The Billy Colfer Gallery at Wexford Arts Centre will feature an exhibition as part of the Frederick Douglass Festival from Friday 15th November until Saturday 30th November. The exhibition will explore themes related to freedom and civil rights, both contemporary and historical, in memory of Frederick Douglass and his impact on the issues of slavery and injustice of his time.

Fredrick Douglass was a runaway slave with a bounty on his head in the 1800’s in the USA. He escaped from Southern America to Northern America but decided it was safer to flee the country. He spent four months in Ireland in 1845 at the age of 27 years and became good friends with Daniel O’Connell – at the time he was nicknamed The Black O’Connell. During his time in Ireland, he visited Wexford and spoke twice at The Assembly Rooms which is now Wexford Arts Centre. Over time, Douglass ended up an advisor to Abraham Lincoln and was held in great esteem in later life in the US.

In 2014, Wexford locals Deirdre Barker and her husband Ed Barker from Alabama, decided to see if a plaque could be erected to commemorate Frederick Douglass’ visit to Wexford Arts Centre. They approached CEO Elizabeth White who suggested hosting a concert as a celebratory event. This idea grew and became and annual Frederick Douglass Festival.

This year’s exhibition in the Billy Colfer Gallery will feature works by Gemma Barlow, Alan Davis, Dimitry Diamond, Ita Grattan, Andi McGarry, Rachel Meadows, Agnes Moloney, Kate Murphy, Anne Martin Walsh, Una Murphy, Onyedikachi Onwusor, Padraig Sinnott, and Richard Walsh. Through a range of mediums, each artist explores ideas related to civil rights reflecting on seminal moments of social change in recent history.

The Frederick Douglass Festival exhibition is supported by Wexford Arts Centre and the Arts Department of Wexford County Council.