Culture And Memory

Bussing Out: Recovering the Forgotten Histories of Britain's Post-War Migrant Generations

Bussing Out is an immersive installation illuminating a vital neglected aspect of Britain's post-war heritage — the policy of ‘bussing’ Black and Asian children from inner cities to rural schools from the 60s to 80s, ensuring no school had “over 30 immigrants on roll”. A national tour of an expanded installation will go to six locations including cities where bussing happened. Through wrap-around activity we will expand the oral history archive of those who were bussed, recovering and safeguarding a critically under-represented chapter of social history. We will ensure memories, testimonies, and experiences of those affected are documented and preserved. We will embed this history within Britain’s wider diverse heritage narrative, creating a legacy through a publicly accessible digital archive and educational resources benefitting schools, researchers, and communities. We will centre the voices of this lived history, challenging omissions within our national memory and inspire more inclusive approaches to heritage.