Saturday the 19th of June will kick off a week-long programme of events marking Windrush Day 2021. Organised by the Oxford Windrush Group, this festival of events will include theatrical performances, talks, workshops, exhibitions and more.
Saturday 19 June | See, Think, Wonder, Create
Templars Square Shopping Centre
Launching the week is a day of family-friendly events at the Templars Square shopping centre in Cowley 10am - 3pm on the 19th June. Drop in to ‘See, Think, Wonder, Create’ to experience taster workshops, story-telling, performance demonstrations, and even a carnival with steel pan, African drums, and dancing! Discover fascinating objects & specimens from the museums and gardens of the University of Oxford and share your own creativity through family-friendly arts and crafts activities supported by Museum of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University. No booking necessary, drop in throughout the day.
Friday 18 – Saturday 19 June | Still BreathingUnlock the Chains Collective at Arts at the Sheldonian Theatre
Still Breathing voices collectively felt fears, frustrations, fatigue, and anger at yet another black life being taken by a system that is meant to be there to protect. Through a fusion of dance, music, song and spoken word, these performances will explore a sense of hopelessness, deja vu, resilience and a renewed spirit of hope in the struggles for equality, justice and freedom. This project is supported by Oxford Playhouse, The North Wall Arts Centre, Dancin’ Oxford and TORCH. Free, Click to book.
Tuesday 22 June | National Windrush Day Windrush Lecture
Online
A prominent speaker is set to deliver a talk on Windrush day followed by a Q&A session. There will also be the opportunity to find out more about the Windrush compensation schemes. Free, click to register.
Friday 25 and Saturday 26 June | Belonging
Gloucester Green Market – part of the Offbeat Festival
Belonging is an innovative combined arts project that explores people, place, and identity. It will collect people’s stories and thoughts around the theme of belonging – what does it mean to belong? How do we know when we belong? These ideas will then be used to produce art that will be collated into a tapestry and writing that will inspire a new piece of performance, both works to be developed for 2022. No booking necessary, just drop in, open 9:30am - 3pm.
19th, 22- 24th June | Caribbean Living Room Exhibition
58 Between Towns Road, Oxford
At Templars Square in Cowley, you will find a pop-up exhibition with a difference! In 2018, ACKHI and BK.LUWO created a reconstruction of a typical West Indian front living room from the 1960s at the Museum of Oxford to mark the 70th anniversary of the docking of the SS Empire Windrush. Head over to 58 Between Towns Road to learn and hear more about the experiences of the Windrush Generation. No booking neccessary, free but donations welcome. Open 10am - 4pm each day.
To keep up to date with Windrush Day events in Oxford, follow the Oxford Windrush Facebook group. Click here to download a PDF of the Oxford Windrush Festival 2021 programme.
