About: We’re Still Here!
We’re Still Here! began in 2022 as a heritage pilot commissioned and produced by Abingdon Studios, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Conceived and delivered by artists Garth Gratrix and Harry Clayton-Wright, the project set out to establish Blackpool’s first permanent collection of LGBTQIA+ arts and heritage. Alongside collecting oral histories, the team invited Stuart Linden Rhodes (Linden Archives) to stage his first public exhibition at Grundy Art Gallery (Feb–June 2022), attracting over 10,000 visitors.
The next phase will see two major exhibitions in 2027, in partnership with Grundy Art Gallery and Showtown; coinciding with key anniversaries in UK LGBTQIA+ history including 60 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK; and 40 years since the introduction of Section 28 following the notorious Margaret Thatcher speech in 1987 at a Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool.
Building on the pilot, the project continues to develop a community-built queer heritage collection shaped by local residents past and present. Working with Community Champions and a Community Archivist, the team is mapping Blackpool’s rich LGBTQIA+ history, culminating in concurrent exhibitions at Showtown and Grundy Art Gallery in 2027.
About: Joe Booth
Joe is a freelance costume designer, fashion educator and a founding director of Blackpool-based arts organisation Aunty Social.
Starting out of university as a pattern cutter, working with small design houses to realise their designs, Joe took a sidestep into costume and forged a career in theatre design. He has worked across many areas of the industry since; his credits include everything from New York Fashion Week to Don't Tell the Bride... and everything in between.
Most recently, he was Associate Costume Designer on the national tour of Mr Blackpool, and In-House Costume Designer for the Grand Theatre, Blackpool's summer production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He currently works as a fashion lecturer at Blackpool School of Arts.
About: Blackpool Style Assembly
Blackpool Style Assembly is an exciting underground cultural event that brings the energy of fashion week to the Fylde Coast. Hosted by House of Wingz, the immersive catwalk experience celebrates creativity, community and self-expression, showcasing the work of local designers, artists, performers and makers. Blending fashion with live music, dance, film, photography and visual art, the event champions sustainability, inclusion and grassroots talent, creating a platform for diverse voices and emerging creatives. Since launching, Blackpool Style Assembly has quickly established itself as one of the town's most exciting cultural events, reimagining the catwalk as a space for storytelling, collaboration and positive social change.
About: Abingdon Studios
Abingdon Studios (ABS) is a flagship contemporary visual arts studio and producing organisation based in the heart of Blackpool. Simply put, we believe in Artists Being Supported. Providing permanent artist studios and a public project space for testing and exhibiting new work, ABS develops and delivers ambitious independent and co-commissioned projects in partnership with galleries, museums, consortium networks and partners. We are proud to have supported 150+ artists to date.
Over 60% of our programme has prioritised LGBTQIA+ artists, creativity and development opportunities. Our projects include We’re Still Here!, a National Lottery Heritage Fund–supported initiative establishing Blackpool’s first permanent LGBTQIA+ arts and heritage archive; Work/Leisure, our artist residency and development programme; and tailored sector development support and bursaries enabling artists to present work locally, regionally and nationally. ABS champions high-quality, cross-artform contemporary practice, creating the conditions for artists to experiment, collaborate and reach new audiences in Blackpool and beyond.
About: The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.