Brighton launches new Queer Heritage digital resource

As museums across the country await reopening, Brighton’s Queer Heritage South are launching an extensive new Queer Heritage South Digital Museum this month. www.queerheritagesouth.co.uk is where LGBTQ+ heritage can be preserved, sourced and celebrated.
Queer Heritage - Brighton Section 28 (1987-88) - Sally MuntQueer Heritage - Brighton Section 28 (1987-88) - Sally Munt
Queer Heritage - Brighton Section 28 (1987-88) - Sally Munt

Spokeswoman Anna Goodman said: “This is not just a collection of exhibits but a comprehensive LGBTQ+ archive that the community of Brighton and beyond are invited to contribute to, enjoy and share.

“www.queerheritagesouth.co.uk allows visitors to upload videos, images and interviews, creating their own secure, digital archive to join a wide range of content available from March 26. Queer Heritage South Digital Museum now seeks contributions from those wishing to be part of this important online space, hosting rare LGBTQ+ photographs, memorabilia, writing and footage.

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“Contributions can be fully captioned and credited, uploaded temporarily or forever. Designed for easy navigation, www.queerheritagesouth.co.uk will be fully searchable so viewers can locate the histories and stories that resonate with their own lives.

“Queer Heritage South will in addition, include an accompanying podcast series titled My Queer Museum featuring interviews with notable members of Brighton & Hove’s LGBTQ+ community.

“Podcast highlights include novelist and activist Juno Dawson reflecting on her successful This Book Is Gay published in 2014, the writing of which was foundational in Juno’s transition journey, paving the way for this year’s follow up This Book Is Trans, Brighton Gin founder and broadcaster Kathy Caton talking about Brighton’s celebrated LGBTQ+ pubs and venues, Marlborough Productions Creative Director Tarik Elmoutawakil offering a highly personal glimpse into his teenage diaries, Rainbow Chorus singer and choir leader Anessa Chaudry on mixtapes: Her first mixtape was a significant gift from her first girlfriend. Finally Queer The Pier (Brighton Museum & Art Gallery) Community Curator, Janet Jones discusses a controversial t-shirt that opened her mind to queer life.

“Interviews are conducted by Roni Guetta and David Sheppeard of Marlborough Productions. Exhibition curator EJ Scott (Museum of Transology) contributes to all podcasts, offering a perspective on ways LGBTQ+ heritage can be preserved and discovered for future generations.

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“Via www.queerheritagesouth.co.uk, expect photographs, posters and flyers from historic Brighton LGBTQ+ nightlife, memorabilia from Brighton’s inimitable performer and host Boogaloo Stu, content charting the creation of exhibition Queer the Pier - In-depth stories behind items in this current exhibition at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. In addition, expect oral histories from the Queer in Brighton collection, highlights from the Museum of Transology collection and now, hotly anticipated contributions from the LGBTQ+ community of Brighton and Hove.

“This far-reaching project has been developed by Marlborough Productions with support from University of Sussex, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.”

David Sheppeard, Queer Heritage South Project director, added: “We are delighted to be opening our Queer Digital Museum after a year that has really demonstrated how precarious, but vitally important community heritage is. It brings us together around stories and experiences, it builds empathy, it allows us to learn from the past and shape the future. We’re so grateful to the generosity of the contributors to the Museum so far and are excited to see what else we can unearth - please get in touch if you have something to share, we would love hear from you!”

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