Free ‘Connecting Collections’ opens in Hitchin on 18 August
A tiny football pin is among the objects carrying a much larger story at North Hertfordshire Museum’s new exhibition. ‘Connecting Collections’ opens at 10.30am on Tuesday, 18 August, at the museum on Brand Street in Hitchin. It runs until Sunday, 1 November, and admission is free for the general public.
The community-curated exhibition presents research and personal insights developed by North Herts residents through collaborative workshops. Visitors can expect local perspectives on objects from the museum’s historic collections, including questions about where those objects came from and whose stories have previously received less attention.
A football pin linked to a journey from Uganda
One of the smallest objects chosen for the exhibition is a football pin. A participant connected it to her journey to the UK after British Asian people were expelled from Uganda in 1972.
The personal selection reflects how the project was organised. Between November 2025 and March 2026, participants worked together to investigate museum objects and identify those to which they felt a connection.
The group included residents from global majority backgrounds. In the project, that term covers people identifying as Black, African, Arab, Asian, Brown or mixed-heritage, as well as people indigenous to the global south or from communities often described as ethnic minorities.
Their work examined historic collections from around the world, including how certain objects were acquired and whether any entered collections through unfair or unethical means. Another aim was to uncover histories connected with underrepresented communities.
‘Connecting Collections’ is the first public outcome of that work. Councillor Tamsin Thomas, North Herts Council’s Executive Member for Enterprise, said residents had worked with the museum to explore the collection, confront questions about acquisition and uncover shared stories.
The project received grant funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, which is run by the Museums Association. Since launching in 2011, the fund has awarded 178 grants worth more than £12.9 million to collection-based projects intended to have a lasting social impact.
Readers interested in how residents can shape museum displays may also want to explore another community-selected collection in Salford.
Dates, opening hours and free admission
The exhibition follows North Hertfordshire Museum’s normal opening schedule. Its final day, 1 November, falls within the listed Sunday hours.
| Visit detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Exhibition dates | 18 August to 1 November |
| Tuesday to Saturday | 10.30am to 4.30pm |
| Sunday | 11am to 3pm |
| Address | Brand Street, Hitchin SG5 1JE |
| Admission | Free |
The council notice does not provide separate booking, transport or accessibility information. Visitors who need those details should check with the museum before travelling.
A museum café serves drinks, savoury and sweet snacks, and light meals. Further information is available through @northhertsmuseum on Facebook and Instagram, or by calling North Hertfordshire Museum on 01462 474554.
Source: North Herts Council News
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- 2026-08-17 16:26
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