigration from the Caribbean that would go on to have such a profound
and lasting effect on the culture, fashion and music of Britain.
The people interviewed for the Windrush 70 project came here to work
in a wide variety of fields. Areas of work included: medicine,
transport, industry, music, construction, entertainment, sport, politics
and fashion.
One of the oldest participants is 97 year old Mr Rev. Norman Watson
Mitchell MBE. He came to Britain from Jamaica in 1955 to work as a Glass
Quality Control Inspector. His first home in London was in Forrest Hill
where for two years he lived in cramped conditions sharing a house with
fifteen other Caribbean migrants, his bedroom was shared with seven
other people.
Mr Rev. Mitchell moved to Harlesden in 1957 where he decided to
settle as he liked Brent and found the people “social” which reminded
him of Jamaica. His family, including his daughter Liz Mitchell who
would go on to become an acclaimed reggae singer and member of Boney M,
then came over to join him. He still lives in Harlesden and was awarded
an MBE for Community Work and Service in 2014.
More details of Mr Rev. Mitchell’s story and those of many other
Caribbean migrants can be discovered in the Windrush 70 – Brent’s
pioneering Windrush Generation exhibition.
As well as the exhibition Brent Culture Service will be holding a
series of Windrush70 events. The highlight will be Windrush Celebration
Day on Saturday 23 June 12noon-4pm at the Library at Willesden Green.
There will be an afternoon of free events for all ages including: live
music from St Michaels and All Angels Steel Orchestra and the Reggae
Choir, dance performances from Namron Dance and a specially commissioned
dance theatre piece by Impact Dance along with Caribbean themed face
painting and craft workshop
The exhibition will be on 21 June – 29 October at the Library at Willesden Green, entrance to the exhibition is free of charge.
Windrush 70 has been funded by Arts Council England with support from the British Library and Reggae choir.
For further information about Windrush 70 and Brent Culture please contact culture@brent.gov.uk
