AN artist whose commemorative exhibition of the Windrush generation at the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury has been vandalised has pledged to keep the artwork going and open to the public to mirror the spirit and resilience of those who arrived at the port more than 73 years ago.

The damaged elements of the exhibition will not be repaired, to highlight the ongoing issues relating to acceptance of the black and ethnic British community.

Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories is an art and sound installation created on one of the original walkways where passengers from the Empire Windrush disembarked. Those arrivals marked the first post war wave of people from the Caribbean who came to answer the call to help rebuild post war Britain.

Several of the 432 panes of glass where the artwork is featured have been broken, with vandals indiscriminately targeting the bridge, possibly using firearms.

The installation, which opened to the public earlier this year, was created by artist Everton Wright, whose works under the name 'EVEWRIGHT'.

He says: "This work has been created through the need to preserve the stories of Caribbean elders, from the Windrush Generation, whose stories and first-hand accounts need to be shared so future generations can understand the importance of the contributions they made to Britain.

"The work has received an overwhelming positive response from the public and those who contributed their stories and images.

"The feedback from the public are heartfelt knowing these stories where being told.

"In a recent survey 83% of visitors to the artwork said they would like the exhibition/installation to remain at the Port as a testament to the lives of the people of the Windrush Generation. Yet there are some that are actively trying to tear it down.

"Whenever a public artwork is vandalised there is no justification for it.

"As the creator of the art, I feel the attack on the bridge personally as a black British artist and as a direct first descendant of the Windrush Generation. However, I also feel it for my community who continue to be racially attacked and assaulted in all spheres of their lives from members of society who refuse to accept our presence as black British.

"This artwork is made as a celebration of the lives and endeavours of Caribbean elders, from the Windrush Generation.

"It has been created through the need to preserve their stories and first-hand accounts so future generations can understand the importance of the contributions they made to Britain. This work has received an overwhelming positive response from the public and those who contributed their stories and images.

"The feedback from the public is heartfelt knowing these stories where being told. Yet there are a few who choose to damage this beautiful work.

"This is a targeted hate crime targeted towards the Windrush Generation. Who themselves had to show resilience in the face of the racism and barriers many of them experienced. I intend to keep the damage windows in place on the installation as a visible reminder of the hate and bigotry towards those that are seen as "other and foreigner" that still unfortunately still exists in our society today.

"I am part of the next generation and we will resist those that wish to silence us. I will continue to create spaces through art for Black British stories to be seen and heard. It is only through education and awareness will ignorance and bigotry be overcome. They can break the windows but they cannot break our spirit and the hard-won unity that exists in our local community in Tilbury and beyond. Let the artwork be.

"Despite the antics of those who seek to cause criminal damage, the work will remain open to the public and the work will not be silenced. The installation captures the spirit and resilience of the many that came from the Caribbean through the images, documents and audio extracts. It is a unique site-specific art that resonates with the Black Caribbean and local communities."

Tilbury Port Police and Tilbury Port have said they will be taking action to prevent further damage.

The art work has been a collaborative effort with the support of Tilbury Port Authority, Windrush Day Grant, Arts Council England, Creative Estuary, Thurrock Council, local organisations and schools.