Museum quits LGBTQ+ trail over 'bad publicity'

A museum has pulled out of project to create a heritage trail highlighting a town's LGBTQ+ history after what it called "bad publicity".

The independently-run True's Yard Fisherfolk Museum in King's Lynn, Norfolk, had been due to be involved in the Queer Stories of Lynn project, committee papers show.

But the museum said a newspaper article connecting the project to the museum had led to complaints from stakeholders and volunteers.

Curator Lindsey Bavin said the situation was "unfortunate" and that the museum hoped to work with arts collective Collusion, which is behind the trail, in the future.

The arts trail is be created by young people aged between 16 and 30, using augmented reality to tell stories at different places in the town.

It has funding from the Arts Council and Historic England, but this was criticised in a newspaper article by Neil Record, former director of National Trust pressure group Restore Trust, who said public funding of the trail was "highly inappropriate".

Ms Bavin said: "We had agreed in principle to a temporary display but the content would need to be viewed in advance.

"True's Yard is an accredited museum and charity and we must adhere to the Museums Association's code of ethics and thought this was made clear.

"After an email exchange, Collusion made the decision to proceed with a different project partner. We wish them well."

In a statement, Collusion told said: "We have received strong positive support for this project, including from the local partners who we will be working with.

"We had initially planned to work with True's Yard on Queer Stories of Lynn but they are no longer connected with the project.

"We hope to work with them again in the future."

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.