Heritage project uncovers trans and gender-diverse lives in Nottinghamshire
Our Story is a touring exhibition that brings together a gallery of portrait photographs, personal ephemera, and audio stories, to showcase the lives of trans and gender-diverse people in Nottinghamshire. The heritage project, produced by Fifth Word, in partnership with Nottinghamshire Archives, worked alongside LGBTQ+ young people from Mansfield to create the exhibition.
The intergenerational heritage project was in collaboration with Mansfield Museum, and with support from MyPlace at Westfield Folkhouse Young People’s Centre, East Mids Transgender Network, East Midlands Oral History Archives, and Loughborough University.
Designed by Stephanie Coley and Leo Soph Welton, the collaboration with young LGBTQ+ people began with a series of creative workshops in oral history, photography, film-making, exhibition design, graphic design and podcasting. Following this they ran a training programme, where the young people could use their new interview skills to discover the oral histories of older trans and gender-diverse people across Nottinghamshire, “capturing their personal experiences and stories of identity, moments of resistance as well as joy and community,” explains a spokesperson for Fifth Word.
“The young people were immersed in formal filming days, working as part of a creative team with professionals, leading on the set-design, camera set up and positioning, and taking the portrait photographs of the interviewees, under the guidance of professional practitioners. They also shadowed professional directors, actors and sound designers during the recording process of the audio plays that had been created in response to the oral histories.
These audio plays are available exclusively as part of the Our Story touring exhibition. While the recorded interviews and accompanying material have been deposited in Nottinghamshire Archives so that future generations can access them.
Fifth Word explains: “At a time when trans and gender-diverse communities are increasingly misrepresented or erased, this project offers space for visibility and pride. Our Story will help ensure these vital voices are not just heard today, but also remembered tomorrow.”
The Our Story exhibition will tour Nottinghamshire Libraries over summer 2026. The exhibition is free to attend, and has already visited Mansfield Museum, Nottinghamshire Archives, Retford Library, Beeston Library, and Worksop Library. The tour continues at Arnold Library from 15th to 28th August, and concludes at Newark Library from 21st August to 4th September.
This project has been made possible by support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Players.
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