The Linen Hall is pleased to announce its latest project, Borders and Boundaries, which includes an exhibition and a programme of events in November and December. The project will explore the meanings and realities of borders and boundaries in Northern Ireland throughout the last century. Border and Boundaries has been supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund.
To find out more about the project click here.
The exhibition will explore the ever-evolving cultural, political, and economic implications of various borders and boundaries in Northern Ireland through time. It will feature a diverse range of artefacts and archival material from The Linen Hall’s Northern Ireland Political Collection, offering a unique insight into the historical development of Northern Ireland. The exhibition will be on display from Monday 6th November until Friday 22nd December in the Vertical Gallery (inside The Linen Hall) and you can access it for free. To find out more about the exhibition, click here.
Complementing the exhibition is a dynamic programme of events, bringing together an array of voices from various backgrounds. The event series will feature discussions with athletes, academics, activists, politicians, and writers. Key names include former boxing world champion Carl Frampton MBE, former First Minister of Northern Ireland Baroness Arlene Foster DBE, former Taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern, and many more who will reflect on the borders and boundaries that have significantly influenced politics and society in Northern Ireland since the early twentieth century. To find out more about the events, click here.
The Linen Hall is dedicated to collecting and safeguarding historical items and stories from the past and present for the benefit of future generations. As part of Borders and Boundaries, we are actively working to digitally collect and preserve personal stories and artefacts contributed by the public. We are calling the public to share testaments that relate to the diverse borders and boundaries encountered historically and in the present. To find out more, click here.
Dr Melissa Baird, the Project Coordinator said, ‘‘This is an exciting project which focuses on the human experiences of borders and boundaries within and encircling Northern Ireland. National borders, electoral boundaries, and peace walls are all forms of borders and boundaries that have had significant implications for people living and working in Northern Ireland. Cognisant that these boundaries have and can mean different things to different people, The Linen Hall has reinterpreted its various collections, from the Northern Ireland Political Collection to the Theatre and Performing Arts Archive, to explore how borders and boundaries have influenced and impacted all communities across Northern Ireland in the last century.’’
Julie Andrews, Director of The Linen Hall said, ‘’Borders and Boundaries is a project that will illuminate how experiences, attitudes, and identities have been shaped by various borders and boundaries in Northern Ireland throughout the last century. Our Northern Ireland Political Collection, comprising over 350,000 items, stands as the definitive archive of the recent ‘Troubles’, documenting myriad perspectives on politics and identity. We take great pride in sharing a small part of this invaluable resource with the public through this insightful project. On behalf of The Linen Hall, I would like to express our gratitude to the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund for their support of Borders & Boundaries.’’