The Milton Keynes Equality Council is delighted bring this touring exhibition of timely importance to our home town of Milton Keynes. The exhibition celebrates the history of landmark legislation, stories of triumph and fortitude, all for the cause of equality.

A fortitude that you could perhaps describe as being very ‘British’. This spirit has been shown from the Suffragettes at the turn of the 20th century, to the Black Civil Rights movement in the 60’s. From the Women’s liberation movement in the 70’s, to Anti-Apartheid protestors in the 80’s, the family of Stephen Lawrence in the 90’s and the equal pay activists in the 21st century. All these actions and countless more, could not have been more British in stoicism and resolve.

On Thursday June the 23rd 2016, Brexit was announced, the Prime Minister quit, as an abhorrent spike in Hate Crime revealed deep schisms within Britain. These problems are not unique to the United Kingdom, they share parallels across the globe. The narrative of Post-Colonialism and Globalisation has dominated since the 90’s, but now a sea-change has occurred.

What ideas, traditions and ideas of the future form our collective identity? Are we left with X-factor as the true barometer of the zeitgeist? As ever in ties of contemporaneous doubt, history lends a hand. To understand the current situation in the U.K, you must unpick the history of the identity of the nation, an enormous and subjective task, yet there is a way to begin. In this Exhibition, The Milton Keynes Equality Council attempts to unpick the history of two stories of inequality that go to the heart of the issues of the day.

The historical and legislative narratives of Women’s and Racial Equality, are brought into the modern day with the 2010 Equality Act, which combines and updates previous UK laws into one comprehensive charter, outlawing discrimination against any of the newly established Protected Nine Characteristics: Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sex.

Social Justice and Equality represent one of the most important issues in the world today, and as the U.K continues to deal with the repercussions of Brexit, our aim is to educate and inform towards a more informed public opinion.

The Milton Keynes Equality Council is based in Buckinghamshire, but has a national remit to spread the word on Equality and Diversity. One of the ways we do this is through our touring exhibition programme.

We believe it is topical and revealing that this exhibition is presented in a previously vacant building. The issues of MKEC should surely be at the Tate or the Royal Academy? We are working to change the mainstream agenda and at the same time, how great to bring some life back into a neglected area of our city. It is hoped this project can contribute to the wider regeneration of the Theatre District and a better MK for all its communities.

‘What a wonderful exhibition! Beautifully set out, very comprehensive and the diverse talks are so absorbing and varied.’

Eva Tutchell, Author of Man-Made: Why So Few Women Are in Positions of Power, Routledge, 2015

Touring exhibition space is kindly provided to us by the national charity Centric Community Projects: Providing free space for charities and non-profit organisations across the UK: centricprojects.org

MKEC is committed to promoting a fairer and more just society. A key part of this involves the drive to eradicate Hate Crime, which is a hostility towards someone’s real or perceived protected characteristics. You can report it to the police on 101, or in an emergency on 999. If you are unsure to the nature of the Hate Crime, or if you are nervous to contact the police, we are here to help. We have experts on hand in full confidence for you, your family and friends.

MKEC CONTACT DETAILS:
TEL: 01908 606828
EMAIL: ADMIN@MKEQUALITYCOUNCIL.ORG.UK