A song from the early days of Britain's gay liberation movement is set to be brought back to life at Queer Britain this autumn, as artist Ian Giles reunites the original musicians behind the 1972 recording A Gay Song for a major new exhibition.
Everyone Involved, which runs at the museum from 23 October - 21 November, centres on a new film documenting the reunion and re-recording of the song more than 50 years after it was first made. The project forms Queer Britain's first immersive installation, combining a four-channel film, textiles and sound to explore how queer history can be brought into the present rather than simply preserved.
Written by Alan Wakeman and Michael Klein, A Gay Song was recorded just five years after the partial decriminalisation of sex between men in England and Wales in 1967. Celebrating gay identity and echoing the gay liberation movement's rallying cry that "Gay is Good", the song became part of the album Everyone Involved, of which 1,000 copies were distributed free of charge.
"When I first encountered A Gay Song, I was struck by how direct and joyful it was," said Ian Giles. "It was made at a moment when gay people were beginning to organise publicly and challenge the idea that being gay was something to be ashamed of. More than 50 years later, bringing the original musicians back together gave us a chance to hear that history in their voices again, and to think about what has changed and what hasn't."
The exhibition premiered at Southampton City Art Gallery before transferring to London. Giles said the project became an act of intergenerational exchange, bringing together people involved in Britain's early gay liberation movement with contemporary audiences through music, testimony and film.
Andrew Given, chief executive of Queer Britain, said: "Queer Britain Museum is delighted to host this exhibition from the incredible artist, Ian Giles. Bringing together music, queer activism and storytelling through art into a singular experience will give visitors something unique and special to experience at the national LGBTQ+ museum."
Alongside the exhibition, Queer Britain will host a Songwriting as Activism workshop on 24 October and a Queer Desert Island Discs event on 7 November. The museum will also stage a late opening on 19 November.
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