FAQs
Q: What is the National Windrush Museum?
A: The National Windrush Museum is an organisation based in Britain. Its purpose is to research, exhibit, publish and preserve the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Windrush generation, their antecedents and successors.
Q: What is THE National Windrush Museum Mission?
A: The mission of the National Windrush Museum is to develop a greater understanding of the lived experiences of Windrush communities, their stories and impact on Britain.
Q: HOW did the National Windrush Museum come about?
A: There are approximately 2500 museums in Britain yet there is no Windrush museum or building base that exclusively presents the legacies of Windrush pioneers or their descendants. This is unacceptable not least because of the many contributions these individuals have made to British heritage, culture and pride. This situation is clear bias and an example of institutional racism. Therefore we need to develop strategies to right this wrong.
Q: Why is the National Windrush Museum important?
A: The Windrush generation helped make Britain the success that it is today. Some individuals found jobs in construction, public transport, the health service, manufacturing and other areas. These jobs were distributed across Britain.
On arrival in Britain many Caribbeans were treated unfairly. They were paid less than white co-workers, had few promotion opportunities and struggled to rent decent accommodation. In many areas, black people in general experienced serious violence against them. They were attacked and had their homes vandalised as a result of racism. This and other factors meant that many Caribbean settlers were forced to live in run-down areas and live modestly with very little money. Despite this discrimination, the Windrush generation continued to work hard to maintain their families, and help build Britain, which they were told was the Motherland. Much of this racial discrimination continues today. Outside the annual Black history month most British museums do not present the history and narratives of Windrush communities despite their considerable impact on Britain.
Q: WHEN was the National Windrush museum started?
A: The National Windrush Museum was started in October 2021 by Dr Les Johnson. He is the founder and current Chair of the National Windrush Museum. Johnson saw there was no museum provision for the Windrush generation despite them having contributed so much to Britain’s economy, culture and infrastructure.
According to Dr Johnson, ‘Windrush pioneers were dying and as a result of institutional racism their history, hard work and contributions were being passed over leaving no legacy or evidences of their presence in Britain’. To combat these symptoms and the resulting invisibility Johnson felt that legacy had to be secured in order to memorialise the contributions of Windrush pioneers and the ‘children of Windrush’. The National Windrush Museum will become an important asset that documents, preserves and promotes Windrush cultural heritage.
Q: What is the focus of the Museum?
A: There is scholarship and historical evidence proving there has been black heritage culture in Britain for hundreds of years. In the World Wars, Caribbean ex-service men and women fought for Britain losing friends and family. However, despite this many responded to the government’s call to commonwealth citizens to help rebuild war torn Britain. Yet they remain disappointed because they have been treated with racial prejudice and hostility. Nevertheless they have persevered and endured. The period of history since World War II is the focal point for the National Windrush Museum and these studies, education programmes and exhibitions are placed within historical and global contexts.
Q: Where is the National Windrush Museum located?
A: The National Windrush Museum Team and headquarters is located in Greenwich London. However, there will be a number of regional satellites around the Britain including; Scotland, Ireland and Wales. We also have partners in the Caribbean.
Q: How is the National Windrush Museum Managed?
A: The National Windrush Museum is a not-for-profit company. It is managed by a Board of Directors, supported by Associates, an Advisory board a Council and Friends of the Museum.
Q: How was the National Windrush Museum development funded?
A: Collectively the National Windrush Development Team carried out research, focus groups and discussions to establish a feasibility study for a National Windrush Museum. Dr Johnson’s Foundation provided the seed capital for the NWM. It is currently funded through a range of sponsors, grants, donations and earned income which is reinvested into the museum’s programmes and development.
Q: What are the National Windrush Museum plans ?
A: The National Windrush Museum aims to develop a major stand-alone museum building alongside its Online Museum. Apart from its collections, exhibitions, research and publications it will establish an innovative delivery structure that includes; the National Windrush Festival, International Windrush Conference, the Windrush Awards and the Windrush Memorial Day. It also operates the National Windrush Society and Caribbean Windrush Society and works with university partners. Information that is generated through these entities is captured and preserved in the National Windrush Online Museum and will be re-purposed when the National Windrush Museum building is developed.
NWM is also working in partnership with and sponsored by companies, musuems and institutions to develop site-specific exhibitions, events and publications.
Q: Will you be working with OTHER museums ?
A: Collaboration and co-production are core aspects of our policy and strategic planning. In response to the many enquiries we are already working with other museums, local authorities, and partners internationally. We will prioritise rolling out our Windrush Museum Online platform to establish, promote, share and connect this information between various museums.
Q: Do you work with children and young people?
A: The NWM works with children and young people through education programmes, schools and workshops so that successive Windrush generations and their peers, can see tangible reflections of Windrush cultural heritage. Black children and young people need to see their history correctly reflected in British Museums, Galleries and Library collections.
Q: Do you accept volunteers?
A: Volunteers are welcome across a wide range of areas so please contact us.
Q: What makes you think museums in Britain are going to change and support the National Windrush Museum?
A: We are not lobbyist or legislators. Existing museums need to do much more to represent cultural diversity including representing Windrush communities. We partner with museums on a range of collaborations and initiatives. Eventually we intend to establish a series of stand-alone museums, pop-ups and musueum/gallery/archive projects of varying sizes around Britain and abroad.
Q: What is the Windrush scandal ?
A: Commonwealth citizens were affected by the government’s ‘Hostile Environment’ legislation - a policy announced in 2012 which tasked the NHS, landlords, banks, employers and many others with enforcing immigration controls. It resulted in making the UK unliveable for undocumented migrants and ultimately push them to leave. Many of the Windrush generation arrived as children on their parents’ passports, and the Home Office destroyed thousands of landing cards and other records. Some individuals lacked the documentation to prove their right to remain in the UK. The Home Office also placed the burden of proof on individuals to prove their residency predating 1973. The Home Office demanded at least one official document from every year they had lived here. Attempting to find documents from decades ago created a huge, and in many cases, impossible burden on people who had done nothing wrong. They paid taxes and had many evidences of their British citizenship.
https://www.jcwi.org.uk/windrush-scandal-explained
Q: How can I get involved?
A: We are currently recruiting Board, Associate and Advisory members. Please contact the Museum Directors if you would like to be considered. We are keen to hear from individuals in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and other locations throughout Britain.
Q: We want to offer pro bono work is that possible?
A: We welcome pro-bono work. Please contact the Chair or Museum Director.
Q: Can we submit ideas and projects programs for the museum?
A: Please submit your ideas. We have a rolling program and three-year strategic plan. In the first instance contact the Museum Director.
We are a new voluntary organisation and grateful for the massive support. Please bear with us as we get round to answering your enquiries, requests for involvement and thanks for your donations.
.