Future Exhibition Makers: Open Foyers
Drawing on 40 years of our open foyers this 2023 project helped young people explore exhibition-making
In the spring of 2023 a group of young people aged 13 – 18 joined us for an intensive course exploring archiving, curating and exhibition-making.
This was the first edition of our Future Exhibition Makers project series, which guided participants to work collectively and delve into our archives to create an exhibition of their own to mark 40 years of the Open Foyer policy.
Working with our team of skilled archivists and exhibition-makers the project participants learned how to bring the stories contained within the objects of our archive to life, showcasing their work through social media and a special exhibition, History on Display, in our Archive Studio on Level 2 of the Royal Festival Hall.
What is the Open Foyer policy?
Introduced in 1983 by the Greater London Council, this policy opened up the foyer areas of the Royal Festival Hall to the public all day, every day. With this opening up came access to a range of free programming, including exhibitions, lunchtime chamber concerts and evening jazz performances – marking a significant step towards making arts centres more welcoming for everyone.
Our Future Exhibition Makers chose six very different foyer exhibitions from the 1980s and related themes to explore. Among them were Notting Hill Carnival costume designs, feminist activism and a collaborative project with the Brecht Centre in what was then East Germany.
Together, in the spirit of the open foyer policy, these collections showcased a different side of art, uncovering and amplifying hidden stories and reflecting on the radical and inclusive ethos of both our 1980s programme and its modern legacy.