In time for World AIDS Day on 1 December, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel’s iconic exhibition space in Refuge has been transformed into a moving tribute to the history of HIV and the ongoing progress in its fight against HIV stigma.
The exhibition, Headlines and Phonelines: A snapshot of HIV through a Mancunian gay lens, celebrates the invaluable work of George House Trust, a Manchester-based charity that has supported people living with HIV since 1985.
Curated ahead of George House Trust’s 40th anniversary in 2025, the exhibition brings together key historical moments and iconic images, including sensationalised mainstream media coverage from the early days of the HIV crisis, community responses from the Mancunian Gay magazine from the 1980s, and posters promoting the charity’s vital services and support from its early days. The journey culminates with recent media features, reflecting how the portrayal of HIV has shifted over the years to include more positive and empowering narratives.
George House Trust is a Manchester based charity that has been providing information, advice and support to people living with HIV since 1985. It is a person-centred organisation, with a diverse team of highly trained and knowledgeable staff and volunteers. The charity works to inform people that today, people diagnosed with HIV early can expect to live a full and healthy life and educate people and communities about the facts about HIV, particularly that thanks to advancements in treatment, individuals diagnosed with HIV early can now expect to live long, healthy lives. With effective medication and an undetectable viral load, people living with HIV cannot transmit the virus through sex, a concept known as ‘undetectable = untransmittable’ (U=U). Additionally, with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) now widely available, HIV is a completely preventable virus.”
When asked about the exhibition, Darren Knight, Chief Executive Officer at George House Trust, said: “George House Trust is committed to raising awareness that HIV is a manageable, long-term condition. This exhibition serves as a powerful reminder that whilst there’s been so much progress, people’s knowledge and attitudes haven’t kept pace and we’ve all got a job to do in ensuring that people know the facts about HIV. Working with the team at Refuge and Kimpton Clocktower on this exhibition means that we can reach audiences who may not ordinarily hear about our work and this is important because HIV can affect everyone and it’s all our responsibility to tackle HIV stigma, wherever it exists.”
David Lockhart, General Manager at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, said: “We are immensely privileged to be hosting this exhibition. We will always shine a light on and celebrate LGBT history here at the hotel, as it’s such an important part of who we are and our place in Manchester. We look forward to welcoming both our guests and members of the public to the space and helping them learn more about the brilliant work of George House Trust.”
George House Trust would like to thank renowned HIV activist and LGBT rights champion Paul Fairweather for contributing pieces from his personal archive for the exhibition.
The free exhibition will be running until January 2025.
