IDENTITIES! RAINBOW WALK EXHIBITION

A joyful celebration of Queerness has launched in Ferry Meadows in Peterborough.

The first of its kind here in Peterborough, Identities! Rainbow Walk is an experiential exhibition celebrating Queer people living in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, and the Fens.

The installation consists of several coloured plinths in the park, making up a Rainbow Walk, and by visiting each one, visitors can gather information and learn more about local queer living history. The exhibition starts by the Lynch Lake Community Hub in Ferry Meadows and continues along the path towards Lakeside. It’s just been launched and the exhibition will be in place throughout the winter, with an additional installation launching on December 1 to commemorate World Aids Day. The exhibition will then close in January 2024.

Identities! is the work of Q Productions, supported by the Your Community Greenspace project, a five year project being run by Nene Park Trust and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players. The project aims to build bridges with the multicultural communities of Peterborough to make Ferry Meadows an inclusive community hub.

The Identities! project was first launched in May as part of Peterborough Celebrates Festival, with an installation in Lynch Lake Community Hub commemorating Marsha P Johnson and the Stonewall riots.

Talking about the project, Teddi, Creative Co-Director of Q Productions said – “A few years ago I looked around Peterborough and thought where is my community? I then thought of this idea about having a living queer history in Peterborough, not only to educate those outside of the LGBTQIA+ community, but to create a safe space for those who need it. And our community really does. There were no books about Peterborough’s queer history, nor was there any information, almost as if it were swept under the carpet. So we decided to change that.”

Alex, fellow Creative Co-Director for Q Productions, added – “It’s been a wonderful project for us to get stuck into. We hope visitors enjoy reading the stories and getting to know these individuals. Peterborough has a rich history, and we are excited to share this with everyone.”

For more information on Your Community Greenspace and the Identities! project, visit the project page on the Nene Park website www.nenepark.org.uk/YCGS