On the 19th September I went along to the Voices of ’68 exhibition in the Ulster museum as part of #GRWeek18, I was impressed by the breadth of opinions reflected in the exhibition. It is well worth a visit. Karen Logan, who delivered an overview of the exhibition, kindly emailed me the following information.
Patricia O'Neill, Communications Mangager, CRC
An interactive exhibition has opened at the Ulster Museum featuring filmed testimonies of 30 political activists, historians and civilians who experienced a pivotal year in Northern Ireland in 1968, when the civil rights movement and political tensions came to the fore across the province.
The Voices of ’68 exhibition, encourages a fresh look at this crucial turning point in Northern Ireland’s political and social history and is told in the words of some of those directly involved at the time.
The exhibition is one part of a collaborative project between National Museums NI and Dr Chris Reynolds from Nottingham Trent University. The project has involved producing filmed testimonies capturing the personal accounts of events which occurred in 1968. Other elements of the project include a touring exhibition, educational resources and a series of extended videos to allow visitors to further explore this seminal moment in Northern Ireland’s recent history.
Karen Logan, Project Curator at National Museums NI comments- “Voices of ’68 has been a significant collaboration dedicated to highlighting the living legacies of a time in history that challenged Northern Irish society.
“We hope that the exhibitions and talks throughout the exhibition will encourage conversations around the wider issues of human rights and political reform and that the actions of the past will help inform all communities.”
Dr Chris Reynolds of Nottingham Trent University states - “It has been a privilege to work with National Museums NI on this project. The Ulster Museum houses a wealth of historical archives that tell an important story about conflict, communities and peace building.
“The exhibition offers a snapshot of the people who were involved in or witnessed social and political events across Northern Ireland fifty years ago, and how testimonies can educate and resonate with a wide generation of visitors from all backgrounds.”
A travelling version of Voices of ’68 will be visiting a number of civic spaces throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the UK such as the Guildhall in Derry/Londonderry (5-7 October), Cork County Library (Jan 2019) and the Irish Cultural Centre, London (8-22 October).
The exhibition’s closing event includes a free three-day conference programme, 1968 And Beyond, at the Ulster Museum from 11 – 13 October. Events includes a study day for GCSE students, talks featuring the interviewees of Voices of ’68, and lectures on the role of women during this period and since.
Admission to the Voices of ’68 exhibition at the Ulster Museum is free and is open until 14 October. For further information visit www.nmni.com