Heart of the Nationis a national touring exhibition from the Migration Museum shining a light on the stories and experiences of people who have come to Britain to work in the NHS through photography, film, oral histories and an immersive experience that brings together singing and storytelling.
We launched the exhibition in Leicester in June 2023 to coincide with the NHS’s 75th anniversary. The exhibition was open to the public at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery for four months, accompanied by a series of workshops and events ranging from talks to music and craft workshops to yoga sessions.
Heart of the Nation at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery (Photo: Everything’s Fine Photography)
It then moved to Leeds, where we staged the exhibition from our Migration Museum Leeds Pop-Up in Trinity Leeds shopping centre from mid-November 2023 until mid-February 2024.
Heart of the Nation at the Migration Museum Leeds Pop-Up (Photo: Hamish Irvine Photographer)
We launched the final leg of the national tour at the Migration Museum in Lewisham, south London, where Heart of the Nation runs until 27 July 2024.
Heart of the Nation at the Migration Museum in Lewisham (Photo: Sopo Ramischwili)
More than 40,000 of you have seen the exhibition so far during its national tour so far – and we’ve been blown away by how deeply it has resonated with so many of you. Here are just a few of your responses:
“What a moving, beautiful exhibition – thank you. A wonderful opportunity to reflect on the hopes and dreams of those who helped to build our health service.”
“This is such a powerful, insightful and amazing exhibition that says so much through stories. Lots resonated with the stories of my parents being from a Ghanaian background and thinking about their experiences.”
“No exhibition in my life so far has made me so emotional! I’m an immigrant myself and I truly feel for every soul that came to this country and continues to be a nice and kind person despite all the hardships and racism. Stay strong & keep nursing :)”
Thanks to our funders who have made this exhibition possible: Arts Council England, Garfield Weston, People’s Postcode Trust, The Rumi Foundation, The Dorfman Foundation and Unbound Philanthropy.
And a massive thank you to all of the artists, collaborators, designers and current and former NHS workers who have contributed stories, photos, uniforms, party dresses, placards and so much more – this exhibition is for you.
We’re thrilled to be shortlisted alongside four other fantastic temporary and touring exhibitions – you can view the shortlist here. The awards ceremony takes place on Wednesday 15 May 2024.
Our Migrant Makers Market, designed by spatial designer Studio Lucy Sanderson, has recently reopened and features a wider range of products made by migrant-led makers and brands than ever before. It provides a much-needed platform for underrepresented makers, brands and businesses that otherwise aren’t available in high street spaces. Take a closer look and among the products you will discover the stories of the entrepreneurs behind them.
Announcing the award for Best Shop, the judges said: “An innovative and inclusive space which looks amazing and works with the museum ethos – an exciting way to approach cultural retail.”
Awarding the Rising Star award to our Retail Manager, Katy Clinch, the judges said: “Katy is a team player and inclusive leader who champions professional and personal development and is an ambassador for retail across the sector.”
Our Migrant Makers Market was designed by spatial designer Studio Lucy Sanderson, chosen to create the space following an open call to local artists and designers in 2022.
“The Migrant Makers Market’s spatial design is influenced by the design language of UK high streets, markets, and shopping centres, as well as the borough of Lewisham’s blue and yellow brand identity honouring its home in the heart of Lewisham. The design pays homage to iconic brands, many of which were created by immigrants, while celebrating and providing a platform for future migrant-founded brands and businesses.” – Lucy Sanderson, founder of Studio Lucy Sanderson and designer of the Migrant Makers Market.
You can explore our award-winning Migrant Makers Market by visiting us in-store or online.
Congratulations to everyone who was shortlisted for these awards and to all of the other winners – it was inspiring to see so many incredible ranges and so much creativity on display.
Top image: Katy Clinch, Retail Manager at the Migration Museum, with the two awards at the Cultural Enterprises Awards 2023 Migrant Makers Market images: photos by Sopo Ramischwili
“Inside a shopping centre, a packed exhibition is celebrating the contribution of thousands of immigrants to building the National Health Service. To mark the NHS’s 75th birthday, the Migration Museum in South East London has gathered documents, photographs, memories, and objects from midwifery badges to nurses’ uniforms, to write migrant health-workers back into our national history.”
Our Artistic Director Aditi Anand and exhibition contributor Allyson Williams MBE were special guests on the Robert Elms show on BBC Radio London to talk about Heart of the Nation: Migration and the Making of the NHS
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