EXHIBITION SPOTLIGHTS VOICES OF TODAY’S ACTIVISTS
The Linen Hall is delighted to present ‘Changemakers: Student and Youth Activism in Northern Ireland’. This groundbreaking project will explore pivotal moments of student activism in Northern Ireland’s history while highlighting the impactful role of today’s changemakers. This project has been made possible with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund.
In Northern Ireland, like elsewhere in the world, students and young people have been at the forefront of multiple movements for change. From campaigns for peace, justice, and equality, to protests against climate change and the introduction and increase of student tuition fees, students have taken to the streets to march and to hold rallies and sit-ins for various issues.
The project, a culmination of months of collaboration and exploration, encompasses an exhibition, a launch event, and a symposium, aiming to spark dialogue and reflection on the enduring spirit of activism in Northern Ireland.
In the development of the exhibition, The Linen Hall worked closely with local student and youth groups. Drawing from artefacts and ephemera in The Linen Hall’s archives, alongside materials created by these groups, we have co-curated an exhibition reflecting on these significant campaigns.
The Linen Hall extends its gratitude to artists Stéphanie Heckman, James Ashe, Lesley Cherry, and Nichola Irvine for their invaluable contributions to the artistic curation of this exhibition.
Special thanks to Belfast YMCA, Secondary Students’ Union of Northern Ireland (SSUNI), Diverse Youth NI, Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union, and students from the Textile Art, Design and Fashion Department (University of Ulster) for their insightful contributions to this project.
Project Coordinator, Dr Melissa Baird, said: ‘Changemakers: Student Activism in Northern Ireland has been an exciting opportunity for The Linen Hall to engage with students and young people. Through our workshops we’ve gained so much insight into the challenges facing young people today, from poor mental health and poverty to sexism and racism, among many others. It is poignant that many of these problems are the same as those students and young people have faced in any decade in the past 60 years at least. With support from local artists, we’ve made protest posters, t-shirts, and tote bags in response to these issues. In integrating these reflective pieces with artefacts from student and youth movements that are held within our collections, we hope that this project will showcase the importance of young people’s voices and activism, in the past and present, in confronting wider problems across society.’
Director of The Linen Hall, Julie Andrews, said: ‘We are delighted to present ‘Changemakers: Student and Youth Activism in Northern Ireland’ a project that explores the rich history of student activism. At The Linen Hall, we are proud to highlight the remarkable stories of past and present changemakers who have shaped Northern Ireland’s narrative. We are grateful to the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund for their support, allowing us to bring this project to life. I would also like to extend my thanks to the team, participants, and artists whose creativity has breathed life into this exhibition. The artefacts and materials from our collections play a vital role in telling these stories, demonstrating the significance of our invaluable collections and archives.’
To find out more about this project, please visit our website.
DETAILS
Exhibition: 7 May – 28 June | Vertical Gallery | Free (Find out more)
Launch Event: 7 May, 6 pm | Performance Area | Free (Find out more)
Symposium: 17 May, 9.30 am | Performance Area | Free (Find out more)