Arrival: celebrating Windrush and the communities who followed
It has been 70 years since the ship Empire Windrush arrived into Tilbury Docks from the Caribbean. Caribbean migration has a long history in London and Windrush is a significant moment within this. It precipitated future waves of post-war mass migration and has shaped our open and diverse identity ever since.
Arrival tells the stories of the Windrush generation and celebrates their contribution to life in London. It is a platform for the many people and communities, from Europe and the rest the world, who have embarked on similar journeys. Through events and broadcast, it invites discussion and offers advice for those wanting to know more. It also shines a spotlight on the recent immigration and visa issues affecting many Commonwealth citizens.
The Mayor will thank the Windrush pioneers with three special happenings:
'Arrival' event
On Saturday 30 June 2018, City Hall hosted a free event to bring the story of ‘arrival in London’ to life.
There were talks, music, workshops, film screenings and installations. The day honoured the Windrush generation and also served as a springboard for four key community conversations:
- Making the journey: personal testimony on reality for a London migrant
- Telling our stories: how we encourage discussion and preserve our stories for the future
- Windrush women: how they helped to create strong workforces
- Moving forward: what next for Caribbean Londoners
The Conversation Booth
Using Windrush stories as prompts, we launched The Conversation Booth at our Arrival event, asking Londoners to talk about migration in the city through the lens of arrival and welcome.
We are now taking the booth on tour around London, to gather insights from Londoners and about London's communities. This mobile recording facility will record the stories of all who come in and take part. Find out more about The Conversation Booth.
Radio programming
Our exploration of the Windrush generation highlights the impact of Caribbean migration in London. We’re working with Voluntary Arts and BBC Radio London to invite Windrush pioneers as well as Windrush descendants to tell their stories to radio audiences.
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