'Queer Along the River' Exhibition

This exhibition celebrates the rich tapestry of diverse, working-class queer history within our community, featuring artworks created by local artists. In reclaiming queer history, it challenges Victorian accounts of poverty and crime that served as cultural erasure in the area. Its focus on South London LGBTQ+ heritage from the 18th century, and key local figures, fosters shared connections. Workshops during the exhibition will invite broader community involvement.

As lead artist, Catherine Hahn brings a deep, local investment to the exhibition. She is a member of the LGBTQ+ community with family roots in South East London across five generations. As a visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths University, she uses creative methods and collaboration to retrieve local history.

'Queer Along the River' reclaims and reimagines South London LGBTQ+ heritage. Through art by local artists and community groups it highlights diverse, working-class queer histories. Coded maps serve as guideposts, allowing visitors to engage with historical narratives and make their own connections. The exhibition promises to be an informative artistic experience, with stories drawn from real life and imagination.

The exhibition is nurtured by ongoing collaborations. The artworks have been created by local artists and community groups, supported by project partners: Meet Me at The Albany, Deptford Lounge, the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre and Migrant Futures Institute, Goldsmiths University. There will be a board where visitors can contribute their own artworks or comments about the exhibition, and space to map their personal stories and places of significance. As a live creative platform, the exhibition will enrich the collective narrative of queer South London history.