Luton In 50 Objects

Journalist and Writer Sarfraz Manzoor is curating a major exhibition at Wardown House, Museum And Gallery.

May 2024 will be the 50th anniversary of when Sarfraz arrived in Luton and he has been reflecting on the journey of his life and home town. It is this story, the story of Luton that he wants to tell through personal objects belonging to the people of Luton.

Sarfraz is looking for items that tell a story. It could be to do with work, maybe your mother was like his and worked at home making dresses on a Singer sewing machine you still own. It could be to do with family, pleasure, culture or sport. Items that open up hidden worlds and will help the past come alive. It could be an anti-Nazi league flyer from the 1970s or it could be a teenage diary from the 1980s.

Sarfraz has a childhood photograph that was taken on his 4th birthday his family had arrived into Luton from Pakistan a year earlier. In the photograph he is wearing a pale pink shirt that has large very 70s style collars. The shirt is one of his very few links to his childhood and will be displayed in his upcoming exhibition.

How you can take part?

Here is the submission form below for you to complete, once you have filled it in can please email it with a photograph of your item to the email below.

If you have an item or a photograph that you would like to be considered for this exhibition, fill out the submission form and bring it with you to Wardown House, Museum and Gallery and meet Sarfraz to discuss your item and the story of the item on one of the following dates;

Sunday 3rd December, Sunday 21st January, Wednesday 21st February, Monday 4^th March 11am -1pm, Sunday 10^th March 12pm-4pm and Thursday 14^th March 11am-1pm.

If you can’t attend our submission days, please email any questions to Luton50@culturetrust.com