New Nation

Monday July 7, 2003

Suitcases and Sanctuary Celebrated at Museum

Centuries of immigration will be celebrated at a special open day taking place this Sunday, July 13.

The Suitcases and Sanctuary exhibition will be held at 19 Princelet Street in Spitalfields, east London between noon and 7pm on Sunday, July 13.

The free exhibition has been put together by children from six primary schools and explores stories of immigrants, including the African, Caribbean and Somali experience.

The children worked with actors including film and TV star Colin Salmon (pictured with youngsters), poets and historians to the project together.

It includes a section in which the children have put themselves in the shoes of the Windrush generation and written letters 'back home'. The museum is the first in Europe to celebrate immigration and is housed in a former synagogue. It opens only a few times a year and needs £3 million funding.