For the first time in its 24-year history, Heritage Open Days – England’s largest festival of culture and history – will take place over two consecutive weekends in September. This year, in recognition of the centenary of the Universal Suffrage Act, there will be hundreds of events taking place on the theme of ‘Extraordinary Women’ – focusing on both well-known and less celebrated women.
In addition, Heritage Open Days is launching a second Unsung Stories project, following on from the critically acclaimed LGBTQ events last year. put her forward, a ground-breaking artistic collaboration, will see up to 25 new 3-D modelled figurines of present day ‘Extraordinary Women’. Interactive arts group non zero one will source nominations for community heroines in towns and cities, as well as online; winning candidates will be permanently commemorated with statues unveiled over the HODs weekend.
“Every year, Heritage Open Days becomes a more diverse and fascinating festival,” says patron, Loyd Grossman. “It’s wonderful that, thanks to funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we are able to continue the Unsung Stories project, which actively sources and shares stories of individuals and events that conventional histories may have overlooked.
And, of course, we continue to celebrate all aspects of local heritage, with thousands of other walks, talks, openings and events – all of them FREE!”
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