"You are the master of your own date, the captain of your own soul" - William Ernest Henley
The Peoples History Museum in Manchester maps civil uprisings, chartist movements, and maps the journey of people fighting for what they believe in. Go on a march through time to follow the history of the British public and there struggle for democray over the last two centuries. It is also home to an archive and study centre, and changing exhibition gallery where, yes you guessed it, various exhibitions come and go.
There have always been ideas worth fighting for, and the museum looks at how people that believed in change made it happen. The main story of the museum is told in two brand new, purpose built galleries located on the first and second floor. Divided into seven themes the story roughly follows a chronological order over the last 200 years. The story starts with the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 and ends in the present day.
The second gallery follows on the story from 1945 and focuses on politics and protest posts. Politics moves to being more issue based rather than about political parties – war and peace, equality, gay rights, green issues, strikes and migration changes as a result of the end of empire.
What's on?
Coming up at the end of the week is the Photography exhibition by Chris Coekin, 'The Altogether' which looks at notions of art, work, and struggle in his study of a Lancashire factory over the past 5 years.
Coekin considered how he wanted to portray them and found his inspiration in the iconography of Trade Union banners. Skilled artisans produced the paintings depicted on the banners, many of which date back to the 19th century. The final images appropriate the poses and stances that the banners portray.
The museum also has a range of talks, tours, and workshops that you might be interested in getting involved in. Visit the website for more details.
