New Virtual Exhibition explores LGBTQ+ stories

Culture Leicestershire presents a new virtual exhibition, ‘Villiers Revealed’; designed to explore LGBTQ+ stories within the county’s museum collection. Across three interactive galleries, history and artefacts are reinterpreted through a queer lens “highlighting often-excluded voices and experiences.”

“For centuries, queer lives—and those of other marginalised communities—have been hidden, misrepresented, or erased from public memory. At Culture Leicestershire, we’re beginning to change that.”

Co-curated with art educator, Jon Sleigh, and opened digitally during LGBTQ+ History Month in February 2026, the central focus of the virtual exhibition, and the inspiration for its name, is a newly conserved 1619 portrait of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1616-1628), restored by Eeva Kukkonen. Born in Brooksby, Leicestershire, into a family of minor gentry, Villiers was a favourite and self-described "lover" of King James VI (of Scotland) and I (of England and Ireland).

"Villier's Story is a reminder that LGBTQ+ life and love isn't a side story in history, but shapes it.” explains the information within the Villier’s Revealed exhibition, “A history we all inherit and can explore together. The 'favourite' continues to inspire debate and queer reflection."

The second gallery in the exhibition, ‘We Have Always Been Here’, “features artwork and poetry from workshops with LGBTQIA+ communities, exploring themes of identity and belonging.”

Aaron Sian, Artist and Creative Facilitator says: "The exhibition 'Villiers Revealed: We Have Always Been Here' is about reclaiming power, the erasure of queerness, and situating the story of George Villiers in a more broader context to explore intersectional, queer and trans narratives.”

Lastly, the third gallery, developed with students from the University of Nottingham, reinterprets museum objects with queer significance using digital tools to explore themes including queerness, gender, self-expression and transformation.

“Supported by Arts Council England, Villiers Revealed invites everyone to reflect on and celebrate the rich LGBTQIA+ heritage that shapes our history. See history differently with this inclusive virtual experience!”

Culture Leciestershire explain that choosing “Digital platforms offer a gentler, more accessible route into heritage, allowing people to engage on their own terms.”

Project consultant Jon Sleigh adds, “some people simply aren’t ready or able to access queer spaces physically.”

The exhibition is available to explore online now.