
First Anniversary of Excavating the Reno
- 12 October, 2018
- Linda Brogan
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On the 9th of October 2017 we began to excavate the Reno. Photo-slide I used on the 4th of October 2018 to tell our story to 200 representatives of major international museums and art galleries in the Museum of London. I burned the stage down.
Dr Emily Scott-Dearing 'Most powerful #MuseumIdeas moment for me. Linda Brogan's expletive-riddled impassioned tale of being weighed down by the whiteness, the middleclassness of creative commissioners. Finally expressed what for years she could only see from corner of her eye: @ExcavatingReno project'

1971 Phil and Sylvia owned the Reno
The double height proverbial black door


Audrey was its barmaid.
Frank in the purple beret was the king


Women wore make up
Both sexes loved a weed


Older black guys disappeared into the gambling room
Their dice


1976 flares overtake suits
Black Power brought in the Afro comb


Coke personified youth
Phil's daughter Yemi became old enough to be the Reno manager


Derek, Marcus, Derek Barnes, and Tony Bellows
Definitely would have discarded wallets outside the Reno


Marcus, Derek, Sue, and Tony
Derek was the love of Sue's life, till his was taken in 1988


The Pill gave us Women's Lib
We built our own spliffs


Me, Susie and David Palmer
Susie, Stella and Diane


bought our own copies of Reno DJ Persian's bootleg soul and funk
1979 the new knights want more than the few bob in someone's pocket


They bought our first champagne after holding up the first Asda's
The 80s also brought power dressing


A revamped Reno to regain its licence
Caneii replaced coke


Reno DJ Persian left wanting a wage increase. He took the atmosphere with him
Himat and Junior


Himat and Simon Douglas
2016. I've always been a thinker


After collecting our Reno memoirs

Beginning the 9th of October 2017, we excavated The Reno [film by John Lloyd]

Persian came back
His soul and funk ignited our fountain of youth


We celebrated
We celebrated some more


We colonised the Whitworth, obliterating their art with our memoirs, excavation photos and film [photo by Karen Rangeley]
Became finalists in the Heritage National Lottery Awards


Are currently finalists in 1] Outstanding Contribution to Manchester Culture Award, 2] the Manchester People's Culture Award, 3] the Nothern Soul Award, and 4] This is Manchester Award

And have been awarded a new Art's Council England grant to make all into an evolving exhibition in this wonderful Whitworth space. Where Gecko will join us to transform what we find into a Manchester International Festival musical
Us in the know recognise the Reno's brown formica walls. Smiling.