Why it matters: Beyond Labels: Celebrating Disability in Suffolk – funded by a £139,107 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – has been co-curated with more than 30 local community groups and schools, giving Suffolk people with lived experience of disability the chance to share and celebrate their stories.
The big picture: The exhibition covers themes of visibility, independent living, discrimination – tracing how national campaigns and social and political shifts have shaped the lives of disabled people in Suffolk, from the First World War to the present day.
The details: Local stories span more than a century – from soldiers returning from the First World War with life-changing injuries, to parents who fought back after the state deemed their children "uneducable." The exhibition also shines a light on hidden disabilities and their impact on day-to-day life.
The artwork: As part of the project, Suffolk Archives worked with more than 30 community groups and schools to create a large-scale community art installation called Unlabelled – 150 giant labels made from sustainably sourced plywood, decorated to represent lived experience of disability and themes of access, visibility, and representation. It will be displayed in the foyer of The Hold.
What they're saying: Community forum member Becca Jakaman, a wheelchair user who helped shape the project, said: "I wanted to get more involved with The Hold, and the amazing work they do. As a wheelchair-user, I wanted to offer my lived experience to help make the project as inclusive and open about disability as possible."
Cllr Nadia Cenci, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for communities, said: "Beyond Labels is a fantastic exhibition that highlights the experiences and achievements of disabled people in Suffolk. It's an important project that helps raise awareness, challenge barriers, and encourage greater understanding and inclusion across our communities."
Liz Bates, director for England, Midlands and East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Thanks to funding from National Lottery players, Suffolk Archives have recorded and preserved the stories of people with disabilities in Suffolk, past and present, so that their lives can be shared and celebrated."
The bottom line: Beyond Labels runs from 27 February to 30 May at The Hold in Ipswich. Pre-bookers receive 15% off in the Suffolk Archives café.
