LGBT+ Histories Exhibition Opens in City Libraries
New exhibition at City Central and Stoke Libraries showcases personal stories and archive material reflecting the LGBT+ experience in North Staffordshire.
By Aisha Mahmood
••2 min read
AI
Generic image of a diverse group of people looking at historical displays in a library setting.
Two of the city’s libraries are now hosting an exhibition titled 'Always Here', featuring photographs, archive material, and personal stories from the LGBT+ community in North Staffordshire.
Photographs, archive images, and personal stories collected through a major LGBT+ project are now on display in two of the city’s libraries this autumn. The exhibition, titled 'Always Here', highlights the stories of individuals who have made significant contributions to North Staffordshire across various fields including culture, industry, education, healthcare, social care, housing, retail, engineering, politics, and community life.
The exhibition brings together a collection of photographs, archive material, and personal narratives that reflect the diverse experiences of LGBT+ people within North Staffordshire. Through workshops, interviews, photography sessions, and oral history projects, participants have shared their memories, experiences, and significant life moments.
The exhibition will be accessible at City Central Library, Hanley, until 30 November, and at Stoke Library until 16 November.
“
"Our libraries are for everyone. They’re places where people can explore local history, discover new perspectives and learn more about the people and experiences that have shaped North Staffordshire. The photographs, archive material and personal stories featured in this exhibition highlight the lives, achievements and contributions of LGBT+ people from across our area. We're pleased to make this exhibition available in our libraries, giving people from across North Staffordshire the opportunity to learn more about these stories and the area's rich and diverse heritage."
“
"This project is a lasting legacy that documents the personal stories and oral histories of the LGBT+ community in the region. Together we have created a heritage project about LGBT+ identity, people and places in Stoke-on-Trent and the North Midlands. We are so delighted that major cultural spaces in the city are collaborating with us to exhibit the work, namely, the New Vic Theatre, Spode Museum, Stoke and Hanley libraries. We are also proud that the series of exhibitions will be accompanied by a beautifully designed and printed book that gives a public airing of a project that speaks of individual identities, lived experience and connections in Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire."
The project was produced by GRAIN Projects in partnership with The North Midlands LGBT+ Older Peoples Group, and received support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.
