The Collecting Collective: Community Collecting and Digitising Sessions

About

Queer Heritage South presents: The Collecting Collective: Community collecting and digitizing sessions. A programme powered by Marlborough Productions.

Do you have a piece of queer history you'd like to add to the Queer Heritage South digital archive? Or are you curious about how archiving works? Join us for one of our regular The Collecting Collective: Community collecting and digitizing sessions. These are friendly, relaxed archiving meet-ups led by our Community Archivist, Rowan. These sessions are open to anyone interested in LGBTQIA+ history. Whether you have a piece of queer history you want to share, you're interested in volunteering, or you just want to connect with others, you'll be in good company.

There are three ways to get involved:

Donate to the archive! Bring your memories, photos, flyers, zines, and stories, and help preserve LGBTQIA+ history for future generations. Use our flat-bed and overhead scanners to digitise and upload your own piece of queer history to the Queer Heritage South archive..

Volunteer in the archive! Help to digitise and catalogue our collections. There are no prior skills needed, other than enthusiasm.

Be part of something bigger! Meet new people, make connections with others interested in LGBTQIA+ history, and become part of the wider Queer Heritage South community.

You can expect an accessible, friendly and informal space, held within Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. Sessions are supported by Queer Heritage South throughout and no prior archiving experience is needed.

In our November session, we'll be joined by Dyke Pride. The first Dyke Pride in 2026 attracted over 3000 attendees Held in St Ann's Wells Gardens Dyke Pride was an inclusive, intergenerational event, free to attend. We'll be collecting memories of the first Dyke Pride to add to the archive.

There will also be the opportunity to see and learn more about "Where are all the Lesbians?", an exhibition showcasing hidden stories of lesbian lives through selected objects from Brighton & Hove Museums' collections, along with artistic responses. Created by Lisa Hinkins, Collaborative PhD Researcher, and her community volunteers.

Alongside archiving activities, there will be space to relax and socialise, with refreshments.

If you have any questions, or would like to chat about any aspect of getting involved, email archive@marlboroughproductions.org.uk.

Open to all aged 18+
Tickets are free, but booking is required