In the first week of November, QHS welcomed guests from queer heritage projects happening all over the country for a peer-support and skill sharing event. We discussed our shared passion for queer heritage and pondered: how can we best support our respective projects and communities?

Sometimes, working on grassroots queer heritage projects can feel a little lonely. We spend our time working closely with the community in our local area, and the histories and stories shared with us are reminders of the vast communal heritage that exists across the country. And there’s so much that needs to be done - listening to each other, recording our memories, saving them from being lost forever. So spending two days talking and supporting other projects like ours from up and down the country was a wonderful reminder of all the work happening beyond Brighton and the South East, and the inclusive and dedicated community of people who share our passion for queer heritage.

The two-day meeting was focused on building a network of support for those working in the heritage sector, as well as being an opportunity for projects and people to share their work and excitement. We met on Thursday evening at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery for a guided tour of the Queer the Pier exhibition. Led by Darren Kay and with a talk from Janet Jones, our guests got to see what a fully community curated exhibition can look like and learn more about Brighton's queer history. 

The following day, our group of queer heritage creatives (anyone got a good collective noun?) gathered in The Old Courthouse for a day of sessions and community-building. Beginning with a space for project presentations (which of course ran slightly over time!), we got to hear about the work already being undertaken and the work planned for the years ahead. The wealth of creativity and ingenuity did not disappoint! Our friends and partners are doing work that is important but also incredibly exciting. More information about the projects can be found at the end of this article.

A page from Margate Pride's 'New Rumours' zine, which was shared with attendees at the session.

We were then treated to a series of talks from Cesare Cuzzola (Queer Heritage and Collections Network), Sarah Wicks (National Lottery Heritage Fund) and Ceryl Evans (Royal Pavillion and Museums Trust). Following a lovely lunch courtesy of That Little Tea Shop in The Lanes, we regathered to brainstorm on a variety of topics: working with local collecting institutions; building equitable relationships with different sections of the LGBTQIA+ community; selecting and managing collections, including digital ones; fundraising and gaining support for our work; and celebrating LGBTQIA+ heritage in our communities through events. Discussions included our experiences of these different areas and getting advice from others on things we haven’t done yet. It was a valuable exercise in skill-sharing and peer-mentoring, with all of our projects sure to benefit from the communal help.

Our final session was a space for feedback and future-planning; how can we best keep this space useful in the future? What did we find most important about meeting and chatting? It was a space for reflection on the different elements of the trip that had worked, and to start creating long-lasting connections between people and projects. We all had individual skills that others wanted to learn (Margate Pride, for example, have some phenomenal zines that I want to learn more about), as well as experiences to lean on when listening to others and giving advice. The main feelings shared in the room were hope, gratitude and joy: hope, that the sector and our projects will continue to grow and inspire; gratitude, for having the space to share worries and advice or skills; and joy, in our sharing and creating, our love of queer heritage and our projects. And, as one guest summarised, the future of queer heritage is looking very bright indeed.

A word from Roni, our project manager:

Our aim was to bring together queer heritage organizers to create a space for learning, exchanging ideas, finding inspiration, and sharing the challenges and experiences of our work. When we planned this event, we anticipated encountering some interesting heritage projects and practices and hoped to exchange insights and learning. What we didn’t foresee was the incredible wealth of ideas and creativity, as well as the resourceful and often ingenious ways our peers are exploring and presenting this heritage — through innovative projects, unconventional approaches, and by challenging traditional norms and institutions. We hope to continue finding opportunities to share knowledge and create meaningful connections with fellow queer heritage practitioners in the years ahead.

Get to know the projects below!

Margate Pride

Margate Pride seeks to advance equity and justice for LGBTQIA+ people in all communities across Kent and beyond. Through their events programme and creative projects, and their on-going support of community groups and leaders, Margate Pride has continued to expand and deepen the engagement with LGBTQIA+ work across their area.

Their recent research project, New Rumours, sought to archive the experiences of those who attended Margate’s iconic early gay venues, Rumours and The New Inn, run by local legend Shirley Sullivan. The project culminated in a series of zines detailing the research and interviews, as well as a screening of a mini documentary.

You can find out more about Margate Pride here.

Downtown Pompey

Downtown Pompey is a performance based organisation bringing together a variety of local communities in Portsmouth, through queer art practices; offering a space to explore identities and understanding that everyone has a voice and a place to be heard.

Their new heritage project, Storming the Teacup, is looking to uncover and celebrate the hidden gems of Portsmouth’s history. Working with Portsmouth City Museum & Art Gallery, Storming the Teacup and the team at Downtown Pompey will create a brand-new archive spotlighting the experiences and contributions of LGBTQ+ folks and other marginalised groups.

You can find out more about Downtown Pompey here.

Hastings Queer History Collective and Trans Pride Hastings

The Hastings Queer History Collective are a group of dedicated volunteers committed to collecting, preserving, and sharing the queer history of Hastings and the surrounding area. Formed as part of Hastings Museum & Art Gallery to enhance queer visibility in existing collections, the collective have created several successful projects.

Their current three-year project, ‘Queer Stories of Hastings and St Leonards’, is working to collect stories and artefacts about Hasting’s queer spaces and personal histories to bring LGBTQIA+ history beyond the museum.

Trans Pride Hastings launched in 2023 and runs a series of events during the summer to celebrate Trans Pride. Working alongside the Hastings Queer History Collective, they bring queer heritage into the open and give members of their community an opportunity to get involved.

You can find out more about the Hastings Queer History Collective here, and about Trans Pride Hastings here.

We're Still Here (Blackpool) and Abingdon Studios

Abingdon Studios is a contemporary visual art studio and project space based in the heart of Blackpool Town Centre. They are currently working to create the first permanent collection of LGBTQIA+ heritage in Blackpool. The ‘We’re Still Here’ project, led by Abingdon Studios director Garth Gratrix and producer and artist Harry Clayton-Wright, captured stories from members of the community. You can listen to some of their stories on their website now.

You can find out more about Abingdon Studios and their artists here, and about the We’re Still Here project here.

Queer Kernow

Queer Kernow is a non-profit community project based in the heart of Cornwall. Their goal is to act as a conduit for LGBT history in their local area: partnering with local museums and archives to research this facet of Cornwall’s past and share the stories we uncover. They have recently launched a new project, KOMPAS, that connects Cornwall’s rich and diverse LGBTQ+ history with newly commissioned site-specific artworks by LGBTQ+ artists and a new interactive online map.

You can find out more about the project here.

Folkstone/Canterbury Projects

Represented by researcher Arly Bean, the Folkestone and Canterbury community have a rich offer of queer heritage work. Arly works at the University of Creative Arts in a curation role, and has supported a variety of queer heritage and creative events - including one at Fort Burgoyne.

Queer Heritage and Collections Network

The Queer Heritage and Collections Network is a UK-wide Subject Specialist Network that provides training, networking and peer support to people working with LGBTQ+ collections and histories. They support galleries, libraries, archives and museums that are developing public programming bringing LGBTQ+ histories and themes to the fore.

You can find out more about the Queer Heritage and Collections Network here.