Crompton, E., Norman, S.A., 2020.

Documenting Demolition: A Community Evidencing Project at Manchester's LGBT+ Centre

The LGBT+ Centre (previously known as The Gay Centre) is located on Sidney Street, off Oxford Road and is the longest continuously running LGBT+ Community Centre in the UK. 'Documenting Demolition' is a photographic exhibition of the Centre's final months before the groups moved out and the building was demolished to make way for a brand new LGBT+ Centre, now known as The Proud Place. The photos record the various user groups, staff and volunteers, as well as some of the building's quirky details. These will be displayed alongside some original 'love letters' written to the old Centre from its 'lovers'. The project is part of a longer-term design and research project into Manchester's LGBT+ Centre building undertaken by Emily Crompton, an architect and academic at Manchester School of Architecture. The project was created in partnership with The Proud Trust, the charity which manage the Centre, and architectural photographer Sally-Ann Norman.