Sunday School Stories | Rainbow Streets: Then & Next
7 May 2025
Let's celebrate our local LGBTQIA+ trailblazers, communities, and heritage through art and song this Pride Month. Champion your favourite LGBTQIA+ musical artists by submitting tracks to co-produce a soundtrack for our Sunday School Stories exhibition of artwork made by local students inspired by Islington’s rich heritage of LGBTQIA+ heroes.
We've partnered with neighbours the Estorick Collection to bring you an exhibition of artwork, co-produced with local students, inspired by incredible LGBTQIA+ people, organisations, and movements throughout the ages. The artworks will be lovingly displayed from the ceiling of Union Chapel's iconic Grade II* listed Upper Hall (bar). Accompanying the exhibition is a a soundtrack of songs by inspirational LGBTQIA+ artists, submitted by you!
Our archive volunteers are leading the research into Islington Local History Centre's Pride archives revealing a wealth of LGBTQIA+ legacy – including gay youth clubs, inspirational local heroes, same-sex marriages, and more - all feeding into our rich culture today. The exhibition aims to honour these individuals for their advocacy, solidarity, inclusivity, and cultural contributions.
Book your tickets to share this community celebration, co-produced by Archive Research Volunteers, Estorick Collection, Students, Union Chapel & Estorick members, and YOU!
When?
Tuesday 17 June, 1-2pm | Free Tickets pre-booking required here.
Tuesday 24 June, 1-2pm | Free Tickets pre-booking required here.
Or come to a live evening show between 11 - 30 June to enjoy the exhibition too.
We're also inviting local organisations and charities that advocate for LGBTQIA+ equal rights for private viewings on 17 & 24 June 12-1pm. If this is you, please reach out to [email protected] for availability.
The venue is fully accessible, with use of ramps and the upstairs bar is accessible with use of a platform lift. Please email [email protected] with your accessibility requirements as soon as you book your ticket as requests are dealt with on a first come, first serve basis.
Where?
Union Chapel bar, 19b Compton Terrace, N1 2UN
Soundtrack:
Thanks so all who submitted your favourite and most inspiring LGBTQIA+ musical artists for a playlist accompanying the exhibition. We're curating the playlist and names of those who submitted will be displayed for our audiences to see your involvement and they enjoy the tunes!
Progress:
Together with volunteers, we've gathered incredible real-life moments from the archives that will inspire our young community to express these once-lost stories through the power of art. Soon, we'll be inviting students to workshops where they will create and share together.
Any interested KS4+ schools can get in touch with [email protected] for booking.
More soon - Subscribe for updates here.
The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art is internationally renowned for its core of Futurist works. It comprises some 120 paintings, drawings, watercolours, prints and sculptures by many of the most prominent Italian artists of the modernist era. There are six galleries, two of which are used for temporary exhibitions. Since opening in 1998, the Collection has established a reputation and gained critical acclaim as a key venue for bringing Italian art to the British public.
