On Saturday 2nd July, 2022, Newbury hosted its first ever Pride march organised by Newbury Pride. On the lead up to the event the Museum partnered with Newbury Pride and members of the LGBTQIA+ community to develop an exhibition about Pride. The exhibition was co-curated and directed by the local community to tell the narrative of UK Pride, why it is important and why it is still necessary. The exhibition also aims to support people to share their stories and be proud of their identity, to strengthen community relationships and to develop representation for LGBTQIA+ people in the Museum’s collection and displays.
On the day of Newbury Pride, staff from the Museum and Archaeology teams supported the march and carried the ‘West Berkshire Council – Marching with Pride’ banner created for Reading Pride in 2019. Local group Proud to be Trans in West Berkshire kindly donated the banner they used to lead the Newbury Pride march from Victoria Park, through Northbrook Street and into the market square. We have since received further donations of banners used by Kennet Radio Station and the Newbury Pride Committee and a t shirt and poster from the event. A local resident who attended the march has also loaned her Pride angle wings and halo, bringing a bit of glamour to the exhibition! ‘Hope and Pride’ is now open and will run until 2nd July 2023.
