Harbour Gallery Exhibitions

Legacy

An exhibition at The Beacon, Whitehaven from 25th March to 17th June 2007 in commemoration of the Bicentenary of the Abolition of Slavery Act 1807.

Organised by Cumbria Institute for the Arts, Legacy is on show at the Beacon’s Harbour Gallery in Whitehaven during March -June 2007 and comprises new works by artists from South Africa and the UK.

The works detail the artists’ response to the impact and legacy of slavery and enforced migration.

The exhibition explores the cross-cultural interconnections that contribute to the formulation of identity and contemporary issues around migrants and asylum-seekers such as racism and social exclusion.

The exhibition features some of Cumbria’s most established artists whose work is often of a socio-political nature.

These are:

• Conrad Atkinson
• John Darwell
• Margaret Harrison
• Russell Mills
• Phil Morsman
• Paul Scott

The exhibition also features work by two South African artists selected by artists, gallery owners and museum directors from the University of Cape Town.

To increase the impact of the exhibition in the UK, African artists are travelling to Cumbria to give accompanying talks about their work to children and visitors to the Beacon.

The exhibition comes as part of a wider range of activities being undertaken by the Beacon and Cumbria Institute for the Arts in recognition of the Bicentenary of the Abolition of Slavery on 25th March 1807.

The anniversary provides an opportunity to inform people about the past but also to explore contemporary issues and challenges related to enforced migrations and other movements of people.

The projects will offer diverse communities in Cumbria the opportunity to explore the legacy of slavery and to relate this to contemporary issues of social and economic inclusiveness locally, nationally and globally.

Entrance to the exhibition is free.

• Opening hours 10am - 4.30pm
• Closed Mondays except for holidays.