The Anne Lister Festival is an annual cultural event in Halifax, West Yorkshire, celebrating the life, legacy and wide-ranging story of Anne “Gentleman Jack” Lister—19th-century landowner, entrepreneur, mountaineer, traveller, scholar and diarist. It typically takes place around the anniversary of her birthday each spring, with a programme featuring walks, talks, heritage tours, exhibitions, creative workshops and community events, often including visits to her former home at Shibden Hall and displays of related historical costumes and archives. The festival brings together local partners and international visitors, honours Lister’s contributions to LGBTQ+ history and Yorkshire heritage, and forms part of Calderdale’s broader cultural calendar.

Death is something that affects us all, and the need to remember those we have lost is an important part of being human. Featuring displays of mourning wear, jewellery and imagery, this exhibition explores our changing attitudes towards death and the ways in which we cope with loss.