Culture And Memory

Birming-Strong - Our story, our contribution.

Simmer Down Arts (SDA) celebrates the UK’s contribution to Reggae’s global movement – particularly the unique heritage of Birmingham’s reggae and urban music scene – from the artists, venues and public spaces that pioneered, established and evolved the musical genres following the arrival of the Windrush Generation to North Birmingham in the late 1940s. This heritage project will share the important contribution of and the lives of Caribbean migrants that made Birmingham their home and that started families here in the UK after 1948. Audiences will step back in time and experience the local 1950s-70s homes, hustle and bustle of different families from all parts of the Caribbean islands. Young leaders will work with local communities to capture stories, pictures, artefacts, music, etc, to showcase in an exhibition, which will be presented at Simmer Down Festival in July 2026 and a local cultural centre in Birmingham, with additional materials online.