News

A Celebration of Diversity, Activism, and Mental Wellbeing

Mayor of Camden, Clllr Samata Khatoon officially opened the 15th annual Loudest Whispers Art Exhibition on Friday, 7 February 2025, at the St Pancras Hospital Conference Centre. The event brought together the local community to celebrate this year’s theme, “A Journey Through Activism and Social Change.”

In her opening remarks, Cllr Samata Khatoon commended the exhibition’s role in highlighting LGBTQ+ voices, fostering inclusion, and encouraging dialogue around mental wellbeing.

“Loudest Whispers provides a vital platform for diverse voices and stories that inspire change and connection. Camden’s creative community thrives on events like this, which promote equality and challenge social norms through art,” said Cllr Khatoon. 

We also heard from our Non Executive Director and Senior Independent Director Dalwardin (Dal) Babu, who attended the event along with some of our governors.

A Night of Art, Music, and Celebration:
The Preview Launch Event kicked off with a packed program of keynote speeches, live music, and artistic performances, including musical sets by James Simpson, Marisa Martinez, and Sarah Vista, followed by the legendary catwalk fashion show, choreographed by Madam Crumpet.
The exhibition explores the evolution of activism and protest movements within the LGBTQ+ community and features contributions from 48 artists, ranging from professional creators to self-taught outsider artists.

Notable works include:
•    Simon Croft’s study on historical LGBT archiving
•    Lucas Blackwood’s exploration of LGBT subtext in English literature
•    Richard Kaby’s powerful portraits of trans wrestlers, capturing identity and strength
•    Jill Rock’s driftwood installation, inspired by LGBT colours and symbols of resilience
A standout feature is Jennie Lazenby’s archival photograph from the 1987 ‘Stop the Clause’ march, highlighting key activists such as Chris Smith, Peter Tatchell, and Michael Cashman, alongside disabled activists—a tribute to the enduring power of protest.

 

Pictures from the evening

Art as Advocacy and Empowerment:
Curator Peter Herbert, Manager of The Arts Project, emphasized the exhibition’s role in promoting advocacy and connection:
“This year’s collection is a testament to the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community and the power of creativity in driving change. We are especially proud to continue working with Westminster University’s ‘Facing the Public’ project, offering students opportunities to explore gallery installations, research, and filmmaking.”

Ongoing Exhibition and Events:
The Loudest Whispers 2025 Art Exhibition will be open for public viewing from 10 February to 16 May 2025 at the Conference Centre Gallery, St Pancras Hospital, with opening hours from Monday to Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM.

Upcoming events include:
•    Jean Genet’s Un Chant d’Amour Screening & Gallery Talk – Saturday, 22 February
•    LGBT+ Short Films Festival – Saturday, 5 April
•    Gold Diggers of 1933 Screening & Gender Representation Discussion – Saturday, 3 May

A Community Effort:
The exhibition is made possible through the support of forum+, Camden Giving, the Rainbow Network, and Westminster University. Proceeds from artwork sales will be reinvested into mental health and wellbeing projects for staff and service users of North London NHS Foundation Trust.

For more information, contact:
Peter Herbert, Curator Manager, The Arts Project
020 7913 8416
theartsproject1@gmail.com