Following the super successful two-day StoryTrails event held in Ewart Library, Dumfries last July, the project is returning to Dumfries with a range of special events during February and March 2023.
Dumfries Ewart Library is excited to present for the first time, on Saturday 18th February, its new “StoryTrails Station” and offer a range of interactive activities that will highlight the lesser-known HERstories contained within the StoryTrails app.
The events will include themed interactive workshops for LGBT History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March) that will shine a spotlight on the lesser-known HERstories contained within the StoryTrail Augmented Reality app focusing on the stories contained within the “Queens of the South” Augmented Reality Trail created by local creative community and heritage engagement consultant DJ McDowall, and narrated by actress Joanna Lumley.
Get ready to immerse yourself in the stories of incredible local women who have had a significant impact on life in Dumfries and beyond, brought to life through real-life archives and interactive sessions.
The first of these series of events will be held at Dumfries Ewart Library on Saturday 18th February 10-2pm, and in Dumfries Museum in March (date tbc) both of which will feature complementary archival materials and artefacts related to Dr Flora Murray, and other inspiring Queens of the South.
The legacy of StoryTrails continues with Dumfries Ewart Library, Dumfries Museum, and DJ McDowall of The Imaginarium have been working tirelessly to raise the profile of these inspirational local women.
LGBT+ History Month will see the launch of a year round evolving exhibition in commemoration of the life and times of Dr. Flora Murray, Daughter of Dalton, Suffragette Surgeon, Medical Pioneer, LGBTQ+ icon, and radical activist.
Dumfries Museum is very pleased to have on loan two paintings from the Royal Free Hospital. The painting of Dr Flora Murray now features on the £100 Bank of Scotland note. It will be displayed with that of her partner, in life and work, Louisa Garrett Anderson. The museum are delighted to be able to display these paintings for the first time in Dumfries, and to share them as part of an exhibition focusing on some of the remarkable women of Dumfries.
The paintings will be on display from Tuesday 21st February
There will be a fuller exhibition on her incredibly impactful and inspiring life opening in May, bringing together the largest collection of artefacts associated with Dr Flora Murray ever to be gathered, to her home town for the very first time.
There will also be an online event hosted by Museums Galleries Scotland and Dumfries Museum on the evening of Tuesday 14th March, which will include a series of talks focused on the Life and times of the remarkable Dr Flora Murray.
This event for Women’s History Month will feature four different speakers, more details can be found via the following link to Museums Galleries Scotland co-hosted online event with Dumfries Museum:
These interactive events and exhibitions will be the first ever queer co-curated events to be held at both Dumfries Museum & Ewart Library / Heritage Service, and will celebrate the achievements of this incredible woman. With interactive activities, exhibitions, real-life archives, virtual reality experiences, augmented reality trails and talks, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the story of Dr. Flora Murray, to commemorate and celebrate her life, bringing her memory home, and raising the profile of her life, on the 100th anniversary of her death.
Please join us in February and March to be inspired by her bravery and impact, and be part of this ground-breaking tribute to a remarkable figure in history.
At this weekends’ ‘StoryTrails Station’ at Ewart Library, Dumfries visitors will have the opportunity to explore unseen archive materials, information displays, participate in Virtual Reality experiences, and Augmented Reality Trails created specifically for Dumfries as part of StoryTrails.
Check out the StoryTrails website for more information or visit Dumfries Ewart Library on Saturday, 18th February 10am to 2pm, or Dumfries Museum to participate in the interactive sessions in March (date tbc)
DJ McDowall quote:
“Bringing the memory of Dr. Flora Murray back to life in our hometown is truly an honour. It’s such a pleasure to collaborate with Dumfries Ewart Library/Heritage Service and Dumfries Museum to share her story through this series of exhibitions, events, and interactive activities to help raise her profile locally. This is a historic moment for Dumfries, and our LGBTQ+ community.”
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