🇬🇧 by John Byford (UK) ~ 2026
Bad Gandersheim, Lower Saxony - Germany
Bad Gandersheim, Lower Saxony - Germany
Coming Soon! - Bad Gandersheim - September 2026
To Be Seen, To Be Heard
Because being seen is only half the story.
Award-winning Skegness artist John Byford has long woven a vibrant creative thread between the Lincolnshire coast and the historic German town of Bad Gandersheim. Through landmark projects such as Made in England (2012) and the acclaimed Two Voices, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2025, he has demonstrated art’s remarkable power to bridge borders, spark dialogue, and unite communities.
His newest project, To Be Seen, To Be Heard, gently yet boldly shifts the focus to women and the profound importance of truly being listened to. This is a celebration of truth, courage, and authentic identity, creating safe, open spaces where women can share their lived experiences with honesty and without compromise.
Far from ideals of perfection or polished appearances, the work embraces life in its raw, beautiful entirety: the struggles, the laughter, the quiet resilience, and the extraordinary inner strength that define us.
Timed to coincide with Bad Gandersheim’s 2026 celebrations honouring Hrosvitha of Gandersheim (known as Roswitha), Germany’s pioneering tenth-century female poet who shattered boundaries and inspired countless generations, this exhibition echoes her enduring legacy. It shines a light on the inspiring women of Skegness, whose voices continue to shape culture, imagination, and our shared human story today.
In Bad Gandersheim, a series of powerful, intimate photographic portraits of Skegness women will grace public spaces. Each image captures a unique story; together, they create a living, breathing gallery, a harmonious chorus of women’s voices that honours the past, resonates powerfully in the present, and gazes fearlessly toward the future.
Join us in celebrating these remarkable Skegness women, whose stories deserve not just to be seen, but to be heard.