Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASES - 28 April 2021

www.evewrightarts.org

Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories /

Opens From 22 June 2021

‘As I stand at this bridge and gateway, I feel the spirits of my ancestors passing through me, still I call to them and they answer’. EVEWRIGHT.

Following months of anticipation Evewright Arts Foundation (EAF) is delighted to announce Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories(TBWM) will open in June 2021. A special school’s event will take place on the 22 June Windrush Day. To mark the public opening of the installation a preview launch will be held on the 26 June. The installation will then open throughout the summer and autumn so the public can experience and enjoy the outdoor artwork in a Covid safe environment. Conceived and created by Artist EVEWRIGHT, TBWM is the first site-specific outdoor art and sound installation to be held at the Port of Tilbury in Essex and the UK dedicated to people of the Windrush Generation.

Tilbury Port is an iconic location which has an historic significance to the black community in Britain. This artwork is a unique statement memorialising the lives of those people who came from the Caribbean who carried their British passports proudly as British citizens with hope and expectation. They passed through this location as one of the original walkways where SS Empire Windrush passengers, in 1948 arrived. Although many arrived before 1948, those that arrived here were the first large post war wave of British colonial citizens to disembark from the passenger ship at Tilbury Cruise Terminal.

EVENTS

EAF will be hosting two special opening events in June 2021 as part of Windrush Day Commemorations, Estuary Festival Associated programme and other events to follow.

Windrush Day Essex School Children Event

22 June 2021

Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories will open from 22 June 2021, Windrush Day. EAF along with the Port of Tilbury and The Gateway Learning Community Schools in Essex will host a special invitation only exclusive preview for 350 Essex School children to visit the installation. (This event is not open to the general public.)

Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories Private View Launch

26 June 2021 / 10 - 6pm

The private view launch of the outdoor art and sound installation at Tilbury Port will celebrate the opening of Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories to commemorate the lives of the people of the Windrush Generation and the many who contributed stories to the artwork. The family launch day will enable visitors to experience the art and listen to over 25 audio stories on their own devices and enjoy a series of performances. Visitors will also have an opportunity to tour the main terminal on the day.

The launch day will be a limited ticketed event between 10 - 2pm and registration will be required. The venue will then be open to the general public from 2pm-6pm.

Further details on registration for tickets will be posted on www.evewrightarts.org and our social media platforms nearer the time. You can also sign up to our newsletters and follow us on our social media platforms to keep up to date.

Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Instagram EAF /

Public Opening Times.

From 27 June members of the public can visit the installation Monday - Sunday. Times (TBC). Please share pictures of your visit on our Instagram @evewrightstudio and @evewrightarts.

Location:

Tilbury Bridge Walkway Near Tilbury Ferry / Bus Terminus Fort Road Tilbury Essex RM18 7NJ

The site is accessible by Car, Bus, Ferry and train. The nearest Train station : Tilbury Town

Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories Art Installation

Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories is an art and sound installation conceived and created by Artist EVEWRIGHT. The first site-specific outdoor art and sound installation to be held at the Port of Tilbury in Essex and the UK dedicated to people of the Windrush Generation

The installation is an immersive visual art experience, installed on 432 panes of glass collaged with photographs, documents, original boat passenger tickets and memorabilia. The artwork is installed in an original passenger walkway 55 metres long. As you walk through, you can listen to audio stories about the lives of some of the elders whose images are featured in the installation.

This installation features over 130 people from the Windrush era and their families through photographs, documents and audio, telling stories in their own words of their arrival, the lives and families they created and their contribution to British society. This artwork and soundscape are symbolic and a testimony to those that arrived on SS Empire Windrush and the many that followed that journey to the UK.

This artwork is the fourth in a series of site-specific work created by artist EVEWRIGHT who developed the original Caribbean Takeaway Takeover an installation originally staged in Colchester, Essex in 2018, who took over and transformed S&S Caribbean Takeaway. The idea was to create an innovative and engaging art and sound installation in an informal setting owned and controlled by the Caribbean community.

We value the importance of our community telling their stories in their own voices. This installation shows how public spaces can be repurposed to share our stories and reach people in new and innovative ways. It challenges perceptions of where art can be experienced and enjoyed.

‘They were the hero’s that helped to rebuild the Great British Foundations which we all stand on today’. EVEWRIGHT.

