York Castle Museum is proud to host “Objeks & Tings,” an extraordinary exhibition celebrating 75 years of Caribbean culture. This exhibition, presented by Museumand The National Caribbean Heritage Museum, opens today, June 19, 2024, showcasing 70 everyday items that connect us to the Windrush Generation.
These objects, combining familiarity and practicality, have been passed down through generations, making them treasures of cultural heritage.
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Celebrating Windrush Day
The timing of the exhibition is particularly poignant as Windrush Day, celebrated on Saturday, June 22, falls within its first week.
This day honors the British Caribbean community and their significant contributions to British society since the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks on June 22, 1948.
A Unique Traveling Exhibition
Founded by the dynamic mother-daughter duo Catherine Ross and Lynda Burrell, Museumand has created this unique traveling exhibition to share more about the Windrush Generation and their descendants. “Objeks & Tings” offers a glimpse into their experiences and lives through cooking and household goods, food packaging, beauty supplies, funeral items, music, games, books, newspapers, and more.
Accompanying the exhibition is a hardback book by Catherine and Lynda, available in the York Castle Museum shop, and a fantastic podcast.
Insights and Stories
Catherine Ross, Founder Director at Museumand, expressed her excitement about the exhibition’s opening in York.
“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.”
A Collaboration of Cultures
Philip Newton, Community Participation Manager at York Museums Trust, added,
“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 its ethos and inspiration fits well within our displays.”
Exhibition Details
“Objeks & Tings” runs from June 19, 2024, until November 1, 2024, at the York Castle Museum. The museum is open Monday from 11am to 5pm and Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Tickets are priced at £17 per adult and £10.20 per child, with concessions available. Ticket validity is for 12 months, and children of York residents can enter for free.
For more details about the York Castle Museum, visit York Castle Museum.
For more information about Museumand The National Caribbean Heritage Museum, visit Museumand.
