Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss at The Whitworth

Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor

Visit now

Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss

The Whitworth, Manchester
23 September 2021-4 September 2022

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

Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss
Stacey Hill
Book now

Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss at The Whitworth tackles the concept of loss and the most heartbreaking experience for a parent – losing a baby, in this beautiful, moving exhibition.

Still Parents is the result of a series of workshops which encouraged participants to explore their experiences with baby loss and miscarriage through art making and involved almost 100 participants in the two years of running. The programme has even won a national award for ‘Going the Extra Mile’ for families in the Kids in Museums awards – an award that is certainly well-deserved, with the programme having touched the lives of so many people.

The display is the first of its kind, aiming to shatter the silence that surrounds baby loss and functioning as a platform for people to open up and share their stories. Described as a ‘constituent-led’ exhibition, The Whitworth team ensured that every aspect of the show, including the choice of works, curation and interpretation has been informed by the participants.

The workshops placed a lot of emphasis on the practical aspects of art-making and learning new techniques, so the resulting artwork in the exhibition includes prints, ceramics, photography and embroidery. Works produced by the participants are interspersed with works from The Whitworth’s collection, once again chosen by the participating members of the public. It is easy to see why some of the works were particular favourites, with themes of solitude and community being particularly noticeable.

The participating parents also loaned personal objects to the gallery, ones that were connected with their own, personal stories of loss. These objects, placed in ‘memory boxes’, are displayed side by side in a vitrine. One participant described seeing them together as particularly emotional, because it was a reminder that even in the darkest of places we are never completely alone and other people going through similar experiences can come together to lift each other up, even just by their presence.

Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss is a very special and emotionally-charged exhibition that you will not want to forget. Visitors are bound to feel the intensity behind the works on show no matter what their own experience, and the sense of a group of people deeply connecting both through a traumatic experience and art-making, will prevail.

What's on at The Whitworth

Where to go near Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss at The Whitworth

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Big Hands

Big Hands is the one-time haunt of legendary Manchester band Elbow; it’s shabby, loud and dark, with a jukebox and excellent roof terrace.

The Giving Tree
Manchester
Restaurant
The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is a cafe and community hub based in Rusholme, a short walk from the city centre.

Pankhurst Centre
Manchester
Museum
The Pankhurst Centre

The Pankhurst Centre houses a small museum and heritage centre that remains as a legacy to the Pankhurst family and the Suffragette movement born in this city.

Whitworth Park, Manchester
Manchester
Park
Whitworth Park

This 18-acre park opposite the Manchester Royal Infirmary provides a welcome patch of green in an otherwise densely populated and heavily used part of the city.

Manchester
Music venue
Manchester Academy 3

Brilliant venue for catching a touring band on the rise. The boringly titled Academy 3 or more interesting Hop and Grape, as it was once known, is a self contained…

Manchester Academy music venue on Oxford Road Manchester.
Manchester
Music venue
Manchester Academy

The Manchester Academy is a mid size, modern warehouse venue adjacent to the University of Manchester Students’ Union. It lacks any architectural merit and has always been a difficult place…

Cafe at the Museum
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
The Cafe
at the Museum

Manchester Museum’s cafe is run by the people behind award-winning cafe Teacup Kitchen. The menu features home-baked cakes, the finest loose leaf teas and breakfast, as well as a wide selection of mains and meals for kids.

What's on: Exhibitions

Commons at SODA
Until
ExhibitionsManchester
Commons at SODA

Commons is a programme of openly accessible, interactive events led by digital artists, showcasing the nuances of our interactions with tech.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

European Poetry Festival European Camarade
Literature Events in the North

From tongue-twisters to twisty page-turners, we have all kinds of spoken word surprises in the latest literature round-up.