Mind the Gap Queer Heritage – Pop Up Exhibition

Mind the Gap

is a pop up exhibition in partnership with Rye library celebrating Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival and Heritage month. Art in Romney Marsh wants to celebrate the black queer creatives from the American Jazz scene circa 1920’s. Why Bessie Smith, well in 1920’s everyone was listening to the music coming from America : Jazz and Blues and guess what some of those amazing musicians, and singers were African American and Queer. Our partnership with Rye library is a chance to celebrate Queer creatives that have local connections and to look for the musical connections to Rye ’s queer history and heritage to celebrate writers, musicians and performers like Gladys Bentley, Alain Locke, Ethel Waters, Bessie Smith, Jimmie Daniels, Ma Rainey, Langston Hughes The Mind the Gap project is funded by The Heritage Fund