We recognise the importance of Black voices being represented by us telling our own stories to deepen shared understanding of migration fostering a greater sense of belonging from people of many backgrounds. We will also feature some of our activities online and will keep you updated. Your comments and feedback are always welcomed. Do join the conversations on how we are represented, and how we tell our stories. Email hello@evewrightstudio.com

COVID-19 STATEMENT

We will continue to monitor and follow government guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing to ensure the safety of our staff and visitors to our outdoor events and other activities.

NOTES TO EDITOR:

About Evewright Arts Foundation (EAF)

EAF is an Essex based not for profit voluntary community organisation that works with young Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people to advance and develop contemporary arts, culture and heritage within BAME communities.

We are passionate to seek out, find and preserve valuable untold stories from marginalised Black communities. We will present them across multiple online platforms and settings in an innovative and engaging way to reach people from young and older generations in spaces and settings where they can experience art that is relevant to their lives. We value the importance of our community telling their stories in their own voice. Evewright Arts Foundation: www.evewrightarts.orgwww.Caribbeantakeawaytakeover.wordpress.com

Artist EVEWRIGHT developed the original Caribbean Takeaway Takeover to create Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories a new installation brought to Tilbury Port an iconic location which has an historic significance to the black community. This artwork is a unique statement memorialising the lives of those that carried their British passports proudly with hope and expectation as they passed through the original walkway where SS Empire Windrush passengers, in 1948 arrived. They were the first post war wave of British colonial citizens to disembark from the passenger ship at Tilbury Cruise Terminal.

Artist EVEWRIGHT

Everton Wright (EVEWRIGHT), a Black British artist, uses a diverse range of media spanning moving-image, drawing, performance, painting and sculpture. Influenced by his heritage his practice explores the relationship between the body, identity, Britishness, and spaces they inhabit in public and virtual realms. Evewright studied at Central St Martins and Middlesex University. He's exhibited internationally including Royal Academy of Arts, BFI (British Film Institute) and currently exhibiting as part of the Art for Life NHS exhibition ( May 17-5 Sept 2021) -Firstsite Gallery Colchester. Artist EVEWRIGHT: https://evewright.com/biog

Essex Record Office

As a legacy of the project the public can now access 13 x 30-minute edited audio recordings at Essex Records Office (ERO) in Chelmsford or online on ERO's website: http://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/ and a further 12 will be online from October 2021

Arts Council England

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. By 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish, and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billions of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk

Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council has developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19

Windrush Day

The Empire Windrush docked at the Port of Tilbury on 21 June 1948. However, passengers disembarked a day later on 22 June 1948 - hence why this has come to be known as Windrush Day.

Creative Estuary

Creative Estuary is supported by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport funds the Cultural Development Fund which is administered by Arts Council England. https://www.creativeestuary.com/the-project-overview/

Estuary Festival 2021

Estuary 2021 is the second edition of the large-scale arts festival that celebrates the lives, landscapes and histories of the spectacular Thames Estuary.

Taking place on the river itself, and along the 107 miles of South Essex and North Kent coastline, contemporary artworks, discussion and events explore and respond to powerful themes resonant to the estuary. Tilbury Bridge Walkways of Memoriesis part of the festivals associated programme https://www.estuaryfestival.com/event/detail/tilbury-bridge-walkway-of-memories-.html

Arriving by car.

From 27th June parking is available outside the bridge at the Bus Terminus/TRAAC Activity Centre car park, postcode RM18 7NJ. https://goo.gl/maps/ZdCi7kfKbfJjvY28A

Public Transport.

Nearest train station: Tilbury Town. Tilbury International Cruise Terminal is served by a ferry service (Monday-Saturday only) and can also be reached by bus. Due to schedule changes however, please check https://tfl.gov.uk/ for the most up-to-date travel information.

Contact & More Information

IMAGES

HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE

For press are invited to attend the school’s event on the 22 June for a special press launch or for interviews contact Ionie Richards Producer to register your attendance.

Email ionie@evewrightstudio.com or Tel: +44 (0) 8450 542 305 www.evewrightarts.org, www.evewright.com and www.evewrightstudio.com

Studio 204, High House Artist Studios, Artisan Way, Purfleet, Essex, RM19 1AS.

Tel: +44 (0) 8450 542 305.

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