Queer Heritage South is delighted to announce it has received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for development of the project ‘Queer Heritage South: Live Archive’. Made possible by National Lottery players, as well as the support of many major partners across the city, the project aims to create a city-wide and long term strategy for the collection, archiving, and sharing of our city’s rich LGBTQIA+ heritage. Queer Heritage South is a programme of Marlborough Productions, an LGBTQIA+ producing cultural organisation founded in Brighton & Hove in 2010 and supported by Arts Council England.

‘Live Archive’ will work towards creating a new and inclusive digital archive for the city, futureproofing LGBTQIA+ collecting in Brighton & Hove, animating the archive through cultural events, and finally delivering a major exhibition in 2027. We look forward to collaborating with local communities in the development and delivery of this project.

This ambitious project is made possible by the support and partnerships the organisation has built over the years. Queer Heritage South is looking forward to working with partners on the delivery of this project, and would like to thank Brighton & Hove Museums, University of Sussex (Sussex Digital Humanities Lab and The Centre for Sexual Dissidence), The Keep, New Writing South, Screen Archive South East – University of Brighton, and Brighton & Hove Libraries for the strategic input in developing the project.

Development funding has been awarded by the Heritage Fund to support Queer Heritage South progress their plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant at a later date.

“Brighton & Hove Museums are delighted to be able to play a part in the ‘Queer Heritage South: Live Archive’ project, as it takes great strides forward in collecting the important LGBTQIA+ heritage of Brighton & Hove.”

Hedley Swain, CEO Brighton & Hove Museums

“As the UK’s largest funder of heritage, we want to make sure that the projects we fund are inclusive and represent every type of heritage. We’re proud to have given our initial support to Queer Heritage South who will continue to build on their previous Heritage Fund-supported projects to create an important historic archive to ensure that Brighton’s national and international significance for LGBTQIA+ heritage is celebrated. We look forward to working with the team to progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.”

Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund

“Queer Heritage South, has proved itself to be a critical community group. Over the last few years, the Sussex Digital Humanities Lab have worked with the team to develop their digital strategy and to develop their digital archive, as such it’s fantastic to see their commitment to queer heritage is being recognised and celebrated with such a prestigious award. I look forward to working with the team and know this project will make an impact on communities across the Brighton region.”

Dr Sharon Webb, Director of Sussex Digital Humanities Lab (University of Sussex)

“This is a brilliant news, and we are really excited to be working with Queer Heritage South on LGBTQIA+ Heritage in Brighton and Hove. This really important for the region as well as nationally, and this is a great opportunity for our staff, students and alumni.”

Professor Kate O’Riordan, Pro Vice Chancellor for Education and Students, University of Sussex

“Brighton & Hove has a rich LGBTQIA+ heritage and cultural history and it’s crucial that it’s known, recorded and understood. I’d like to share my congratulations on behalf of the council.

I’m delighted that ‘Queer Heritage South: Live Archive’ has received NHLF funding to help make sure local queer stories are shared. It will sit alongside other heritage projects that recognise our history as a diverse city, and will preserve and foreground the importance of these experiences to residents and visitors.”

Councillor Leslie Pumm, chair of the Equalities, Community Safety & Human Rights Committee, Brighton & Hove City Council

For further information, images and interviews please contact Roni Guetta at Queer Heritage South on [email protected], +44 785 4639 079

Queer in Brighton – Instagram / Facebook / Queer Heritage South

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
* National Lottery Heritage Fund grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds.
Queer Heritage South: Live Archive Brighton & Hove has initially been granted round one development funding of £214,968 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £1,075,223. As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.

Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by
National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care
about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species,
to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.

The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and
collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy
for future generations to enjoy.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use
#NationalLotteryHeritageFund.