The National Lottery Heritage Fund today marks the start of LGBT History Month by announcing a grant of £76,200 to a project that will record and share the experiences of LGBTQ+ Manchester residents who were young adults in the late 50s, 60s and early 70s.
Thanks to funding raised by National Lottery players, ‘Legacy of ’67’ will recruit and train a team of volunteers to capture stories of before and after the Sexual Offences Act of 1967, recording the social and historical impact that the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales had. Organisers Initiative Arts believe that the project will result in a better intergenerational understanding of LGBTQ+ history in the mid-20th century, particularly amongst people under the age of 30.
Legacy of ’67 will work with partners including the LGBT Foundation, Manchester University Gender and Sexuality MA students, supported housing suppliers and the Rainbow Noir Coalition to identify a diverse range of people aged over 65 who may want to tell their stories.
The important LGBTQ+ heritage uncovered will be shared in several ways. Stories will be transcribed and made available for Archives + at Manchester Central Library, and a public exhibition at the library, curated by volunteers, will bring these experiences to life through interviews, historical records, news reports and photographs. The library will also be the setting for a symposium for activists, academics, artists and historians.
A walking tour of the city, available in both digital and physical format, and new theatre commission performed at Manchester’s Edge Theatre will draw on the experiences shared by participants. The stories recounted will also provide inspiration for the creation of new visual art, which will be exhibited at the library and the Bishopsgate Institute in London.
Initiative Arts have previously delivered projects focused on LGBTQ+ heritage with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. ‘Polari Mission’ in 2013 documented the endangered language of Polari, which forms an important part of LGBTQ+ history and identity. ‘Life’s a Drag’ in 2016 explored the history of Drag in Manchester, from the infamous Hulme Drag Ball of 1880 to the present day.
David Renwick, Director, North England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“We’re proud to support Legacy of ‘67’s important work to secure and preserve the heritage of Greater Manchester’s older LGBTQ+ community for future generations. Thanks to National Lottery players, the wider community will be able to engage with these experiences through a variety of activities. This is a great start to our LGBT History month celebrations and we’re looking forward to hearing the stories that the project uncovers.”
Jez Dolan, Artistic Director of Initiative Arts said:
“The change in legislation that partially decriminalised homosexuality in the late 60s marked the start of a journey towards equal rights for LGBTQ+ people and we’re keen to understand what this actually meant at the time. We’d like to hear from LGBTQ+ people who were young adults at this time of momentous change. If you have a story to tell, or would like to volunteer to collect and preserve these stories, please contact us through our website www.initiativearts.co.uk.”
Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar, Manchester City Council’s executive member for neigbourhoods, said: “Manchester is a diverse city and we are proud that the Legacy of ‘67 project will be showcased in Central Library. The project is integral to understanding LGBTQ+ History and the impacts that the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales had.
“The exhibition, curated by Archives +, is a great way to share the important testimonies of members of the LGBTQ+ community and will promote a greater understanding of LGBTQ+ history. This will further our work with LGBTQ+ archives which we’ve developed in partnership with the LGBT Foundation – and will also support our activities programme such as LGBTQ+ History Month activity, school workshops, and events for Pride each August.
“Manchester Central Library are proud to be hosting such an important heritage program and we encourage people of all ages to pay the exhibition a visit.”
Dr Carl Austin-Behan OBE DL, LGBTQ+ Advisor to The Mayor of Greater Manchester said:
“I am absolutely delighted that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting LGBT History Month, especially with Legacy of ‘67. We all need to be reminded that although we feel we have come a long way in the UK with LGBT Equality, this has only happened in a short length of time because of people in the 50’s, & 60’s, campaigning and fighting for Equality – it was with this activism, passion and determination that Greater Manchester became the birthplace of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality.”
Janine Waters, CEO The Edge Theatre & Arts Centre, said:
“The Edge is proud to be supporting this important and exciting piece of work.”
