Creative young people from the BAME community are being invited to play their part in an exciting arts and heritage project around Windrush following a grant secured through The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) Charity.
The Charity supports the Arts and Heritage Group which has successfully bid for a grant of just under £9,000 from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (DLUHC). It has partnered with Wolverhampton Arts & Culture (the Art Gallery and City Archives) and the Grand Theatre.
The project is entitled “Came to Care: Windrush and the NHS” and is aimed at exploring the entwined stories of Windrush and the NHS, in the year where they both celebrate their 75th anniversaries.
Young creatives are now being urged to come forward to lead this work which will peak with a public event at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on Windrush Day, 22 June.
Elinor Cole, Arts and Heritage Co-ordinator at RWT, said: “We are thrilled to be able to work together on a project that has such significance for both our city and the NHS.
“Many Caribbean people who arrived on HMT Empire Windrush went on to work in the newly formed NHS – as did many of their descendants. Today, the NHS is the biggest employer of people from a BAME background, with more than 200 nationalities represented in its workforce.
“Here in Wolverhampton, we are extremely proud of the dedication and commitment shown by our Windrush colleagues and it is important that their invaluable contribution is recognised and appreciated. The next step is to encourage young people from our black and minority ethnic communities to come forward to be part of this – we are looking forward to seeing what they come up with.”
The funding means that four creatives will be able to develop new works of art in whatever form - be that theatre, music, dance, film, creative writing, or artwork.
Amanda Winwood, Charity Development Manager, added: “The creatives will be supported with research and through tours of the Art Gallery and City Archives, along with workshops with local artists.
“This is an amazing opportunity for them to be part of something really special as well as enhance their skills. Each will receive £1,000 for their work and we are looking forward to seeing their interpretations.”
The Arts and Heritage Group was set up in autumn 2020 and supports projects which use the arts to enhance patient experience and increase historical awareness in relation to the Trust, its workforce, and the wider city.
Lee Rowley MP, Minister for Communities, said: We wanted to celebrate the positive contribution the Windrush generation and their families bring to this country and recognise the contributions made by all British Caribbean people in our communities.
“Bringing people together is a way to ensure better understanding and social cohesion. I very much encourage everyone to get involved in what’s going on in their local area.”
The deadline for applications is Monday 29 May at 5pm. Visit the Royal Wolverhampton Trust website here for details on how to apply.
