Manchester Jewish Museum has launched ‘Through A Queer Lens’, a new temporary exhibition celebrating the lives, identities and experiences of LGBTQ+ Jewish people through powerful portraits and personal stories.
Created in collaboration with local LGBTQ+ communities, ‘Through A Queer Lens’ explores the richness, diversity and resilience of queer Jewish life, bringing together national stories alongside new voices from Greater Manchester. The exhibition is based on a series of striking photographic portraits and personal testimonies originally developed by Jewish Museum London.
First presented in 2016, the project emerged from a collaboration between Black queer photographer Ajamu X and heritage practitioner and PhD researcher Noam Shaan Knan, building on the landmark Rainbow Jews project, which documented LGBTQ+ Jewish history across the UK, the exhibition celebrates the richness, diversity and resilience of queer Jewish life.
In bringing these national stories to Manchester, the museum has expanded the exhibition through a local lens, with new stories from people connected to the city, highlighting the diversity of Manchester’s Jewish community.
Working closely with local organisations and individuals, the museum has gathered new personal accounts that place Manchester at the heart of the exhibition. Featured contributors include members of Out in the City, Manchester’s LGBTQ+ social and support group for people aged 50 and over, and Ariel Chapman, Manchester-based CEO of KeshetUK, the national organisation supporting LGBTQ+ Jewish people and promoting inclusion across Jewish life.
Alongside these newly commissioned stories, visitors are invited to contribute their own experiences throughout the exhibition, creating an evolving display that continues to grow during its run.
Sue Shave, Interim CEO at Manchester Jewish Museum said:
“I am delighted that ‘Through a Queer Lens’ has come to Manchester Jewish Museum from Jewish Museum London and that the original portraits from 2016 have sparked Mancunian Jewish LGBTQ+ to share their own experiences.I am excited about how this exhibition can help the museumco–produce more representative displays about LGBTQ+ Jewish experiences in Manchester.”
Dr Samuel Goldstone–Brady, Curator at Manchester Jewish Museum said:
“It was an immense joy working with Jewish Museum London, Noam-Shaan Knan, KeshetUK, and all the original and new participants who make the gallery so strong. I am very proud to have facilitated more representation of LGBTQ+ Jewish experiences in our museum. I hope we can continue to represent intersectional Jewish experiences which make our community so much richer.”
