Explore York Libraries and Archives Annual Review 2024-25 - Report - Page 25
Exploring York’s
heritage, connecting
people and place
Shush, Snip, Rip: exploring the
histories and current challenges
of Disabled people
Part of the
Taking as its starting point
NPO Programme
a newspaper report about
“irregularities” at the York
Union Workhouse during the
Victorian era, Shush, Snip, Rip exhibition was
the culmination of a year-long collaboration
between disabled artists and two local
organisations for Disabled people, York People
First and Blueberry Academy. Together they
explored York’s archive collections through
the lens of Disability Arts, unearthing untold
stories, and responding to them. Shush, Snip,
Rip is a dialogue across time, giving a voice to
those often excluded from historical narratives
and highlighting the ongoing challenges and
achievements of Disabled individuals and
communities. The exhibition features work
by Alfie Fox an award-winning multimedia
artist, Leeds-based Pyramid Arts, artist Kerry
Fox, and York community artist Stephen Lee
Hodgkins.
The work was showcased in A Year in Archives.
“Art allows me to say what I can’t
say in words. It gives me access
to communicate. I looked at York
archives from the workhouse and
how people with disabilities were
sent there and the words used
to describe disability. A lot has
changed but a lot still the same.”
Alfie Fox, Artist
Archivists delivered
35 events
including workshops
and exhibitions
Outside the Box
Explore’s Knowles stained-glass archive
inspired an acclaimed graffiti artist to paint
the BT boxes on Stonebow in the city centre.
Project partners were York Civic Trust, York
Bid and The Glaziers Trust and the project was
funded by a grant of £5000 from The National
Archives.
Explore Annual Review 2024/25
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