The Midlands region is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush into Tilbury Docks with a series of events spread across the summer.
The events to mark the milestone include dance and music workshops, history talks, art exhibitions, storytelling sessions and performances at various venues.
Today is Windrush Day 2023 and to mark the occasion, and to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of West Indian migrants who travelled via ship – the HMT Empire Windrush – in June 1948, a series of special events will take place across the Midlands.
Those courageous people abroad HMT Empire Windrush, hailing from the Caribbean including Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica – many of them highly skilled and with qualifications – answered the British government’s call to help rebuild the nation after World War Two.
These intrepid and hardworking people were employed in many sectors including the NHS, public transport, construction and manufacture, and in the coal and steel industries.
Their contribution to help rebuild and get the UK back on its feet is often marginalised or airbrushed out of the social and economic history of this nation.
The events announced to celebrate the 75th anniversary will give people a chance to see the contribution made by the Windrush generation through a series of celebratory and educational events.
- Flow Fusion open dance workshops Mondays, 8:10pm to 9:10pm until 31 August 2023. Open Caribbean and Contemporary Jazz Dance Workshops in the heart of Birmingham
- A Generational Groove (details to be confirmed) June, July and August. A multigenerational music event
- Windrush Day 75: Lunch and Music event Thursday 22 June 2023. Lunch and live music with Birmingham Museums Trust
- Their Journey, Our Heritage Project Launch: Windrush 75 Thursday 22 June 2023. Launch event for the OSCAR Birmingham Windrush project ‘Their Journey, Our Heritage’
- Windrush Saturday Summer School Programme Music Workshop Weekly 22 June to 17 August 2023. Summer School Music Workshop
- Windrush stories Thursday 22 June 2023. Bringing Windrush elders and young people together
- Windrush 75 community event Thursday 22 June 2023. An information and social event for the whole Nechells community
- Leaning into the Wind exhibition Daily during the Library of Birmingham’s opening times 22 June to 26 August 2023. Art exhibition to celebrate and explore Windrush 75
- My grandparents, my parents and I. Daily 22 to 23 June 2023. Original stage production
- Windrush jewellery month Daily 22 June to 22 July 2023. Celebrate, educate and raise awareness of the contribution of African Caribbean jewellers to the British Jewellery trade
- Shades of Black and Friction Arts: Leaning into the Wind exhibition Saturday 24 June 2023. Art exhibition to celebrate and explore Windrush 75 – talk and question and answer
- Windrush 75 – Black Country Living Museum Saturday 24 June. Immersive stories commemorating the Windrush migration
- DANCERUSH 2023 Saturday 24 June 2023. Dance event to celebrate Windrush
- Windrush Day 75: Stories and Crafts Saturday 24 June 2023. Arts, crafts and storytelling with Birmingham Museums Trust
- Windrush celebration event Monday 26 June 2023. Warwickshire County Cricket Club are celebrating Windrush 75 with a cricketing twist
- Celebrating 75 anniversary of Windrush Friday 30 June 2023. Film and documentary
- Windrush conversations Friday 30 June 2023. Remember, celebrate and share memories of the Windrush experience
- Celebrating 75 anniversary of Windrush Saturday 1 July 2023. Evening meal and entertainment
- Windrush 75 in Aston Saturday 1 July 2023 Meal and entertainment Windrush 75 in Aston Saturday 8 July 2023. Film, talk and afternoon tea
- Windrush conversations Saturday 15 July 2023. Remember, celebrate and share memories of the Windrush experience
- Windrush 75 in Aston Saturday 29 July 2023. Fun in the park with artists and entertainment
- Their Journey Our Legacy Saturday 29 July 2023. ‘Their Journey Our Legacy’ organised by the West Indian Chaplaincy
- Family fun day Saturday 29 July 2023. Seaside family fun day
- Windrush conversations Saturday 5th August 2023. Remember, celebrate and share memories the Windrush experience
- Good Vibrations mini Caribbean festival Wednesday 9 August 2023. Dementia-friendly steel pan troupe performance
- Windrush Celebration Evening with The Notebenders Big Band Saturday 19 August 2023. Evening celebration of Windrush through music
- Amazing Grace Saturday 19 August 2023. Recordings of personal experiences of Windrush
- Untold stories of the Windrush generation. Sunday 20 August 2023. Celebrating Windrush stories through a live performance
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