What does it mean to be told you cannot reach the stars? And what happens when the institution you want to belong to refuses to accept who you are? 

These questions sit at the heart of Ad Astra, a new exhibition by internationally exhibited Lincolnshire artist Annabel McCourt, opening at Lincoln Arts Centre from 12 November to 3 December 2026. 

Developed through McCourt’s role as an Associate Artist at Lincoln Arts Centre, 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. 

The exhibition also marks a moment in time as progress is made to justice as the governments financial recognition scheme closes 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. The resulting work makes space for people whose lives have been shaped by discrimination, stigma or historical erasure to be heard in their own right. 

Artist, 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!” 

Rather than allowing these stories to remain in the shadows, Ad Astra invites audiences to reflect on the human consequences of exclusion, the importance of listening to lived experience and the possibilities of healing and reconciliation. It also recognises the progress made towards justice for those affected, including the financial recognition scheme available to eligible former service personnel. 

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. It also reflects the Centre’s commitment to supporting artists to develop ambitious new work, rooted in their own creative practice and connected to wider communities. 

Director of Lincoln Arts Centre, Ben Anderson, 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.” 

As an Associate Artist, McCourt has been supported to develop Ad Astra into a major new work for Lincoln, building on an established practice spanning photography, installation, public art and architectural intervention. Her work has been exhibited across the UK and internationally, including in Brazil, Australia, Senegal and China. 

Ad Astra offers an opportunity to encounter these histories not simply as a record of past injustice, but as an invitation to consider what we carry forward – and how listening to one another might help us build a more inclusive future. 

Ad Astra
12 November – 3 December 2026
Gallery, Lincoln Arts Centre, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS
Open Monday – Saturday, 10am–4pm. Free entry; no booking required. 

For more information, visit lincolnartscentre.co.uk/event/ad-astra.