'WE'RE HERE, WE'RE QUEER' extended by popular demand

Hastings Queer History Collective's display 'WE'RE HERE, WE'RE QUEER' at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery will now end on Sunday 3 October 2021. Alongside the physical display,  the Collective's work is also available on a new section of the Hastings Museum & Art Gallery website - www.hmag.org.uk/queerhistory/
The website features films and stories produced by the Collective. Each short film on the webpage features an object chosen by a member of the Collective which has meaning for them as LGBTIQ+. In telling the stories connected to these objects, the films communicate a range of perspectives and issues with sensitivity, honestly and humour. Anyone watching the films will get to see the wonderful personalities we had the pleasure to work with!

Hastings Queer History Collective was formed in early 2020 as part of the museum's What's in the Box? project to explore queer history and representation in museum collections. The project and films were funded by Arts Council England through a National Lottery Project Grant. 

If you would like to find out more or join the Hastings Queer History Collective and get involved in upcoming projects email museum@hastings.gov.uk. 

Films include:

Vivienne Westwood Heels and Dr Martens Shoes
Fox Irving
Fox chose two pairs of shoes, reflecting two elements of their identity and experience - power and femininity.
Fox says, "Being queer isn't just one identity." "What We Leave Behind… and Keep With Us"

Facial imprint created on-site, 16/03/2021
Mother Demdike
Mother Demdike's object is a used face wipe with the vestiges of their stage-face captured on it.
They said, "Drag lets me look back at where we came from as a community and attempt to put a good foot forward - to make sure we stay part of the conversation. Because if we let ourselves forget the legacies of those before us, what then becomes of our own?"

'Feme Sole' - Glenys' mahogany box
 
Glenys was one of the first women to undertake a government apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery. She made her mahogany box in secret, during the course.
Glenys says, "Women were excluded from any formal trade apprenticeship from the middle ages. 'Feme Sole' is the legal term given to single women who were occasionally allowed to work in a manual trade until married. As lesbian relationships were not recognised, lesbians worked in manual trades as 'feme sole'."

Cllr Paul Barnett, lead for Regeneration and Culture at Hastings Borough Council, said,

"We're very happy that this exhibition at Hastings museum is being extended, so more people can access it both in person and online. The stories told by local LGBTIQ+ people through this display and these videos are interesting, enlightening and incredibly important. If you can, make sure to pop down to see the display at the museum in person, but if this isn't an option for you, then please do make sure to view it on the museum's website."