26
October
2020
|
12:22
Europe/London

Hackney Museum launches ‘Hackney in the 1980s’ exhibition with opening event Thursday 29 October

Anticipated new exhibition ‘Hackney in the 1980s’ will be officially launched by the Mayor of Hackney with a special live-streamed event on Thursday 29 October. Hosted by Hackney Museum, the exhibition brings 1980s Hackney to life through photographs found in the basement of the Rio Cinema, Dalston.

The extraordinary discovery of over 12,000 photographic slides took place during a recent refurbishment by cinema staff and eventually linked them back to the Tape/Slide Project – a groundbreaking community photography initiative, which captured life in the borough during the eighties. Photographer Alan Denney soon came on board to help clean, restore and digitise the slides revealing Hackney’s rich history in photojournalism and activism.

On display for the first time, and available to visit in person now at the Hackney Museum, this unique collection explores the highs and lows of everyday life in the borough, alongside some of the key social and political events of the decade. They also capture the resilience and solidarity of Hackney’s communities in the 1980s in the face of poverty, racism, housing shortages and government cuts.

Attendees to the launch event on Thursday will hear from photographer Alan Denney and Andrew Woodyatt from the Rio Cinema who will discuss how they brought this fascinating collection to life, as well as viewing some of the highlights from the exhibition.

Andrew Woodyatt, Marketing and Development Manager, Rio Cinema, said: “This discovery has turned out to be a unique time capsule of Hackney life (and cinema history). We want the archive to be used by the public and by schools as a unique educational tool and to inspire a new generation of reportage and photo journalism.”

Local photographer, Alan Denney said: “The exhibition takes you back to Hackney in the turbulent 1980s when Thatcher started dismantling the welfare state, hospitals were closing, trade unions were being silenced and the police were out of control. Thanks to the photographs taken at the time by a group of young unemployed locals, we can see how Hackney survived by resisting the Tory onslaught with determination, dignity and humour.”

Cllr Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Planning, Business, Investment and Culture
“After a frustrating delay brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, and after a lot of work by Hackney’s Museum team, we’re excited to be reopening Hackney Museum with this excellent new exhibition of photographs from Hackney in the eighties led by local photographer Alan Denney. The extraordinary work is a timely and fitting reminder of Hackney’s roots in community spirit, diversity and creative activism.”

 
Cllr Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Planning, Business, Investment and Culture

Notes for editors

The event will be held online on Thursday 29 October, 6pm-7pm. Tickets are free. To book, visit Eventbrite.

Images Copyright Rio Cinema Archive

Hackney Museum is now available to visit in person. For more information on how to book a free slot, visit hackney-museum.hackney.gov.uk/exhibitions