Welcome to our official report on Paraffinalia – 75 Years of Windrush

‘Paraffinalia – 75 Years of Windrush’ was an innovative 5,350sq foot exhibition in a Huddersfield Town Centre shop front that ran over 30 days throughout June 2023.

The exhibition illustrated the local and national Windrush generations’ history, aspirations, and contributions, incorporating a fusion of exhibits, art, literature, and performance and ‘immersive’ elements in one space.

Curated by local organisations, artists, and community activists, ‘Paraffinalia’ showcased the creative ways history and storytelling can be conveyed.

It aimed to fulfil the primary goals of the Windrush Day Grant Scheme, educating visitors about the Windrush story and fostering a greater sense of pride and recognition for the contributions made by UK Caribbean communities.

‘Paraffinalia’ brought a range of local organisations, artists, and community activists together to create a bold, innovative, educational, and commemorative experience for visitors. For example, exploring the many creative ways history and storytelling can be relayed.

KLTV successfully led the project, working very closely with partners, artists, practitioners, contributors, and volunteers.

Partners included the Kirklees BAME Employee Network, Pursuit of Happiness, Kirklees Libraries, and Kirklees Museums and Galleries.

Overall, the exhibition was a spectacular triumph, attracting over 1,000 visitors across Kirklees, West Yorkshire, and the UK. The exhibition served as a platform to reflect, commemorate, understand, and celebrate the achievements of the Windrush generation in Huddersfield and beyond.

The full report is available to view below. We’d like to thank all the partners, contributors and volunteers who helped make this exhibition possible.

A special thanks must be extended to Niki Matthews, the finance and admin lead of the Paraffinalia-75 Windrush Exhibition Report. Her exceptional writing skills and dedication have truly brought the report to life.

We would also like to extend our thanks to Milton Brown and the other directors of KLTV, as well as the entire production team, for their invaluable contributions to the success of the Paraffinalia-75 Years of Windrush Exhibition.

Without their hard work and unwavering commitment, the exhibition would not have achieved the resounding success it did.

Lastly, our sincere appreciation goes to Edwin Baker and the African Descendants Forum for their leadership and the team of videographers who gathered information and contributed to the exhibition’s content.

Their efforts have greatly enriched the experience and made it truly memorable.