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Outdoor Display
Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
A free outdoor display shared the journey of the Windrush generation before, during and after arriving in the UK
Autograph
Rivington Place
London EC2A 3BA, UK
Following the Second World War, thousands of people from Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean were invited by the British government to relocate to the UK to address labour shortages. They, along with their descendants, are often referred to as the Windrush generation, after the ship HMT Empire Windrush on which the first group arrived in 1948.
In 2020, Autograph acquired a portfolio of 37 works from the TopFoto archives. We shared a selection of these in a display on the side of Autograph's gallery in Shoreditch, some seen for the first time. These photographs shared the journey before, during and after arriving in the UK, punctuated with the profound words of Professor Stuart Hall.
These important photographs, alongside their stories, are part of Autograph’s permanent collection of photography that aims to preserve the legacy of important narratives that have contributed to British history.
The display received wide press coverage including The Guardian, Metro, The Week Junior and EuroNews.
Journeys to Hope coincided with Windrush75, a nation-wide celebration of 75 years of the Windrush generation
We were able to publicly share important works in Autograph's collection of photography.
We created a new online gallery, featuring more photographs from Journeys to Hope.
The display on Autograph's building
Wet Welcome into Southampton Docks, 1961
Sunday Best on board the SS Begona, 1962
Train Journey to the Land of Promise, 1954
View more works from the TopFoto archives, now part of Autograph’s permanent Collection of Photography that aims to preserve the legacy of important narratives that have contributed to British history.
View Gallery
A project to increase access to Autograph's collection and ensure robust collection care
Find out more All images are from TopFoto, one of the world’s great independent photographic archives, since 1927. In 2020 TopFoto was awarded a Cultural Recovery Grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to protect their internationally significant collections. Find out more at topfoto.co.uk
Thanks to National Lottery players
Banner image: Some of the thousands disembarking from the liner Begona at Southampton shortly before the Commonwealth Immigration Act came into force. 2nd July 1962 [detail]. Courtesy TopFoto.
Display preview: All images are from TopFoto, one of the world’s great independent photographic archives, since 1927. In 2020 TopFoto was awarded a Cultural Recovery Grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to protect their internationally significant collections. Find out more at topfoto.co.uk
Other images on page: 1) Clapham South Deep-Level Shelter, London, 22 June 1948. Courtesy TopFoto. 2) Image of Autograph's archive. 3) Autograph, photograph by Kate Elliot. 4) Sasha Huber, Agassiz Down Under [detail], 2015. Courtesy the artist.
Autograph is a place to see things differently. Since 1988, we have championed photography that explores issues of race, identity, representation, human rights and social justice, sharing how photographs reflect lived experiences and shape our understanding of ourselves and others.
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