Offering: Leah Hickey
Join artist Leah Hickey as she responds to Charlotte Dawson’s exhibition If Memory Serves Me Well.
The evening will include a live reading of Offering, a poetic work that reflects on remembrance, grief, and acts of giving. Through spoken word and ritual, the performance considers how language, material, and landscape can become vessels for connection with those who have passed.
As part of the event, visitors will receive a limited-edition letterpress print produced especially for the occasion. These prints extend the themes of the performance, creating a shared moment between artist and audience.
Following the reading, participants will be invited to join a collective procession from the gallery to the Humber. At the river’s edge, Leah will undertake a symbolic act of offering, gifting a biodegradable printed work to the water with the intention of it travelling onwards as a gesture of remembrance.
The artist is currently developing this new element of the work through research into sustainable, biodegradable printing materials and environmentally sensitive production methods, ensuring the gesture remains both poetic and ecologically considered.
Offering invites audiences to reflect on memory, loss, ritual, and the enduring relationship between people, place, and the natural world.
About Leah Hickey
Leah Hickey is an artist and writer struck by ‘heartache’, a term she uses to wade through the spectrum of grief. Hickey translates these experiences through confessional writing, calligraphy, and heritage crafts ‘at risk’ of extinction, such as letterpress. Her work is emotionally led and influenced by Romantic thought, Christian morality and women on film.
In 2025, Hickey was awarded Arts Council England (ACE) funding to develop Tentative Press. She was also recipient of the Sir Whitworth Wallis Fellowship (2025-26) with Birmingham Museums Trust, researching the social and material histories of Victorian-era Valentines. Through 2026-28, Hickey is studying MA by Research in Typography and Graphic Communication at the University of Reading, for which she has received the UK Academic Achievement Scholarship.
Accessibility
Is Humber Street Gallery wheelchair accessible?
Yes. You can access every part of the gallery without steps. The entrance is level with the street, and there’s a lift to all floors, including the rooftop.
Do you have accessible toilets?
Yes. We have one all-gender accessible toilet on the ground floor with grab rails and emergency pull cords.
Can I bring my assistance dog?
Absolutely. We welcome guide dogs, hearing dogs and other trained assistance animals throughout the building.
Do you provide large print or accessible exhibition guides?
Yes. We offer large print as standard and Dyslexia-friendly versions of exhibition texts. You can pick them up in the gallery or download them from the exhibition pages of our website.
Is there somewhere quiet I can go if I need a break?
We know the gallery can sometimes feel busy or overwhelming. Ask a member of staff and we’ll help you find a quieter space to take a moment.
Do you offer sensory-friendly experiences?
Some exhibitions include sensory content and we have regular quiet hours. We also have ear defenders available to borrow at the front desk. If you need anything specific, get in touch before your visit. You can find details of our noisy and quiet hours at the top of this page.
Is there Blue Badge parking nearby?
Yes. There are Blue Badge parking bays on Humber Street and surrounding roads, just a short distance from the gallery.
Are your events and workshops accessible?
We aim to make all events as accessible as possible. Access details vary depending on the activity, so check individual listings or contact us with any questions.
What if I have an access need that’s not listed here?
We’re happy to chat and find ways to support your visit. You can call us, email us or drop in for a conversation.
