The Challenge
To conserve and display a significant and rare suffragette banner.
The Solution
Optium Museum Acrylic® wall niche
Anti-reflective
Allows viewers to clearly see the fragile textile rather than their own reflections.
99% UV blocking
Protects the textile from the most damaging light wavelengths, helping prevent fading and degradation.
Abrasion resistant
A durable hard coat protects against scratches from cleaning and general exposure to the public.
Acrylic is half the weight of glass and shatter resistant
Safeguards against injury and damage to object and visitors.
Anti-static protection exceeds that of glass
Makes for safer, easier fabrication and less cleaning
The Work
The People’s History Museum used the grant to conserve and display the Manchester suffragette banner “Manchester First in the Fight”. It is one of the most rare and important artifacts of the suffragette movement. The banner appeared on the platform alongside Emmeline Pankhurst at many significant suffragette rallies.
For almost a century the banner location was unknown, for a time laying undiscovered in a charity shop. Thanks to a crowdfunding campaign and the application for several grants the Museum acquired, conserved, and currently displays the banner. The solution is a wall niche protected with 2 doors made by Optium Museum Acrylic. The system is designed for the long term, with a pole that descends and allows the team to change banners and completely re-think the exhibition space.
More Info
Read the QuickVue article about this and other grant recipient projects.
More information here.
Watch PHM’s Head of Collections Jenny Mabbott tell the story of the banner and how Emmeline Pankhurst would influence the WSPU movement, and the significance of the message ‘First in the Fight’ on YouTube.