Exhibition celebrates Gloucester’s diversity

Inspired by renowned photographer Vanley Burke, the exhibition ‘History, Her Story, Their Story, Our Story’, shows work from two Gloucestershire artists.

Rider Shafique, Gloucester based lyricist, recording artist and photographer and Thembe Mvula, writer and performance poet who grew up in Gloucester, and has worked collaboratively with the community using the lead question: “When was the first time you saw a person of a different ethnicity to you?”

School pupils and community members were encouraged to ask the oldest person they knew this question and the stories gathered were explored in workshops that took place between pupils, community members and artists. The artworks were launched at Gloucester History Festival as part of the City Voices programme earlier this year.

The Museum of Gloucester exhibition hopes to encourage people to pose this question themselves as they explore the artworks, and record their own contribution to the city’s unique history.

The exhibition also features Elle Bry Thomas with her ‘Barber Street’ exhibition, ‘One Street, Fourteen Barbers, Many Nationalities.’ This photography series celebrates 14 of the barber shops of Barton Street in the centre of Gloucester.

‘The History, Her Story, Their Story, Our Story’ Exhibition which is part of the museum’s celebrations of Black History Month will be at the Museum of Gloucester until 31 December.

Councillor Steve Morgan, cabinet member for Culture and Leisure at Gloucester City Council, said: “I am delighted that the Museum of Gloucester is able to present some of Gloucester’s most talented artists alongside that of the highly respected photographer Vanley Burke. This fantastic exhibition is the result of a city-wide partnership  and collaboration between Fresh Air Foundations, Gloucestershire Archives, City Voices and the Museum of Gloucester with funding from Arts Council England.”

For more information about tickets and opening hours visit www.museumofgloucester.co.uk/exhibitions