This exhibition brings together a selection of banners that show how communities have used colour, cloth, and creativity to share their stories, stand together, and make themselves seen. It isn’t an academic study — it’s a heartfelt interpretation shaped by people who’ve lived these histories, worked in these communities, and carried these traditions forward. We look at where banners came from, how they’ve been used around the world, and how their meaning continues to evolve today.

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• Kent coalfield banners, work by renowned banner maker Ed Hall, collaborative pieces from London-based group Bordando por La Memoria, and a selection of historic workers’ and union banners will be on display.
   

• Explore how the story of protest has moved from ancient and medieval times, through the organised struggles of the industrial era, across the landmark movements of the 20th century, and into the modern forms of digital activism that define today’s landscape. Through graphics, typography and iconography, the timeline sets key historical moments alongside breakout visual stories that highlight how protest has been expressed in different eras.
   

• There will be a demonstration from the “Bordando” group showing how they work on their collaborative patchwork pieces, individually, then bring them together to create visually stunning work. There will be a display of Chilean banners and an explanation of how these are closely linked with the UK, and how international solidarity came from them.
   

• We have a short talk with banner icon Ed Hall, speaking about his involvement with various groups and producing banners for more than 40 years. There will be a presentation charting the history of the Kent coalfield industry and discussing the efforts being made to conserve the original coalfield banners, keeping them for future generations.
   

• Aylesham Heritage Centre will have a display of coal mining artifacts, along with in-depth knowledge direct from the coal face. They are a hard-working team piecing together the history from a number of different sources.
   

Make Your Mark

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Art Club will be launching the new Community Banner project during this exhibition, this project centres on making a collaborative community banner for Aylesham for the centenary next year. We hope to create a banner with work from individuals, families and community groups all adding their pieces to the banner over time. Find out more and join in with a workshop where everyone is welcome to design and make their own piece for the banner.

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Brought to you by:

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Aylesham Arts Club

Organiser of the Banner Exhibition 2026 & Community Banner Project

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This exhibition was designed to highlight the importance of banners throughout history, providing a brief historical glance at protest banners over the years and examining the graphical content and icons.

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The community banner project was setup with Aylesham’s centenary in mind. Its aim is to create a collaborative community banner shaped by contributions from families, groups, and individuals across the village. The final design is still evolving, but working with professional guidance, we hope to create a banner that reflects the diverse stories, identities, and histories of Aylesham — a collective portrait of the community.

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Art Club & Charlotte C will be delivering the initial workshop during the exhibition followed by more specialised textile sessions at the ArtSpace community studio peppered over the coming months, along with additional pop-up sessions in the new year. 

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Link: Sign up to our newsletter

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In collaboration with our partners:

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Aylesham Arts Club would like to thank our partners for bringing their contributions to this event making it even better, and their participation in future events.

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Bordando por la Memoria

London-based community textile collective

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Bordando por la Memoria is a London-based community group with deep Chilean roots, known for their collaborative banner‑making practice. Each project begins with a shared design, which is then divided into individual elements. Members work on their sections independently before bringing everything together into a unified textile artwork. They have exhibited at Kings College, South Bank University and other venues across London.

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​Lead: Jimena Prado

Instagram: @bordando_por_la_memoria
Facebook: Bordando por la Memoria (public group)

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Ed Hall

Banner maker, designer, and long-standing contributor to political and community art

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Ed Hall has been producing banners for decades, creating iconic works for trade unions, community groups, and cultural organisations. His distinctive style blends bold graphic language with strong social messaging, making his banners instantly recognisable. His work has been featured in exhibitions, publications, and collections across the UK.

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Link: Enquiries via Art Club
The Triumph of Art: Ed Hall in conversation at the National Gallery

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Colin Varrall

Kent Coalfield historian and heritage advocate

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Colin works closely with the Kent Coalfield community and has an extensive knowledge of the collieries, banners, and mining history across the region. He is deeply committed to preserving Kent’s coalfield heritage, advocating for conservation and documentation of historic banners and artefacts. His research and community engagement make him a vital voice in the preservation of local mining history.

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Link: Elvington & Eythorne Heritage Group
Link: Elvington & Eythorne (Facebook group)

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Kent School of Fashion – Director, Tolumi

Textile artist, educator, and fashion-school lead

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Tolumi, head of the Kent School of Fashion, brings extensive expertise in textile art, pattern work, dyeing, and stitch-based techniques. The school is exploring collaboration with Art Club to produce textile panels for the community banner over the coming months. Discussions are also underway for a joint fabric and textile exhibition at ACT — a technical showcase of textile craft, pattern design, dye processes, stitching, and fashion-led textile innovation.

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Link: Kent School of Fashion
Link: Kent School of Fashion (Facebook group)

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Aylesham Heritage Centre

Coalfield archives, artefacts, and oral history

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Run by volunteer miners and community members, the Heritage Centre holds a wealth of artefacts, documents, and stories from Snowdown Colliery and the wider Kent coalfield. Open weekly, the centre offers visitors a chance to explore mining history firsthand — with tea, conversation, and decades of lived experience.

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Link: Aylesham Heritage Centre (Facebook group)

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Bechange

Community hub and creative workshop partner

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Bechange, Aylesham’s central community hub, will host special sewing and knitting sessions dedicated to the community banner. They support a wide range of local groups and have strong connections with residents old and new, making them an essential part of the banner-making process.

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Link: bechange.org.uk

 

Aylesham Film Club

Documentary production for the centenary

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Aylesham Film Club is producing a documentary for the centenary — a fly‑on‑the‑wall film capturing the making of the community banner, interviews with partners, and stories from residents. Narrated by Olivia, a local visual artist, the film is planned to be completed by late 2027.

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Link: YouTube channel

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Aylesham Community Trust (ACT)

Host venue and future banner archive

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ACT is the host venue for this exhibition and will host another banner exhibition next year. Behind the scenes, ACT is working toward establishing a permanent display of banners and mining artefacts within the building and their commitment to preserving and presenting local heritage makes them a key partner in the long-term vision for Aylesham’s cultural archive.

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Link: aylesham.org.uk

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Our sponsors:

This exhibition would not be possible without the help from our sponsors and supporters.

Aylesham Parish Council, CRT, Dover Community Grants

Maybe next time we look for sponsorship?!

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