Words Matter

Words Matter is a multi-disciplinary exhibition showcasing the works of twelve artists, each with a practice in spoken word, performance or writing.

In 2024, these artists participated in a six-month knowledge exchange programme, exploring UCL’s historic role in promoting the pseudoscience of eugenics. The programme - which was part of the public art approach to the recommendations brought to the fore from the 2018 inquiry into the history of eugenics at UCL - sought to understand how arts-based methods can better include the voices and lived experiences of those still marginalised by the legacy of eugenic thinking and make these vital discussions accessible to a wider audience. UCL Cultural and Community Engagement and UCL Public Art partnered with four specialist arts organisations: Brownton Abbey, CRIPtic Arts, The New Black Film Collective and UD Music, to select artists and support the programme of knowledge exchange.

The workshops, supported by UCL Special Collections and Museums teams, allowed artists to interrogate spurious and discriminative notions of ‘normality’ and ‘superiority’. Conversations also focused on reparative healing and what a more hopeful and inclusive future would look like.

Expect photography, film and a soundscape celebrating joy and resilience. From a fictional wellness retreat inviting visitors to unmask to an audio drama exploring the future of education around eugenics, the works draw not only on the past but also on the future and they invite you to do the same.

There is a free events programme running alongside the Word Matter exhibition. To secure a spot at one or more of the events, please book tickets via Eventbrite.

The exhibition opens to the public daily from 20 November 2025 – 25 February 2026, 10am – 6pm. (Winter closure from 24 December 2025 - 4 January 2026). 

Artists