Biography
Ansel Wong was born in 1945 in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, where he went to San Fernando Boy's Government School (1953–58) and"I used my arts background – in Trinidad I was in a drama group and was a ballet dancer – to set up a group called the Black Arts Workshop to show young British-born black people how theatre can be used to articulate their experiences and to speak meaningfully to the young people coming up who were not exposed to black art and black theatre. My mentors at the time were some of the major Caribbean writers like Andrew Salkey,John La Rose John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...and Eddie Brathwaite, who were members of theCaribbean Artists Movement The Caribbean Artists Movement (CAM) was an influential cultural initiative, begun in London, England, in 1966 and active until about 1972, From 1974 to 1976 Wong was the founding Education Co-ordinator of the Ahfiwe School, the first black supplementary school that was funded by theInner London Education Authority The Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) was an ad hoc local education authority for the City of London and the 12 Inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990. The authority was reconstituted as a directly elected body corp .... Under the mayorship of Ken Livingstone, Wong was Principal Race Relations Advisor in the Ethnic Minorities Unit of the Greater London Council (from 1982 until its abolition byMargaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She was the first female British prime ...in 1986), where he worked closely with Herman Ouseley andPaul Boateng Paul Yaw Boateng, Baron Boateng (born 14 June 1951) is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Brent South from 1987 to 2005, becoming the UK's first Black Cabinet Minister in May 2002, when he was appoi .... He was instrumental in supporting the setting up in 1987 of the UK'sBlack History Month Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently ..., conceived by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, with whom Wong co-edited the 1988 book ''Our Story: A Handbook of African History and Contemporary Issues''. In subsequent years Wong was also Education Officer at theLondon Borough of Ealing The London Borough of Ealing () is a London borough in West London. It comprises seven major towns: Acton (W3), Ealing (W5, W13, NW10), Greenford (UB6), Hanwell (W7), Northolt (UB5), Perivale (UB6) and Southall (UB1, UB2). With a population ...(1988–89), and has held such public appointments including being the Chair of North West London Workforce Development Confederation, Chair of London Health Commission and Non-Executive Director of North West London NHS Mental Health Trust. He has been active with the Notting Hill Carnival Trust, Caribbean Development Trust, and has contributed to the Advisory Panel on Cultural Diversity ofEnglish National Opera English National Opera (ENO) is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with The Royal Opera. ENO's productions are sung in English .... He has worked in various capacities for intercultural understanding, especially promoting street art through Mas and Carnival Arts. The author of a number of research papers and other writings, Wong since 2010 has been Managing Editor at multicultural publisher Hansib Publications. Wong's papers were donated to Black Cultural Archives in December 2008. In September 2018, to mark '' Time Out'' magazine's 50th anniversary Wong was one of 50 people featured as helping to shape London's cultural landscape. Wong was appointedCommander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...(CBE) in the2020 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours for 2020 are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded ...for services to arts and culture. In January 2021, he was announced as the new Chair of Black Cultural Archives.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wong, Ansel Living people 1945 births People from San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago activists Black British activists Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Trinidad and Tobago emigrants to the United Kingdom