Windrush 2022
On a sunny day in 2022, Hackney’s Windrush Artwork Commission was finally complete with the unveiling of Thomas J Price’s ‘Warm Shores’. See how we celebrated this momentous day and find out more about 2022’s brilliant community events.
On Windrush Day 2022, Hackney unveiled the second of their new permanent public artworks. The unveiling of ‘Warm Shores’ by artist Thomas J Price in Hackney Town Hall Square was celebrated with a Town Hall Square party hosted by actor, comedian, TV and radio presenter, Eddie Nestor MBE.
‘Warm Shores’ and artist Thomas J Price
The event featured performances from award-winning poets Mr Gee, Raymond Antrobus, Sheba Montserrat and KG Lester with music from Morningside Youth Steel Pan Band, The Reggae Choir and Kingsmead Dynamix Drumming and Dance Group.
What will you do for Windrush?
In 2022, Cllr Williams asked ‘what will you do for Windrush?’ to encourage everyone to mark the day in their own special way. Resources were created to inspire ways to celebrate and provided in a downloadable pack including Early Years resources designed bu Laura Henry-Allain MBE. Why not use it to inspire your Windrush celebrations this year?
Cllr Carole Williams standing by '‘Warm Shores’
Microgrant highlights
NuDawn’s microgrant funded event ‘Let Them Know’ with Patrick Vernon (far left) and MP Dawn Butler (middle right)
Microgrant recipients included a lively wellbeing event from Hackney Caribbean Elderly Organisation, an artistic workshop of intergenerational activity at Sutton House and a Caribbean Tea Dance hosted by Children With Voices. The Amity Project used the Friends of Woodberry Downs Windrush Booklet to deliver poetry and musical memories at eight housing schemes, and House of AMAU captivated everyone at their event ‘In a Rush to Where?’ featuring work from the anthology, ‘100 Years Unheard - WW1 and the Afrikan Diasporan Woman’.
St Michael and All Angels Church explored the relationship between the Jewish Community and Windrush migrants in a fascinating documentary, and JFB Jerk Grill hosted ‘A Celebration of Our Elders’ dinner and dance. NuDawn CIC’s vital event ‘Let Them Know’ - empowered residents to seek financial recompense in light of the Scandal and The Turkish Cypriot Community Association delivered a visionary event capturing stories of migration and solidarity between the Turkish-Cypriot and Caribbean members of Hackney between 1950-1974.
Windrush Stories Podcast Series 3 - Hackney Edition
Windrush Stories is a podcast launched in 2020 produced by the Prison Radio Association that features full-length interviews with members of the Windrush Generation and their descendants. In 2022, as part of the Windrush Artwork Commission, a special "Hackney Edition," was released featuring interviews with musician Cleveland Watkiss MBE, poet Mr Gee, community organiser Michelle Dornelly and artist best known for his ‘West Indian Front Room’ at Museum of the Home Dr Michael McMillan. You can listen back on the Windrush Stories site and access downloadable schools resources from the overall series.
