Two locally based organisations – the Brixton Project and Pegasus Opera – are among 28 to get government funding this year for events around Windrush Day – 22 June.
Announcement of the funds came after the second annual Windrush Scandal vigil in Windrush Square on Saturday (6 April) when speakers once again highlighted the injustice of the Windrush Scandal and the continuing failure of the government compensation scheme.
Nearly half a million pounds worth of grants from the government’s Windrush Day scheme will enable community organisations to mount arts, educational and sporting projects to commemorate the Windrush Generation between 8 June and 21 August.
The Brixton Project gets £29,280 to organise “Procession” bringing together diverse communities “in a shared celebration that cements the histories, experiences and voices of the Windrush generation in the fabric of British heritage”.
From the deep air raid shelters at Clapham Common, which housed many of the Windrush pioneers on their arrival, to Brixton’s Windrush Square, Procession will follow the journey from that first temporary accommodation to the site of what was the “labour exchange” on Coldharbour Lane.
Built by the community with the support of local artists, Procession “will harnesses the traditional spirit of carnival with art, theatre and music telling the Windrush story through connected themes: ancestry, island life, building Britain, carnival, and future”.
Pegasus Opera Company gets £17,194 for The Legacy and Hope Windrush anniversary concert series fostering community cohesion by bringing together inter-generational communities across London and Bedford to celebrate the Windrush legacy through musical performances inspired by the Caribbean diaspora.
The concert series will take place during June, including an “opera flash mob” on 22 June as part of the Lambeth Procession to commemorate National Windrush Day.
Professional artists, amateur performers and community audiences will be educated on the Windrush story and the musical contributions of the Windrush generation while celebrating their shared identity and creating lasting memories through musicmaking.
Minister for communities Baroness Swinburne said: “The arrival of Windrush symbolises resilience, diversity, and the invaluable contributions of Caribbean communities to British society.
“I’m proud to announce a further £480,000 for a variety of projects that honour this legacy, preserve our history, educate future generations, and foster greater cultural understanding.”
