Artist McCourt brings LGBTQ+ armed forces stories into the light

Lincoln Arts Centre hosts Ad Astra, a new exhibition by Lincolnshire artist Annabel McCourt, from 12 November to 3 December 2026. The exhibition explores injustice, identity and resilience through the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people connected to the armed forces.

Ad Astra brings together photography, personal testimony and shared histories to explore the lasting impact of the historic ban on LGBTQ+ people serving openly in the British armed forces. It celebrates the resilience and contribution of those affected, while asking what recognition, belonging and justice mean today. It also marks a moment in time as progress is made towards justice, with the government's financial recognition scheme for eligible former service personnel closing for applications in December 2026.

The exhibition builds on McCourt's earlier work, Per Ardua, which takes its name from the Royal Air Force's motto, Per Ardua Ad Astra ("through adversity to the stars"). In that work, McCourt deliberately crossed out the words "Ad Astra", creating a visual loop of adversity and reflecting how LGBTQ+ personnel were denied the opportunity to fulfil their potential because of their sexuality.

With Ad Astra, the artist develops this idea further. Through conversations and photography, McCourt brings individual stories together to create a constellation of voices and experiences, making space for people whose lives have been shaped by discrimination, stigma or historical erasure to be heard in their own right. The exhibition invites audiences to reflect on the human consequences of exclusion, the importance of listening to lived experience and the possibilities of healing and reconciliation.

McCourt developed Ad Astra as an Associate Artist at Lincoln Arts Centre, which has supported her to make it into a major new work for Lincoln. It builds on an established practice spanning photography, installation, public art and architectural intervention, and her work has been exhibited across the UK and internationally, including in Brazil, Australia, Senegal and China. The exhibition forms part of Lincoln Arts Centre's Loud & Proud autumn 2026 season, which celebrates queer joy, powerful political voices and stories that refuse to be silenced.

Annabel McCourt says: "This uneasy juxtaposition of growing up with a genuine interest in aeroplanes, a constant loop of historical documentaries on TV, love & respect for my family, fused with the conflict felt as a queer kid growing up in bomber county.

Acutely aware of my ‘otherness’ and trying to find a way to quash it and find a sense of belonging; I remember entering an Armed Forces recruitment office in my teenage years, it was a terrifying experience for fear of being ‘found out’. Thankfully I eventually discovered my calling in the arts!"

Ben Anderson, Director of Lincoln Arts Centre, says: "We couldn’t be prouder to work with Annabel McCourt to explore this important and timely subject. We want to celebrate the contribution and service of LGBTQ+ people in the armed forces, recognising the importance and relevance of this subject for individuals, families and communities across Lincolnshire. We must also acknowledge the past, including the injustices and discrimination faced by those who served. Art has an important role to play in bringing these stories into the open, challenging injustice and creating space for reflection, reconciliation and understanding. The freedoms we value today have been hard won, and we must never take them for granted. Art helps us understand the world we live in, whose stories have been told, and whose still need to be heard."

Ad Astra runs from 12 November to 3 December 2026 in the Gallery at Lincoln Arts Centre, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS. It is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Entry is free and no booking is required, and details are at lincolnartscentre.co.uk/event/ad-astra.