Honouring the history of the Windrush generation, Bristol Beacon is hosting a programme of performances, exhibitions and events next week. It’s been 76 years since 492 Caribbean people came to the UK (June 22, 1948) seeking better prospects – which marked the beginning of thousands of West Indians arriving on these shores over the next few decades.
Across three days (June 19 – 22), Windrush To Bristol will showcase the incredible impact of Black Caribbean people on Bristol, the UK and the world. It will not only commemorate the extraordinary stories and contributions of individuals from the Windrush generation in the run-up to Windrush Day on Saturday, June 22. But champion a more equitable city for people of all colours, cultures and classes.
What is on for Windrush To Bristol?
Looking Back: with Karl Ritchie
Looking Back: with Karl Ritchie is an exhibition of images taken through the lens of one of Bristol’s Windrush generation, the Bristol photographer Karl Ritchie. Born in Kingston, Jamaica(1938), he moved to the UK in 1961 and settled in Bristol. This free-entry exhibition offers a small selection of his vast archive and reflects his interest in sport, music, art, celebrity, community and achievement.
Windrush The Journey
Windrush The Journey, a concert and exhibition by Pegasus Opera Company, is happening each day in Bristol Beacon’s Lantern Hall. Bringing the music of Chevalier de Saint Georges, Richard Thompson and Des Oliver to the fore, with words for the opera by Bristolian Edson Burton, the performance will honour the legacy of the Windrush generation with a fusion of classical music, jazz and blues.
For over 30 years, Pegasus Opera Company has celebrated, showcased, and paved the way for diverse talent in opera. Through Windrush The Journey, they will showcase a rich tapestry of music and storytelling that celebrates Black classical composers of the past, present and future. An immersive exhibition showcasing the work of Black British composers, photographs and local Windrush testimony, will also be showcased throughout the week.
Race Cards: A Blueprint 4 Change
Meanwhile, another brand new exhibition will collate Bristol people’s reflections and ideas around race, representation and resilience. Race Cards: A Blueprint 4 Change will be on display from Thursday, June 20 and is inspired by the activism of the Bristol Bus Boycott and the inspirational vision of Martin Luther King’s Dream. A new music track and anthem for change, ‘We Rise’, created by four young Bristol music artists, will also sit at the heart of the exhibition.
Race Cards: A Blueprint 4 Change is curated in partnership with CuriosityUnLtd, who launched #Race4Power in January 2023 at the people’s plinth. Touring Bristol with a giant card of Martin Luther King, this grassroots research project sought people’s answers to questions about race. The exhibition, curated by Julz Davis, will display 500+ responses and will inform the co-creation of a new grassroots-led manifesto on racial equality for the city.
Back A Yard to Beacon
In collaboration with St. Paul’s Carnival, a mini showcase of Bristol artists will celebrate the ongoing impact of the Windrush era on music on Friday, June 21. Back A Yard to Beacon will voyage through the key eras of Caribbean music – reggae, dub and dancehall – as Angel Mel, Rebekah Dinnal, Da Fuchaman and Texxus Redmoney, share music inspired by their heritage. The night will be capped by world-renowned dancehall artists Masicka & Malie Donn performing in Beacon Hall.
To learn more about Windrush To Bristol head to the Bristol Beacon website here.