Museum opens Gypsy and Traveller gallery

Hull’s Streetlife Museum has opened a new gallery celebrating local Gypsy and Traveller heritage.

Funded by Arts Council England, the display has been created alongside members of the local Gypsy and Traveller communities, and support from York Travellers Trust.

Robin Diaper, Curator at Hull Maritime Yorkshire, which has led on the project, said it has been “a great opportunity to bring a previously hidden history into our galleries”. 

“Once we started looking and learning from our partners we found that connections to Gypsy and Traveller history ran deep in Hull and surrounding regions,” he said. 

“With the strong connection to horses as well, the upstairs galleries at Streetlife were the natural home for this project. 

“We’re extremely grateful to all contributors and their generosity in sharing this heritage.”

Violet Cannon, Chief Executive of York Travellers Trust said: “I’m so pleased to have been involved in this work, where the Museum has been so receptive to our thoughts and ideas.

“We have been allowed the freedom to create something that we can be proud of. I am especially proud that this will be a permanent display.”