A new exhibition opening next week at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery will showcase the stories of more than 100 people who call the city home.
Living Together, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, presents a collection of recorded conversations exploring how Leicester’s diverse communities interact and live alongside one another. The exhibition captures the experiences of people from a wide range of ages, cultures and backgrounds.
Picture credit: Leicester City Council
The project was delivered by the St Philip’s Centre, which conducted interviews with 103 participants. The conversations have been recorded, archived and used for the exhibition, a companion book and the project’s website, thanks to funding from National Lottery players.
Around one third of those interviewed were born outside the UK, one third were born elsewhere in the UK but not in Leicester, and the remaining third were born and raised in the city. Participants were encouraged to speak openly about their lives, discussing topics ranging from personal freedoms and community life to both positive and challenging experiences of living in Leicester.
Among the oral histories is the story of Barbara, who describes feeling supported by friends and colleagues of different faiths after being diagnosed with cancer. Members of Muslim, Hindu and Christian communities prayed for her recovery, an experience she said gave her strength and reassurance.
“There was never any doubt in my mind that I would recover, because of all this support I was getting from all different expressions of faith,” she said.
Another interview features Mezmin, a Muslim woman who received a Community Champions award in 2019 for her work in a predominantly Hindu community. In her interview, she reflects: “It is not about your faith or culture or where you come from – it is about being a human.”
Revd Dr Tom Wilson, director of the St Philip’s Centre, said the project highlights the lived experiences behind Leicester’s reputation for community cohesion.
“Leicester is well-known for its harmony and the ability of many communities to live well together,” he said. “This project has documented and preserved the experiences that lie behind that cohesion by recording the memories of 103 people who have made their home in the city.”
The interviews have also been transcribed into a companion book, Living Together, published by the St Philip’s Centre and available for £10. The recordings are accessible online through the project’s website.
Living Together opens in the Leicester Stories gallery at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery on Friday 6 February and runs until 24 May. Admission is free.
Further information can be found at leicesterlivingtogether.com.
