Culture And Memory

Elgar at the Asylum: 145 Learning Disabled Adults in Worcestershire explore the complex and hidden history of Powick Hospital

Through Elgar at the Asylum, The Monday Night Club (MNC) wants to empower learning-disabled people to explore, reclaim, and share a hidden part of Worcester’s heritage that directly affects them. We aim to uncover the overlooked history of Powick Hospital and Edward Elgar’s early work there, while highlighting the lived experiences of institutionalised learning-disabled people—voices often missing from the historical record. By involving 145 learning-disabled adults in research, interpretation, and public storytelling, we want to create space for our members to be seen as historians, artists, and cultural leaders. We also want to challenge the local heritage sector to be more inclusive, ensuring that learning-disabled people have meaningful access to and representation within it. Through exhibitions, performances, and an interactive digital archive, we hope to create a legacy that is educational, impactful, and long-lasting—transforming both how Worcester sees its past and who has the power to shape it.