The Collecting Collective: Community Collecting and Digitizing Sessions

The Collecting Collective: Community Collecting and Digitizing Sessions is taking place at the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery on Sunday, 13 September 2026. This initiative is presented by Queer Heritage South with support from Marlborough Productions and funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is a series of sessions focused on the active preservation of local queer heritage, inviting anyone with an interest in LGBTQIA+ history to get involved.

The sessions are led by community archivist Rowan and are designed to be relaxed and informal. The core of the day revolves around three main activities. First, there is the opportunity to donate items to the archive; if you have old photos, leaflets, fanzines, or personal stories that document LGBTQIA+ life, you can bring them along to help preserve this history for future generations. Second, the team provides both flatbed and overhead scanners, allowing you to digitize your own materials and upload them directly to the Queer Heritage South archive. This is a practical way to ensure personal records become part of a wider, accessible collection. Finally, there is a volunteer element for those who want to get hands-on with the cataloguing process. You do not need any prior experience or specific skills to help out, just an interest in the work.

Beyond the technical side of archiving, the space is set up as a place to socialise and connect with others interested in the subject. There will be refreshments available, along with a curated selection of books on LGBTQ+ history to browse. It is an open environment where you can learn about the process of archiving or simply spend time in a space dedicated to queer history. The session starts at 13:00 on 13 September. While the event is held within the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, it is worth checking if general museum entry is required for access to the session, as it is a public space. This is part of a wider cycle of events, with further sessions scheduled, such as one on 8 November 2026.