Celebrating 16 exceptional women in north east England in museum trail display on tour

A museum display celebrating exceptional women from north east England developed at Discovery Museum is going on tour to celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March).

We Are Here: Inspirational Women (the museum trail) was originally created in 2022 by the community-led Exchange research group consisting of community activists, researchers and museum staff. The exhibition consists of 16 women’s personal stories accompanied by specially commissioned portraits. It will feature as part of Northumbria University’s International Women’s Day event at Newcastle Cathedral and then tour to Gateshead Library for the rest of March.

The Exchange research group explore ways the themes of empire, migration and life in Britain are represented in the museum’s collections. 

[Pictured left - right, above: Louise Evan Wong, Dr Juna Sathian, Ngozi Ossai]

Pat Poinen (pictured above), Exchange Steering group member and Chair of the North East of England African Community Association (NEEACA) said:

“The Exchange programme gave the steering group the opportunity to explore and share the amazing stories of the women, many of whom have excelled in their fields of work and service, locally and internationally.

“The Inspirational Women trail of African and Asian heritage in north east England is the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of these women. It is also the opportunity for the museum to become more inclusive and diverse within the wider community.

“Recognition of the women featured is truly remarkable and will hopefully serve to inspire other women and girls to strive to achieve their goals and dreams.” 

Kylea Little, Keeper of History said:

“Creating a touring version of the We Are Here: Inspirational Women display allows us to share the stories of these amazing women with more people in the north east.

“Producing the exhibition sparked conversations and new community connections for Discovery Museum. We are very grateful to our colleagues in the Exchange steering group for their contribution and of course the women highlighted in the exhibition for allowing us to share their personal stories.” 

[Ranjana Bell, MBE, pictured above] 

We Are Here: Inspirational Women shines a light on the lesser-known stories of exceptional women across the north east who have shaped and supported their own communities in many ways.

The women featured in the exhibition were selected by the Exchange steering group and are trailblazers in their communities and professions in the fields of medicine, healthcare, science, academia and activism.

Some of the women featured in the exhibition will be familiar to many people in the region like MP Chi Onwurah, Newcastle Central’s current Labour MP; other women like Shamshad Iqbal (pictured immediately above) who co-founded the Angelou Centre in Newcastle’s west end and has supported generations of women in Newcastle are very well known and respected within their own communities. 

This exhibition is one of the next steps of the Exchange programme led by National Museums Scotland and the National Maritime Museum, London and funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

To learn more about the Exchange research project visit the Exchange project page information.