Disabled people often use this slogan to communicate the idea that no decision should be made by anyone without the involvement of people affected by it. It’s a principle as true to activism as it is to co-curation, which is fitting for this object as it’s currently on display in an exhibition of the same name, made by community curators who identify as disabled people and guided by a steering group who have been working with the museum since 2018.
This banner was created as part of a collaborative project between the museum and Full Circle Arts called ‘Disbanners’. Banner maker Ed Hall worked with disabled people to design large-scale banners addressing issues of disability and austerity. Handmade placards are on display in front, setting the scene for the banner, bring something of the atmosphere of a protest march to the museum exhibition space.
The exhibition Nothing about us without us is free to visit at the PHM until 16 October 2023.