The Polari Mission was an HLF-funded project led by artists Jez Dolan and Joseph Richardson, delivered in 2013-14.  It documented and conserved Polari – one of the world’s most endangered languages which was a bold and secretive part of gay history. It comprised:

• Polari Mission Live; a performance at Contact (two performances on Saturday, 9 February 2013), which was written by Chris Hoyle, designed and directed by Jez Dolan, with lighting by David Martin, and performed by Andonis Anthony, Daniel Wallace and Loz Kaye.

• An exhibition at John Rylands Library (Friday, 16 August 2013 - Sunday, 2 February 2014)

• A symposium (Friday 11 October 2013)

• A website, social media network and downloadable Polari i-Phone app

• Training opportunities in personal archiving and oral history interviewing through a partnership with the North West Sound Archive and accessing archive sessions

• Guided tours, talks and events.