Ferens Art Gallery announces new exhibition exploring Hull’s LGBTQ+ history

Ferens Art Gallery will host a new exhibition this summer celebrating Hull’s LGBTQ+ history and documenting people’s experiences of being part of LGBTQ+ communities in the city.

The exhibition will build upon an online exhibition that launched during lockdown and is still available to view on the Humber Museums Partnership website.

Pride in Our City will open at Ferens Art Gallery on Saturday 14 August 2021.

Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, chair of Hull Culture and Leisure, said: “It has been exciting to see the Pride in Our City project take shape in such an authentic way, putting local communities at the heart of the work.”

“I am looking forward to seeing how the upcoming exhibition comes together and how this important work will influence ongoing LGBTQ+ representation across Hull Museums and the Ferens Art Gallery.”

Hull Museums and Ferens Art Gallery have been working closely with local communities to explore the LGBTQ+ collections held in the museums, and the stories they tell.

Pride in Our City is an ongoing project which aims to actively increase LGBTQ+ inclusion and representation across all of Hull Museums and the Ferens Art Gallery. The long-term project will be developed authentically with local communities with the view to offering new experiences and perspectives, and to encourage discussion and self-expression.

People can keep updated on the project by listening to Pride in Our City – The Podcast. Host Dan Vo will be chatting with project curators, artists and community members about their involvement in the exhibition. The podcast goes behind the scenes and will reveal some exciting updates about the upcoming exhibition.

People can find out more at anchor.fm/hull-museums, or search ‘Pride in Our City’ on Spotify.

Lauren Field, community curator: social history and project lead, said: “The Pride in Our City project has been essential in ensuring that we are able to fully represent our local communities and provide an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all.

“LGBTQ+ narratives historically have not always been included in museum displays, and we are keen to acknowledge that these narratives do exist within our collections and that they are key to the history and heritage of Hull.

“Working directly with our local communities, this is an exciting way of working for us, and I am confident that the commitment, passion, and authentic voices they have brought to this project will be visible in the Pride in Our City exhibition.”

People can find out more about the exhibition on the Humber Museums Partnership website.

They can also follow Hull Museums’ on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where they will be able to keep up-to-date with the project and hear about opportunities to get involved.