Windrush 2024
In 2024, the borough's celebrations took place at Hackney Church after planting three trees and a new plaque in Stonebridge Park. We also launched the Windrush Amplified Art Grant! Read on to find out more…
Residents at the Windrush Day event at Hackney Church.
Hosted by Hackney Star Juliet Coley, it was a full-on day for all the family. Residents were treated to live music from Ja Bunny’s All Star Band, One Drum Foundation, DJ Chicken, Baby Broadway Gospel and top acts from the Hackney Music Service. Hackney’s own superstar Poets Chloe Carterr and Amanda Inniss also graced the stage and speeches were delivered by Patrick Vernon, Chief Executive Dawn Carter Mcdonald and Cllr Carole Williams.
Residents at the Windrush Day event at Hackney Church.
Plaque unveiling in Stonebridge Gardens
On the morning of Windrush Day 2024, a new plaque was unveiled by three newly-planted trees in honour of the Windrush Generation. Community members and Council leaders joined as a minute silence was held. You can find the plaque at Stonebridge Gardens by Haggerston station.
Hackney’s Park team tells us that the trees are of the “Hornbeam” variety which, according to the Woodland Trust Society, means they are "Gnarled and mighty” and “as tough as they come". It also says they like “a sunny spot and together fill the space nicely”. An apt choice to represent the Windrush Generation!
Council workers and Windrush campaigners at the unveiling of Hackney’s Windrush plaque.
Windrush Amplified Art Grant
2024 saw the launch of a new grant to find and elevate an exceptional artist from the Windrush Generation. The winner was Wayne Snooze and his works ‘Stories From St Thomas’ appeared on various billboards throughout June. The series of screen-printed images of present day Jamaica are inspired by hand-drawn signs used in Jamaican shops and businesses which incorporate the same traditional screen printing techniques.
Wayne also hosted a special workshop ‘Island To Island’ where he shared his original screen printing practices as a way to explore stories of migration.
Artist Wayne Snooze and participants at the ‘Island to Island’ workshop at Hackney Showroom.
MP David Lammy with the cast of Wind/Rush Generations at Hoxton Hall
Microgrant highlights
Once again the annual microgrant scheme delivered a series of brilliant intergenerational events. 2024’s recipients included The Bop Hop day festival in Hoxton Gardens, a celebration of fatherhood at the Thank you Papa Awards, a documentary screening and exhibition charting the history of The Mighty Ruler Soundsystem, a stunning play and Q&A of Wind/Rush Generations at Hoxton Hall inspired by David Lammy’s National Day of Shame speech, and the All In One Boat art series exploring Polish refugees aboard the Empire Windrush*.