Rare musical manuscript to form centre of new exhibition at Gloucester Cathedral

From 6-30 September, Gloucester Cathedral will feature the world’s oldest surviving music manuscript from the voices of enslaved people on the sugar plantations of Barbados, usually housed in the Gloucester Archives. The 18^th Century slave song is a UNESCO world heritage document and will be a highlight of a new exhibition curated by Voices Gloucester for Threads 2024, an annual heritage textiles programme.

Accompanying this significant artefact will be two new projects showcasing international artists and local quilt makers. New art from Gloucester-based artist Rider Shafique, of Bajan descent, and British-Jamaican photographer Vanley Burke will be on display in the Cathedral’s Lady Chapel. Inspired by the historical slave song, their art will delve into the impact of the transatlantic slave trade from their perspectives as descendants of Caribbean enslaved people.

A series of newly commissioned quilts, led by Gloucestershire-based textile artist and curator Jo Teague, also forms part of the powerful programme. The new display titled ‘Belonging and Unbelonging’, will showcase local quilt makers and international artists. It aims to explore themes of migration, displacement, neurodiversity, cultural histories, and the ways in which the people of Gloucester have influenced the wider world and will offer visitors a profound and reflective experience.

Canon Rebecca Lloyd, Gloucester Cathedral’s Canon Chancellor and Director of Learning and Participation added: “The Cathedral is honoured to host these important works and celebrate the rich tapestry of Gloucester's diverse people and stories, while sparking important conversations on identity and justice.

This exhibition embodies our commitment to being a place where everyone is welcome, where all voices are heard, and where art can inspire positive change within our community.”

Local artist and curator of the exhibition Jo Teague stated: “Voices Gloucester is proud to celebrate the radical flair of artists and quilt makers. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity for talented local makers to share their craft alongside two artists engaged in an internationally significant dialogue.

Through these quilts, we will tell the intricate stories of our community, while honouring Gloucester's rich history. Long recognised as a female art form embodying love, thriftiness, and personal narratives, quilting holds a special place in our cultural heritage. Through this exhibition, we aim to spark a renewed conversation about the history of women's work and quilting, and to elevate quilting within the visual arts.”

Threads 2024 is a partnership project, curated by Voices Gloucester and Jo Teague, and supported by Gloucester Cathedral, The Folk of Gloucester and the Museum of Gloucester. Beating Back the Past is a partnership project led by Gloucestershire Archives and Voices Gloucester, funded by Arts Council England.

The exhibition will be complemented by a series of talks at The Folk of Gloucester, Museum of Gloucester and Gloucester Cathedral throughout September. These discussions will illustrate how textile art can tell provocative and reparative stories about identity, helping us interpret our place in the world. Discover this programme and book your place at these events online HERE.