Ground-breaking exhibition uncovers the history of disabled people hidden within the archives of Hastings Museum and Art Gallery
Stored Out of Sight: Hidden History of Disabled People is the first exhibition by Curating for Change Fellow Jack Guy, based at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery. The exhibition is now open and runs until 16th December.
Disabled people have always been part of history, but their stories have often been in the background. Jack Guy and seven other Hastings residents who are d/Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent interrogated the museum’s collections and store rooms. They uncovered an extraordinary array of objects and people which reveal hidden disability histories from Hastings and St Leonards. Through stories of Hastings’ disability past and those of contemporary activism, the exhibition highlights the social and environmental barriers that effect people daily.
The Hastings Museum and Art Gallery exhibition features:
- A ‘Guinea Pig Club’ badge and photograph belonging to 20-year old Ronald Humphryes who was accidentally shot in the eye with a flare gun. This badge signifies membership of an exclusive group; injured allied aircrewmen who were treated by Archibald McIndoe at East Grinstead with experimental plastic surgery during the Second World War.
- 180 delicate pencil sketches from 1869 -1885, mainly on scrap paper, of sailing ships ‘passing in the English Channel’ by Newton Bragge discovered in a plain brown envelope and unseen for around 100 years. Bragge was known only as the ‘invalid son’ of a local cabinet maker and his undoubted artistry was never encouraged.
- Photographs and slogan t-shirts from disability activism protests in the 1990s. The pictures from protests such as the ‘Not Dead Yet’ and ‘We Demand Accessible Transport’ events feature local disabled people in activism roles. The t-shirts have been donated by Kev, a Hastings disability rights campaigner
- An early prosthetic arm, made for returning soldiers from the First World War.
Jack Guy, Hastings Museum Curatorial Fellow, said: “Being part of the Curating for Change project has been an extraordinary opportunity to be supported to look into the Museum archives and display items that reflect my and other people’s lived experiences. I’ve been amazed by the history of so many objects the group has found. Often, these objects have no documentation or location and have been hidden until today.”
Head of the Accentuate Programme, and strategic lead for Curating for Change, Esther Fox said: “People often think disability is a modern phenomenon or that items relating to disability experiences in museum collections don’t exist, but we knew this wasn’t true. Curating for Change has enabled D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent curators to undertake this important research alongside their local communities, to shine a spotlight on these fascinating and previously underexplored stories.”
The details
Stored Out of Sight: Hidden History of Disabled People
Long Gallery, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery
16 September – 16 December 2023
Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10.00 – 17:00, Sundays 11.00 – 16.30
Free entry and parking
You can find out more about visiting the exhibition on the Hastings Museum website.
