Culture And Memory

The Windrush Memory Quilt

African and Caribbean people travelled to the UK during the 1950s-70s helped to rebuild the country after World War ll. This generation's handicrafts are deeply tied to local customs, rituals, and identities. As this ageing generation (aged 65+) declines, their crafting stories, techniques, and knowledge could be lost. Crafts from Africa and the Caribbean hold spiritual and ancestral meaning - symbols of self expression, community, royalty and economic survival. However, we have noticed these original traditional crafting activities do not have sufficient documentation and are not easily discovered. We aim for our project to keep these crafting traditions alive: To gain ‘first hand’ stories and knowledge and display a handmade 'Windrush Quilt', designed and made by them, showcasing their crafting stories, techniques and memories. Our public exhibitions of the Quilt - designed and handmade by the Windrush Generation, will help to safeguard this important heritage.