The Collecting Collective: Community collecting and digitizing sessions

If you have ever wondered what happens to all those old photos, fanzines, or flyers tucked away in boxes, there is a project in Brighton that might interest you. On June 7, 2026, the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery is hosting a session for The Collecting Collective, an initiative led by Queer Heritage South and supported by Marlborough Productions. It is essentially a space for people to contribute to the local LGBTQIA+ archive, and it is designed to be quite relaxed and informal.

The sessions are led by an archivist named Rowan, and the idea is to make the process of archiving history accessible to everyone. You can get involved in a few different ways depending on what you have or what you want to do. If you have physical materials like photographs, pamphlets, or personal stories that you think are worth preserving, you can donate them to the archive. Alternatively, if you have items you want to keep but would like to digitise, there are flatbed and overhead scanners are provided on-site for you to use. There is also the option to volunteer your time to help with the digitisation and cataloguing process, which does not require any prior experience.

Beyond the technical side of things, the organisers have set up the space to be a bit of a social hub. There will be refreshments available and a selection of books on LGBTQ+ history to look through while you are there. It is open to anyone interested in this area of local history, though it is worth noting that the sessions are for those aged 18 and over. While the event is free to attend, you do need to book your spot in advance. It is a straightforward way to engage with the city's history, whether you are looking to contribute your own materials or just want to help out with the archiving work. If you cannot make this specific date, there are further sessions scheduled for September 13 and November 8, 2026.