Redcar Palace is delighted to present “4000 Years…”, an alternative look at Redcar’s history through a queer lens that stretches back into the deep past and casts a glance forward into our possible futures. The exhibition grows out of a collection of research and work by local creatives and community groups, which have collaboratively uncovered new ways of thinking about how our town and area grew and developed. The research was initiated through a project in collaboration with Historic England over the summer of this year called Redcar Peep and the outcomes of this research will be presented along with artistic responses. Subjects explored include local prehistoric settlements, the petrified forest, literary histories, stories of industry, sport and the lives of those individuals who played a role in building Redcar’s history. It will explore how people from different backgrounds have responded to the sense of freedom that can come from living by the coast.
4000 Years: Queering Redcars History will open on Saturday 7th December 2024 with an opening party from 12-3pm, the exhibition will then run until February 2025. The exhibition is based upon themes uncovered through research compiled by a group of 6 local researchers (Matthew Dowell, Meg Warriner, Conner Kacperski, Cai Donoghue, Zowe Sands and Grace Barnes) and interpreted by artists, critiquing the ‘norm’ of what are perceived as traditional histories of Redcar through alternative narratives. “4000 Years…” will also bring together creatives including: Audrey Cook, Casey Orr, Chloe Kacperski, Mali Redford-Coyte, Matthew Dowell, Meg Warriner, Numi Solomons, Scarborough Zine Library, as well as members of Blooming Youth Collective, together with archival material that has been loaned for the exhibition. “4000 Years” is a project curated by Beth Smith as part of her final project for her MA/Higher Degree Apprenticeship in Curating at Teesside University.
Redcar Palace is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm. There will be activities running throughout the exhibition, so check out Redcar Palace instagram and facebook @redcarpalace for more details.