LGBT+ exhibition the first to reopen Hinckley's Atkins Gallery

It marks International Day against Homophobia on Monday 17th May.

Hinckley’s Atkins Building has reopening to the public today following the Government’s announcement of further easing of coronavirus restrictions starting next week.

One of the first two exhibitions in the Atkins Gallery will be IDAHO International Day against Homophobia, which runs from 17 May to 23 June.

It aims to challenge homophobic discrimination in our communities, showing how people identifying as LGBT+ have shaped our lives in art, literature, science, technology, sport and more.  

Barwell-based LGBT+ Rights Campaigner Mathew Hulbert says, "IDAHOBIT is an important opportunity to again make clear that homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and, indeed, any hostility or hate crime based on sexuality or gender identity is never, ever acceptable.

"We, as LGBT+ people, have the right to live our lives without fear of persecution, intimidation, prejudice or hate.

"I'm really pleased that this exhibition is the first in the Atkins Building upon its re-opening after the Covid enforced lockdown.

"This has been a tough time for all of us and especially for LGBT+ people, for whom home isn't always the safe and loving place we'd all hope it would be, due to the potential for prejudice by family members, housemates or neighbours. 

"I hope many people, in a socially distanced and Covid-compliant way, come and take a look around the exhibition, learn about the lives of LGBT+ people and the hostility we can face and, if not members of our communities themselves, pledge to become our allies in the ongoing fight against prejudice and for equality."

Also in Atkins Gallery will be Arts in Mind, an exhibition to celebrate the benefits of the arts to our mental health and wellbeing

It features a collection of works from different groups with the aim of using art to improve mental health

Meanwhile the Post Box Gallery will feature the joint project Life in Lockdown 17 May to 2 July  where Atkins Building and Ten2 Gallery of Upper Castle Street, Hinckley teamed up to showcase creative responses to the lockdown in Spring/Summer 2020.  

The Atkins Gallery and the Post Box Gallery at the Atkins Building are free to enter and Covid-19 secure measures are in place including a check in QR venue code for use with the NHS Test and Trace application.  

The opening hours for both galleries in Monday-Friday 9am – 5pm.