CASE STUDY
Peterloo 2019 : Impact Report
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Get Together and Get Things Done Manchester Art Gallery’s programme Get Together and Get Things Done demonstrated a good example of how art and history came together as a response to Peterloo. The exhibition and project aimed to explore crowds and collective action from Peterloo to the present. In the exhibition spaces art works were positioned next to each other from different time periods throughout history and encouraged visitors to write their own labels and comments. Over 2000 comments cards were left during the exhibition and it gave a great sense of what people in Manchester and beyond wanted to express. The top themes that came out through the cards were: Kindness, Sentiments of Protests, Activism, Resistance, Brexit, Politics, Art, Climate Change, Environmental Urgencies and Animals rights. As part of the project Manchester Art Galley offered free space in the studio and in the gallery space for groups to book. This was the first time Manchester Art Gallery had done this, it was about opening up Manchester Art Gallery as a civic space to be used by people. Over 20 different groups used the space from Climate Change activist groups to older adult groups to drama and performing arts groups and artist collectives. The spaces were also used to host Manchester Histories events as part of the Peterloo 2019 programme; including singing events and performances by a variety of choirs, a British Council: Women and Politics event with MPs, youth MPs and leading speakers. As well as the highly popular talk by academic David Olusoga.
Manchester Art Gallery continues to offer free space to not for profit groups from Manchester and this has been a real tangible legacy from the Get Together project as part of the Peterloo 2019 programme.
The exhibition had some positive comments about the style of exhibition making and people appreciating the space to contribute:
“ Thinking about art and representation is important and I really like the way this museum shows its art. Thank you for offering such a space for free! This is really democratic!” “ Making art collectively as a community creates bonds, removes barriers and empowers us all to make change together.”
“ Who cares of the paintings, those labels are real art!!!” As well as some others who didn't like the way the exhibition had been put together:
“ I do not go to a museum to be told how to vote. I go to a museum to make my own mind about the world, by discovering unknown territories. That is dumb neo-liberal propaganda. Think by yourself.”
“ I demand art! Not a political Marxist agenda.”
