Grown Up in Brent is a new exhibition by the Museum of Youth Culture delving into the everyday memories of being young in Brent, told through photographs, stories and objects submitted by the public. Collected during a national lockdown, in the midst of a pandemic, these memories chronicle the highs and lows of teen life from the baby boomers to the class of COVID-19.
The exhibition explores the social history of Brent through the estates we live on, the histories of our parents and grandparents, and the scenes and sounds that defined our youth.
Do you remember preparing for your first Notting Hill Carnival? Were your Saturdays spent at the cinemas in Kilburn? Did you race past the Ace Cafe at 100 miles per hour?
Press play on some of the oral histories as you explore the different galleries...
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'I feel that that was a big part of my growing up, it was knowing that you had these key people, and you kind of looked up to them, and everyone knew them'
'it was great, there was a real sense of freedom and community and safeness.'
'I love being able to connect with people share ideas, discuss things and the Queen's Park gave me that and I'm really thanking them for it really because I don't think I'd be the person I am now.'
'There was always an auntie or cousin who wasn't too far away, who'd be around to feed you jollof rice if you wanted it, or to help you do your hair or something. So it was quite like a nice community spirit'
Hanging out
'we've had some big names player on stage and that's been their life goal is to DJ at the carnival, but yet they will DJ to crowds of 30-40,000 but their dream has been to DJ our sound system'
'The social club attached to the church used to be packed, actually packed on a Friday and Saturday night'
'Some people would hire out like the community center. And they would lay out loads of different tables, they might have like a Nigerian band, and then everyone would be serving jollof rice, or fried rice and chicken and plantain. And all the aunties would congregate. And then the kids would play together sort of on the side of the hall or in their own little section, like trying to get away from their parents.'
'It was a natural progression that these house parties that started springing up, became house parties that had previously been soundsystem block parties. Now they were slightly more accessible to people like me'
Grown Up in Brent is part of Brent 2020, London Borough of Culture, and supported by the Brent Museum and Archives.
The exhibition is at Kilburn Library, 42 Salusbury Rd, NW6 6NN
June 4th - August 1st 2021
part of brent 2020, London borough of culture & supported by brent museum and archives
