York Castle Museum
19th June – 1 November 2024
Included in general admission ticket
Our touring exhibition ‘Objeks & Tings: Celebrating 75 Years of Caribbean Culture’ launches at York Castle Museum today – just in time for Windrush Day on 22 June.
The exhibition shares the precious stories of 184 Caribbean elders through 70 everyday objects and experiences, familiar to both Caribbean and British life. Alongside the thought-provoking display of items exploring everything from food and beauty, to music, games, books and more, visitors to the exhibition will hear new stories collected by us, which reflect people’s everyday experience of being Caribbean in York, and the wider UK.
Catherine Ross, our Founder and Director explained:
“We are so elated to bring ‘Objeks & Tings’ to York. As aspects of Caribbean culture are so entwined with British culture and Yorkshire’s cultural traditions especially, this leg of our tour across the UK is particularly exciting for us.
“We hope to eke out more stories from people of the Caribbean diaspora and others that know about the islands and their peoples. Together with York Museums Trust, we hope from our time in York, we will be able to add new stories and information from people of the Caribbean diaspora in York and the surrounding areas to the growing archive of the Caribbean presence and contribution to British life.”
Philip Newton, Community Participation Manager
at York Museums Trust adds:
“What an insight into the lives of this generation this exhibition gives us. Little pieces of the Caribbean which arrived on the landing of SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks on 22 June 1948, carrying passengers from the Caribbean who had been invited by Britain to help with post-war construction.
“These items continued to play a part in the new lives that this generation embarked upon, passing them down to their children and incorporating into British identity too. The title, and interpretation, has a nod to patois, a traditional form of language for many Caribbeans, with ‘objeks and tings’ referring to the things that Caribbeans, especially those of the Windrush Generation, hold dear and are important to them.
“We are really proud to collaborate with Museumand and delighted to bring this gem of an exhibition to York Castle Museum where it’s ethos and inspiration fits well within our displays.”