A moving new film exploring the legacy of the Windrush Generation and the enduring questions of identity, migration and belonging will premiere this summer as part of the Nottingham Art Exchange (NAE) Open 2026 exhibition.
Titled Here I Stand, the work is created and performed by poet and writer Ionie Richards, and directed by artist EVEWRIGHT. The film will be screened at Nottingham Art Exchange from 23 May to 12 September 2026, alongside a wider programme of exhibitions by UK Global Majority artists addressing contemporary social issues and cultural experiences.
Set against the powerful backdrop of the Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories — the historic location where passengers from the Empire Windrush first arrived in Britain — the film reflects on the emotional journeys, sacrifices and aspirations of Caribbean migrants who travelled to Britain during the 1950s.
Richards, herself the daughter of Windrush-era parents, uses poetry, narration and performance to trace her family’s story and honour the resilience of a generation that helped reshape modern Britain.
The film combines spoken word with evocative cinematography and an atmospheric soundtrack, creating what organisers describe as an intimate meditation on heritage, displacement, hope and survival.
Here I Stand explores both the opportunities and hardships experienced by Caribbean migrants who arrived in Britain seeking a better future for themselves and their children. Through personal storytelling, Richards reflects on themes of sacrifice, ambition, racism, cultural identity and intergenerational memory.
The screening forms part of the wider NAE Open 2026 programme, which will showcase diverse artistic voices from across the UK and offer audiences an opportunity to engage with exhibitions examining social justice, representation and cultural identity.
The exhibition is free to attend and open to all visitors.
Exhibition Information
Here I Stand
by Ionie Richards
Part of the Nottingham Art Exchange (NAE) Open 2026
📍 Nottingham Art Exchange (NAE)
39–41 Gregory Boulevard
Nottingham NG7 6BE
📅 23 May – 12 September 2026
🕙 Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm
🎟 Free Admission
Private View Launch:
📅 Friday 22 May 2026
🕕 6pm – 9pm
For more information visit:
www.ionierichards.com
www.evewright.com
www.evewrightarts.org