BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION AT TOWN HALL ARTS, TROWBRIDGE, OCTOBER 6th 2018
For a second year, Town Hall Arts will open its doors to the public to celebrate Black History Month.
This year the Black History Month Celebration will be a tribute to the legacy of the Windrush Generation. It is 70 years since the arrival of the HTM Empire Windrush which was carrying more than 1,000 migrants from the Caribbean who were invited to come to help rebuild war-battered Britain.
The free event will start on Saturday 6th October at 12.00 pm with the opening of the exhibition ‘Wiltshire Remembers the Windrush Generation.’ This exhibition consists of eight panels reflecting the story of those who came decades ago to this county: stories of leaving their birth-place, their integration and their identity. This project has been designed by the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre.
Traditional Caribbean food will be served from 12.30 pm and people can enjoy live music. There will be a crèche and activities for children will also be available.
During the afternoon, the popular female Quadrille dance group ‘JANUKA’ will be performing and encouraging the audience to participate in a dancing workshop. They will be travelling from South East London especially for the event.
At 2.00 pm there will be the screening of the classic film ‘Pressure’ (1975) by Trinidad-born director Horace Ové. ‘Pressure’ is considered the first feature-length fiction film by a black director in Britain and the first British film with an all-black cast.
Set in Ladbroke Grove, West London, an area with a large Caribbean population since the 1950s, the film shows the spirit of the 1970s through the life of Anthony, a black teenager born in Britain of parents from Trinidad and his struggles to find his way and identity in a white-dominated society. The film is suitable for anyone over 15 years old.
In addition, two short films will be shown prior to the screening of ‘Pressure’: ‘Hairitage’ (2016) directed by Aisha Sanyang-Meek, and ‘Beneath the Surface’ (2017) directed by Yero Timi-Biu. These short films directed for two talented young women, explore different aspects of black struggles from a contemporary point of view.
Seats are limited so those wanting to see the films should book tickets in advance online at http://www.trowbridgearts.com, in person at Town Hall Arts, Market Street, Trowbridge or by phone on 01225 774306. There is no charge for the tickets.
This Black History Month celebration has been made possible with funds from Heritage Lottery Fund and it is supported by the Film Hub South West through the BFI Audience Network. This organisation has made it possible to run a third season of the multicultural community project ‘Getting Together Through Films’ in October and November 2018 and January 2019.
The Celebration has been organised by a partnership between Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, West Wiltshire Multi Faith Forum and Town Hall Arts.
