Communities whose stories rarely appear in formal collections will soon see their histories represented in a new experimental archive at BACKLIT Gallery, supported by a £48,000 grant from Art Fund, the national charity for museums and galleries.

The award is part of a total of £1.3 million investment through the latest round of Art Fund’s Reimagine programme, supporting innovative collections work in museums and galleries across the UK.

BACKLIT’s project will address longstanding gaps in how regional collections are formed, interpreted and made public, particularly for feminist, queer and disabled communities whose contributions have historically been excluded from institutional archives.

Curator Jazz Swali (pictured), will lead the three-year project.

"This funding arrived at a critical moment for us," says Swali. "Securing our building earlier this year has allowed us to think long-term about how we care for, develop and share our collection. Now we can begin the work of shaping an archive that reflects the communities we exist for."

The project will create paid, mentored opportunities for three emerging curators, who will work closely with BACKLIT’s growing archive, shaping how it is organised interpreted and activated through public engagement.

Training will include cataloguing governance and experimental archival methods, offering skills that are rarely accessible to early-career practitioners.

"Early-career programmes like this are often the first-time practitioners from underrepresented backgrounds feel their knowledge is valued and contributes to the future of our organisation," says Matt Chesney, Co-Director of BACKLIT Gallery.

The new archive will bring together physical and digital collections as part of BACKLIT’s forthcoming ground-floor expansion.

It will provide accessible space for research workshops and community-led activity, and will catalogue materials generated across BACKLIT’s programmes, from collectives and exhibitions to artist commissions community projects and studio histories.

One strand of the archive will focus on documenting the work of BACKLIT’s feminist queer and disabled artist networks, ensuring that their stories are preserved as part of the region’s cultural record.

"What makes this project unique is the experimental curatorial approach," Swali continues. "The archive will be based on what each trainee curator wants to do. This is about slowing down sharing authority and allowing emerging curators to challenge what an archive can be who it belongs to and how it is used."

By the end of 2028 BACKLIT will have one of the region’s first archives built collaboratively with feminist queer and disabled communities, a living growing record shaped by the people it represents.

Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund, said:

“At the core of Art Fund’s purpose is supporting museums to develop, care for and share the collections that enrich people’s lives. I'm delighted we've been able to support BACKLIT Gallery through our final round of Reimagine funding, enabling museums to explore their collections, connect with communities and ensure that works of art, objects and their stories are shared and preserved for future generations.”

For press inquiries please contact:

Notes to editors: Please get in touch if you would like to conduct interviews with Matthew Chesney or Jazz Swali, or our resident artists.

Rosa Davies
Marketing Coordinator
[email protected]

Matthew Chesney
Director
[email protected]

Jazz Swali
Curator and Programme Coordinator
[email protected]

About BACKLIT

Founded in 2008 by Nottingham graduates, BACKLIT is an independent, artist-led gallery and studio hub supporting early-career artists and presenting contemporary exhibitions across three floors of Alfred House. It is a registered charity and Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

Social media (all platforms): @backlitgallery
Website: https://backlit.org.uk/


Art Fund

Art Fund is the national charity for museums and galleries. For over 120 years, it has helped institutions across the UK to develop and share their collections, invest in people and expertise, grow their audiences and inspire the next generation.

Art Fund connects museums and people with great art and culture through funding, advocacy and initiatives, because access to art is vital for a healthy society. It champions the sector through the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year award - the world’s largest museum prize - and supports museum professionals through dedicated training and grant programmes.