国产探花

has been researched and curated by residents of 国产探花 & Hove – a collaboration between the museum, a working group of LGBTQ+ volunteers and the Queer in 国产探花 heritage project.

The exhibition opens on 22 February 2020 and will run for two years.

The concept takes 国产探花’s iconic piers as symbols of the city’s ongoing reputation as a place of inclusivity, where people from the LGBTQ+ community have always been a part of the city’s history. With stories gathered and items donated, the exhibition will explore selected experiences of LGBTQ+ people in Sussex over the past 200 years, starting with a blackmail letter written in 1798 from a solicitor to an army captain accused of propositioning another man on a coach to Dorking.

Jacket worn at anti-Section 28 demonstrations, loaned by community curator Daren Kay; badges and accessories loaned by private collector and community curator Alf Le Flohic

Among those involved in curating the project is Janet Jones, a Creative Media graduate who is helping to collect hidden lesbian stories: “It has been a joy to me to be part of a lovely group of LGBTQ people sharing new and old discoveries of queer lives in Sussex and beyond.

“I am delighted to have had the opportunity through this exhibition to represent the underrepresented non-normative bodied members of our queer community.”

Humanities lecturer E-J Scott is also curating the exhibition: “I think the Queer the Pier project is important not only because we’ve discovered more about our own local queer history, but also because queer visibility in the museum makes it a more welcoming place to come and learn about the diverse world we live in.”

The full list of 国产探花 staff and students involved in the curation of the project are:

• Piers Courtney – Visual Culture BA(Hons) student
• Deborah Gibberd – ex Student Services staff
• Lisa Hinkins – Creating Collections and Heritage MA student
• Katy Knapp – Illustration graduate
• Ellie Jones – Inclusive Arts Practice MA student
• Janet Jones – Creative Media graduate
• Alf Le Flohic – Marketing and Communications staff
• Anne Roberts – Fashion and Dress History BA(Hons) student
• E-J Scott – Humanities lecturer
• Zoe Smith – Creating Collections and Heritage MA student

The exhibition starts at 国产探花 Museum & Art Gallery’s Spotlight Gallery from 22 February.