A staggering 912 people viewed our Hidden History NI exhibition during its first month of being on display.
The collection left Derry Central Library on Friday, having amassed hundreds of visits and many positive comments.
It has now opened in Creggan Library where it will remain on display throughout August.
The exhibition is a significant component of our ‘Black Heritage in NI: Hidden History Project’ which began in 2022 following an award of £500,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
Following a month in Creggan Library it will travel on to Shantallow and Strabane. In 2026 it will be available to view in Coleraine, Dungiven, Shankill Road, Falls Road and Belfast Central Library.
Aynaz Zarif is Manager of the Hidden History NI Project. She said the response to the exhibition to date has exceeded all expectations.
Ms Zarif said, “To find out that close to 1,000 people visited our exhibition during July when it was on display in Derry Central Library, we never thought for one moment it would attract such attention.
“What that tells us is that people are genuinely interested in learning about Black history in Northern Ireland, which of course is a history that belongs to us all.
“We hope the people of Creggan and its surrounding areas enjoy the exhibition and that it encourages both discussion and debate.
“We also want to put on record again how much we appreciate the support we have received from Libraries NI. They have been by our side since we launched this collection and we are so grateful for all their help.
“And as always we want to thank our funders, National Lottery Heritage Fund, without whom there would be no Hidden History Project.”
