Illuminating Invisible Histories: Flavours Without Borders
In partnership with the Refugee Buddy Project, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery is working on a three-year project, Illuminating Invisible Histories: Flavours Without Borders, to bring communities together and co-create meaningful programming that reflects the diverse heritage and histories of Hastings.
The project seeks to raise awareness of refugee experiences in Hastings, increase co-collaboration and coproduce programming with community organisations to broaden the museum’s offer and draw in new audiences.
Participant feedback
“Inspirational and moving.”
“Wonderful, engaging and inspiring.”
“Uplifting, moving and inspirational.”
“Inspiring, intense, enlightening.”
Two dinner parties took place at the museum, where 20 participants brought homemade food and personal objects. Through food and facilitated conversation, an intergenerational and multinational community shared untold stories of their culture, and their life in Hastings. Their insights were captured in a film screened during Refugee Week with the guests’ objects displayed along with testimony about their journeys as told through their objects.
The project will continue to develop throughout 2025 with two 20-day placements by members of the community who will work with museum staff on reinterpreting the gallery’s permanent display about Hastings life. New objects will be introduced, some of which may come from the dinner parties, and there will also be tours and a panel discussion.
Illuminating Invisible Histories: Flavours Without Borders won the Best Small Museum Project award at the Museums Change Lives Awards 2024.