Culture And Memory

Lines of Protest (Submission 2)

Lines of Protest will preserve and reinterpret the at-risk heritage of British activist comics and zines, safeguarding a critically endangered strand of protest culture. Over 30 months, 32 Youth Heritage Ambassadors will be trained as heritage producers, leading on oral histories, curation, and commissioning. This youth-led approach ensures a legacy of skills and leadership, embedding new custodianship within the heritage sector. The project will capture fragile testimonies and artefacts — from feminist and LGBTQIA+ zines to anti-racist, environmental, and health-justice comics — and deposit them into national and regional collections. A 100-page anthology, workshops across the UK, and exhibitions at Tate Liverpool, Williamson Gallery, Cartoon Museum and others will ensure wide public access. Through formal archiving, mirroring in national institutions, and youth training, Lines of Protest will establish a sustainable pipeline of cultural custodians and safeguard a heritage otherwise at risk of loss.