Various locations, London, United Kingdom
This June marks the 70th Anniversary of the pioneering Windrush generation and Brent Culture service will celebrate this through an exciting programme which includes a free exhibition from June until October and Windrush celebration day on Saturday 23 June at the Library at Willesden Green show casing Art Council funded commissioned works.
Exhibitions
Brent’s Pioneering Windrush Generation
The Library at Willesden Green
Celebrating 70 years since the Empire Windrush docked in the UK. An exhibition and display exploring Brent’s Caribbean heritage with photographs of Brent residents by artist Nadia Nervo. Experience a traditional West Indian ‘front room’ with our instillation highlighting items from the local community and Brent Museum.
22 June – 29 October
Exhibition Room
Free
Event Day
Windrush Celebration Day
The Library at Willesden Green
A family day event celebrating the pioneering Windrush generation with music and performances from St Michaels and All Angels Steel Band, Namron Dance, the Reggae Choir and a new commission from Impact Dance.
Saturday 23 June
12pm – 4pm
Free
Family events:
Caribbean rainbow face painting
Celebrate the islands of the Caribbean and wear an island flag with pride!
12pm – 4pm
Free when you borrow 2 books.
Caribbean carnival funky bowl of plenty
From papaya to star apples, guava and sugar apples, star fruit and sapodilla and much more. Get stuck in at this creative pottery workshop and design a bowl for all your treasured Caribbean fruits.
12.30pm – 2pm
Suitable for families with children aged 5 -11
Limited spaces so arrive early
Free
Caribbean fun family sewing class
Have a go at sewing inspired by Caribbean designs and traditions. Part of our Windrush 70th Anniversary celebration. Arrive early as spaces are limited.
2.30pm – 4pm
Free
Events
Come Mek We Larf: Windrush Comedy Special
The Library at Willesden Green
A night of comedy featuring Queen of Comedy Felicity Ethnic, Funmbi Omotayo, The Prophet Of Comedy - Kwaku, The Original Nutter Of Comedy - Annette Fagan and many more.
Friday 8 June
Performance Space
Doors Open 7.30pm
8pm – Late
£12 in advance (+ booking fee) and £15 on the door
Exhibition talk
The Library at Willesden Green
Q and A with Curator Shasti Lowton and guest exploring the development of the Windrush exhibition for Brent Museum and Archives.
Thursday 5 July
Performance Space
6:30pm – 7:30pm
Free
Discover the High Seas: Family Craft Workshop
Ealing Road Library & Harlesden Library
Learn about the arrival of the Empire Windrush and create your own Caribbean marine creature from the deep.
Monday 30 July
Ealing Road Library
2pm – 4pm
Free
Monday 6 August
Harlesden Library
2pm – 4pm
Free
Badge making: Family Craft Workshop
The Library at Willesden Green
Create and colour a badge, drawing inspiration from our exhibition ‘Windrush 70’ and take home your creation.
1 and 22 August
Education Room
2pm – 4pm
Free
Travel the High Seas: Family Craft Workshop
Kingsbury Library
Learn about the arrival of the Empire Windrush and create a colourful scene showing its journey across the Atlantic.
Friday 10 August
Kingsbury Library
2pm – 4pm
Free
Creative Passport: Family Craft Workshop
The Library at Willesden Green
Learn about those who travelled to the UK on the Empire Windrush and create a colourful passport to tell those stories.
Friday 17 August
Education Room
2pm – 4pm
Free
Caribbean Connections
The Library at Willesden Green
Join multiple award winning poet Hannah Lowe to discuss poetry, Caribbean immigration and what it means to be British.
Tuesday 11 September
Performance Space
6.30pm – 7:30pm
Free
The Ice Migration with Author Jacqueline Crooks
The Library at Willesden Green and Kingsbury Library
Gather with author Jacqueline Crooks as she reads from her new book the Ice Migration, a collection of linked short stories which draw on the migration of her Jamaican, Indian and German ancestors.
Tuesday 18 September
Kingsbury Library
11am
Free
Thursday 20 September
The Library and Willesden Green
7pm
Free
Songs and Stories from a Pioneering Generation
The Library at Willesden Green
Join us for an evening of conversation as we reflect on the impact of Windrush 70 years on. With guest curators from the British Library.
Thursday 11 October
Education Room
6.30pm – 8pm
Free
From Ashphalt to Maplewood floor...
The Library Willesden Green
Spend an evening with Namron sharing his dance/life journey through storytelling, audio visuals and live solo dance work. The evening includes an interactive Q&A
Namron OBE travelled from Jamaica to Brent then to Buckingham Palace. After arriving in Willesden aged 10 he took his first dance steps when he joined the Willesden Jazz Ballet in 1961. Taught by Madam Rambert herself, he went on to become a founder member of London Contemporary Dance Theatre and was the first black dancer to be employed by a British dance company.
Friday 12 October
Performance Space
Doors Open 6.30pm
7pm – 8.30pm
£8 in advance via eventbrite (booking fees apply) £12 on the door
2 for1 for Over 65s
Come Mek We Larf: Black History Month Special
The Library at Willesden Green
An evening of side splitting comedy hosted by Mr. Cee.
Friday 19 October
Performance Space
Doors Open 7.30pm
8pm – Late
Tickets £15 (+ booking fee) in advance £20 on the door
Caribbean tapestry fun family sewing class
The Library at Willesden Green
Have a go at tapestry, with designs inspired by the Windrush era. Suitable for boys and girls. Free but arrive early as spaces are limited.
Tuesday 23 October
2.30pm – 4pm
Free
Black Genealogy: When Black History meets Black Ancestry
The Library at Willesden Green
Trailblazing author and family historian Paul Crooks captivates his audience with an account of how he traced his African forebears enslaved on a sugar plantation in Jamaica, 200 years ago. Paul Crooks journey of discovery has brought him international recognition for his breakthroughs in African Caribbean genealogy research.
Find out how to start exploring your family history. Who knows? Maybe you'll be inspired to explore your Ancestry.
Tuesday 30 October
Reading Room
6.15pm – 7.45pm
Free
The Library at Willesden Green, London, London, Greater London, NW10 2SF
The Library at Willesden Green, London, NW10 2SF
