Celebrate teenage life in Britain

25 March 2022

​A new exhibition at the Herbert celebrates teenage life in Britain, and they want you to submit your photographs, objects and personal stories to be on display this summer. 

Gursharanapal Singh Chana / Museum of Youth Culture

A Coventry gallery is calling out for photographs, objects and personal stories depicting life as a teenager in the UK for a new major summer exhibition.

Grown Up in Britain: 100 Years of Teenage Kicks is due to open this July at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry – and you can play a vital part.

Jasmine Benedict / Museum of Youth Culture

The London based emerging Museum of Youth Culture, which is curating the exhibition, will be holding several ‘show & tell’ events in the run up to the launch where people can contribute photographs, objects and memories to help tell the story of being young in Britain.

The first of these will take place on Thursday March 31 at St Oswald’s Church, Tile Hill from 1.30pm - 3.30pm with a second on Saturday April 2 at Sitting Rooms of Culture, Coventry Market, 11.00am – 4.00pm. Future events will take place at LTB Showrooms and Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.

Images can also be submitted online via museumofyouthculture.com/coventry

The free exhibition will run from July 1 until October 30 and celebrates a century of teenage life from the roaring 1920s to the youth of today. Going beyond the headlines, the exhibition chronicles the lived experiences and impact of young people, their scenes, sounds and styles, through the archives of the Museum of Youth Culture.

Scottie Somerville / Museum of Youth Culture

Museum project manager Lisa der Weduwe comments:

“We’ve all been young once, from first loves to first jobs, Saturday hangouts to family holidays - what do you remember?

 “Championing the impact of youth on modern society, the Museum has been collecting photographs of youth and subculture movements for more than 25 years. From the bomb-site Bicycle racers in post-war 1940s London, to the Acid House ravers of 1980s Northern England, the Museum of Youth Culture empowers the extraordinary everyday stories of growing up in Britain.

“Tell your story and be a part of this exciting ongoing exploration of modern youth culture.”