UK AIDS memorial quilt display comes to Weston in May

A rare display of the U.K. AIDS Memorial Quilts collection is coming to Weston-super-Mare this May and will be the largest exhibition seen outside London since 2007.

The North Somerset LGBT forum Charity are bringing this unique exhibition to the Winter Gardens Pavilion in Weston from 2-5 May, the event is free and open to the public on Monday 2 May from Midday till 4pm and 3,4 and 5 May from 10am to 4pm.

The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt is an emotive and irreplaceable piece of British social history comprising 40 giant panels each made up of 8 unique ‘quilts’ commemorating the lives of  someone who has died from AIDS and designed by their loved ones, their friends or their family.

Dave Frost, project lead and charity trustee of the North Somerset LGBT forum said: “We are thrilled to be able to bring this landmark collection to Weston and to provide people in the area a chance to experience the quilts up close and to remember lives lost during the AIDS epidemic.

With every poignant, individual quilt we hope to raise awareness and break stigmas that still exist, we also hope to demonstrate how far we have come in treating the disease and hopefully one day eradicating it completely”.

The event has been made possible through the invaluable support of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Partnership, who are custodians of the quilts.

The Winter Gardens Pavilion who have kindly provided the venue, Ashley Leahy Estate Agency of Weston for sponsoring the security and Weston Town Council and Theatre Orchard for advice and support. 

The North Somerset LGBT forum Charity is a small support service for the community in North Somerset holding regular meet ups and events in the area, they have recently taken on new premises in Meadow Street Weston which as well as the office, is a safe space for people to come and visit and meet with others in a relaxed and welcoming environment.