Drawing from materials in the Lothian Health Services Archive at the University of Edinburgh, this digital exhibition was developed for the Sex, Drugs and Scotland’s Health Conference (19-21 Oct 2021). It showcases the scientific and medical communication histories of HIV/AIDS health promotion and harm reduction in Scotland since the 1980s.
Exhibition Description:
This exhibition displays a range of health promotion materials created by Scottish health boards and HIV/AIDS charities from the 1980s to the early 2000s. Scotland has a rich and varied history of public health and community responses to AIDS crisis, with a significant presence of health workers across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and the Highlands. This exhibition attempts to follow some of the key messages and images circulating during the early AIDS crisis period. The health promotion materials herein encourage safer sex practices and harm reduction during casual substance use – presenting an expansive approach to mitigating HIV transmissions since the 1980s. The materials appear in four parts: an introduction and three thematic exhibitions: (1) sex and relationships, (2) substance use, and (3) comics and illustrations.
Image Disclaimer:
The images on display are provided courtesy of the Lothian Health Services Archive (LHSA) at Edinburgh University Library, the Wellcome Collections, and Crew 2000 (Scotland). Every effort has been made to ensure that content displayed in this exhibition does not infringe any person’s rights or applicable UK laws. If you believe any content appears illegally herein, please contact Chase Ledin at chaseledin@gmail.com.
Introduction:
Sex and Relationships Collection:
Substance Use Collection:
Comics & Illustrations Collection:
Chase Ledin 