Exhibition

Syd Shelton: Rock Against Racism

14 Mar 2020 – 30 May 2020

Regular hours

Monday
10:00 – 17:00
Tuesday
10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday
10:00 – 17:00
Thursday
10:00 – 17:00
Friday
10:00 – 17:00
Saturday
10:00 – 17:00
Sunday
Closed

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Gallery Oldham

Oldham, United Kingdom

Event map

Autograph's popular exhibition Rock Against Racism is touring to Oldham.

About

Syd Shelton’s photographs capture one of the most intriguing and contradictory periods in British post war history. Between 1976 and 1981, the movement Rock Against Racism (RAR) confronted racist ideology in the streets, parks and town halls of Britain. RAR was formed by a collective of musicians and political activists to fight racism and fascism through music.

Under the slogan 'Love Music, Hate Racism', it showcased reggae and punk bands on the same stage, attracting large multicultural audiences. At a time when the fascist attitudes of the National Front were gaining support, RAR marked the rising resistance to violent and institutionalised racism.

RAR did not have an official photographer and Shelton has produced the largest collection of images on the movement. He captured the history-making RAR Carnival 1 at Victoria Park, London in 1978, and demonstrations such as the Anti National Front Demonstration in Lewisham in 1977. RAR organised five carnivals and some 500 gigs across Britain.

Shelton photographed performers such as The Clash, Elvis Costello, The Specials and their audience, as well as taking contextual social and cultural images that informed the politics of the movement across England and Ireland. 

This exhibition revisits the energy of RAR and the creative alliances of black and white musicians, designers, writers, actors, performers and supporters towards a common goal. Shelton’s photographs remind us that RAR was a particular treatise on belonging in Britain.​

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An Autograph touring exhibition​

Co-curated by Mark Sealy and Carol Tulloch​​

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England. Also suppoted by Gallery Oldham

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Syd Shelton

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