Guided Tours at People’s History Museum

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

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Guided Tours

3 June 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

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People’s History Museum (PHM) are offering more of us the chance to get a personalised view on their new exhibitions with a series of guided tours. You’ll be able to talk directly with curators and conservators, allowing you to understand the thinking behind how each collection is curated and displayed. Join them this year to gain an insight beyond the exhibit labels.

You may have noticed the ongoing programming at PHM surrounding the history of activism led by disabled people. This collaborative initiative focuses on the people fighting for their rights, inclusion and quality of life. One of the tours takes you through the landmark new exhibition Nothing About Us Without Us. Following the chronology of UK based campaigns, protests and direct action, you’ll discover why some of the artefacts collected from this lesser known history are significant to the museum staff and curators.

Come away from this guided tour feeling a profound sense of perspective

The end of January sees the launch of the 2023 Banner Exhibition. The museum curates an annual exhibition of large scale crafts created for societal action from its extensive collection of protest banners. With very thoughtful curation and some truly remarkable additions you can be sure to come away from this guided tour feeling a profound sense of perspective. On this tour you’ll also meet one of the expert curation team and hear how these decades (if not centuries) old banners are kept intact.

A deeper look into the main galleries through the lens of the incredible radicals

On International Women’s Day PHM’s Jenny Mabbott, Head of Collections & Engagement, will be leading a deeper look into the main galleries through the lens of the incredible radicals, suffragettes and activists who have made a huge impact on gender equality in our world. There is no better day than this to pay homage to the women whose actions have meant we’ve been able to take considerable steps forward towards a more equal society.

All tours are accessible on a pay as you feel basis and audio descriptions or BSL interpretation are available on selected tours.

For the latest word on the museum, future tours, and what’s on, sign up to their newsletter by taking their ‘Which Radical Are You’ Quiz.

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