Essential Information
| Location |
National Maritime Museum
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| Date and Times | Thursday 22 June | All day |
| Prices | Free |
Celebrate Windrush Day and discover your own Windrush connections at the National Maritime Museum.
Learn calypso dance moves, try and win a dominoes match Caribbean-style, reminisce, watch performances and take part in free creative workshops, talks and activities.
This event is one of two very special Windrush 75 celebrations taking place at the National Maritime Museum this year, marking 75 years since the arrival of the Empire Windrush in Britain. We're partnering with the Caribbean Social Forum, local schools and young people to shape the events, celebrating Caribbean culture and the legacy of the Windrush generation in the UK today.
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Event highlights
Live music A multi-school choir will come together to sing songs connected to Windrush and the Caribbean, led by community choir directors Ethno Vox. Members of the Caribbean Social Forum choir (pictured) will also perform live on the day.
Memories and reminiscence Take part in workshops designed to open up you and your family’s memories of the Caribbean, inspired by objects and images in the National Maritime Museum's collections. You can also drop into the Library to find out how you can search the collections to find your own Windrush connections.
Expert talks Uncover new research into the vessels that carried people from the Caribbean to the UK between 1942-62 with writer and researcher, Veronica Mckenzie. Hear from Carlston Walters of the Caribbean Family History Society, who will take you through simple steps to trace you family history.
Family history All are welcome to come to the Caird Library & Archive to view items about migration from the Caribbean and about the Empire Windrush. Search the passenger lists of the Windrush, find out more information about the voyage, and see the points of sailing and departure in our copy of the The Lloyd’s Shipping Index. Staff will be on hand to demonstrate how to search the catalogues and help you discover how the collections held here can help in your own research projects.
Creative workshops Teachers can take part in our free professional development session on how poetry can aid conversations about racial justice, delivered by The World Reimagined team.
Fun and games Watch or join in with lively dominoes matches Caribbean-style, or join a special dance workshop to experience Calypso dance culture first hand. Throughout the day there will also be family-friendly handling objects to explore and investigate.
Art and community Find out about local community heroes through a display of new portraits developed by the Caribbean Social Forum. Don't miss our new display of digital artworks, commissioned by current Practitioners in Residence, The Collective Makers.
About Windrush Day
On 22 June 1948, Caribbean migrants arrived in the UK on the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in Essex, their first stop before travelling towards London.
Many people from British Commonwealth countries travelled to the UK between 1948 and 1971, encouraged by the 1948 British Nationality Act that granted citizenship and right of abode to all members of the British Empire.
On arrival in the UK, people were often met with racism, lack of acknowledgement of their professional skills and very different living conditions.
We mark this day to celebrate British Caribbean communities and acknowledge the sacrifices and contributions the Windrush generation and their descendants have made to British society.
2023 will mark 75 years since the arrival of the Windrush. It is a major national moment to come together and celebrate this shared history, delving into the past and celebrating the present and future.
Windrush 75
Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the HMT Empire Windrush's arrival in Britain, and find your own Windrush connection at the National Maritime Museum
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Our partners
Windrush Day events at the National Maritime Museum are funded by Spirit of 2012, the London 2012 legacy fund. The programme is organised in partnership with the Caribbean Social Forum.
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