Description
The researchers at StreetLife York have been compiling a York LGBTQI+ heritage trail of sites of significance to queer communities. The project arose from StreetLife's aim to change how people think about Coney Street - to recover lost histories, tell forgotten stories and make connections with the people who have lived, worked and played there through the centuries. For a city of York's size and importance, it is astonishing to find such few traces of LGBTQI+ lives as we walk through its streets.
'A Queer Walk of York' brings into focus the city's LGBTQI+ communities past and present, enabling queer residents and visitors to see themselves and their lives reflected in the cityscape around them. Join us to celebrate the contributions made by LGBTQI+ people to the history and development of our city.
This walking tour will highlight sites of both historical and current relevance, and aims to uncover further stories, anecdotes and memories exploring the experience of being and/or growing up LGBTQI+ in York.
The tour will start and end at the StreetLife Hub, 29-31 Coney Street. Please wear sensible footwear and dress for the weather.
About the speakers
Andy Egerton is Research Assistant for the music strand of the StreetLife project, having so far produced the 'Love it or Hate it? The Willow Legacy' exhibition and the 'A Queer Walk of York' heritage trail. Andy is currently interested in efforts to queer museum curation, rendering exhibits inclusive and accessible, as well as in initiatives for community archiving.
Rachel Cowgill is a Professor in Music at the School of Arts and Creative Technologies, University of York. She is also the University's Research Theme Champion for Creativity and leads the music strand of the StreetLife project, as well as InterMusE and OurPlace. Rachel is a cultural-historical musicologist working on histories of live performance and community archiving. She is also an activist for equality, diversity and inclusion in music studies.