Culture Club
Culture Club aims to explore our collections and exhibitions from the view point of often under-represented or more marginalised groups.
Our current cohort of Culture Club participants are exploring our collections in partnership with the Plymouth and Devon Racial Equality Council (PDREC). This work will help to shape the future of The Box through our public programme; holding a mirror up to the collections and asking important questions about what we collect and why. The group is also involved in a research project that will be taking place throughout 2024, to explore the South West's connections with the Windrush generation.
The group organised a 'Takeover Day' on Saturday 17 August 2024, which was linked to 'The Time is Always Now' exhibition and the Windrush research project they are working on. During the day, visitors were treated to Caribbean food, music, storytelling and archival material and visitors.
In October 2024, we were thrilled when 'Windrush in the Southwest' was chosen as 'Group of the month October 2024' on the Community Archives and Heritage group website.
Our first cohort of Culture Club participants identified with being part of the LGBTQ community in the city. The group co-curated and designed the exhibition Where Am I? in 2022, in partnership with Pride in Plymouth. It included items and objects from The Box’s collections that explored the lived experiences of different communities.
The central question, 'Where am I?' underpinned the group's activity - in relation to the representation of LGBTQ+ artists and makers, and the works contained in our art, media and archive collections.