Peoples Unite Southall Exhibition Extended
Will continue at Gunnersbury Park Museum until November
The exhibition considers how Southall has shaped the country's music scene
June 17, 2025
Gunnersbury Park & Museum has announced it is extending its free exhibition ‘Peoples Unite! How Southall Changed the Country until Sunday 23 November.
The displays examine the ways in which the area has shaped British culture including how musicians from Southall influenced the country’s music scene. You can explore how they combined narratives - from Misty in Roots’ collaborations with Rock against Racism to the development of the sound of Panjabi Hit Squad. There will be a chance to meet the people who are bringing club nights and live music back to Southall as well as delving into a history of migration and grassroots movements. Hear the stories of three generations of resistance, from the racial tensions in the 1970s and 1980s to the new wave of activism being driven today.
Highlights include Dennis Morris’ photographs of Southall in the 1970s which offer an insight into the Punjabi community in its early days. Hark1karan’s contemporary ‘Zimmers of Southall’ photography project documents Southall’s women and their classic cars. The ‘Southall Black Women’s Centre’ banner (1983) is the first banner created by the Southall Black Sisters who use film, theatre, poetry, art, and street protests to draw attention to causes.
The exhibition is a multi-sensory experience designed to appeal to all ages. Vedic Roots’ custom-built community sound-system pays homage to Southall’s musical history, surrounded by artworks created by a local school. Step into ‘Calling This Home’ by Sharan Dhaliwal, an immersive pavilion draped in sarees given by women from Southall. Further interactive opportunities highlight the ongoing role of creativity in activism, including the chance to make protest placards.
The exhibition is a multi-sensory experience designed to appeal to all ages
A special United We Stand event is taking place on Sunday 29 June from 12-5:30pm (tickets £3). The final edition of the ‘Peoples Unite!’ event series will look back on the story of British South Asian activism and ask what its future could look like. Highlights include workshops from DominAsian Magazine on ‘Bodies of Resistance’ and the arts collective Dhaga on ‘Community Unity’ plus a panel discussion between Aleena Din, Amrit Wilson, Hajera Begum, and Sharan Dhaliwal on the changing nature of British South Asian activism, and the role which heritage institutions can play in archiving and telling the story.
More info on People’s Unite Southall exhibition here and see the exhibition trailer here.
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