Showtown are thrilled to be partnering with 'We’re Still Here!' to celebrate Pride in Blackpool this year.
'We’re Still Here!' is a project developed by Abingdon Studios, artists Garth Gratrix and Harry Clayton-Wright and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to create the first permanent collection of LGBTQIA+ heritage in Blackpool.
On Saturday 11 June we will present a Show & Tell – Pride edition at Blackpool Central Library, between 12pm- 4pm as part of our Pride celebrations.
On the day you’ll be able to see the work of artist and photographer Stuart Linden Rhodes, whose photos of Blackpool’s gay scene in the 90’s are currently being exhibited outside The Grundy. Protest placards and banners created by Garth Gratrix, Empowerment Charity and Renaissance UK will also be displayed outside the library. Plus the film 'There is a rainbow over Blackpool Tower' will be screening inside Blackpool Central Library.
‘There is a rainbow over Blackpool Tower’ is a documentary film which is one of few archived pieces about queer people in the town currently available in our heritage collection. Garth originally included the film in the curation of the ‘We're Here!' exhibition back in 2013.
You are welcome to get involved on the day by offering your stories and donating an oral history. Share your interests and thoughts to help shape our future collections, or just pop by for a chat and meet the team.
If you’re unable to make it on the day but still feel you would like to share your stories of the LGBTQIA+ community in Blackpool, there is a section on the ‘We’re Still Here!’ web page where you can find out more about sharing your thoughts.