Music has been a tool to inspire, educate, and organize workers throughout labour history. Solidarity Forever: Workers Sounds and Songs delves into the history of labour songs through showcasing musical moments from WAHC’s permanent collection.
From traditional labour songs set to Gospel tunes, to contemporary tracks about current workers’ issues, to powerful chants on picket lines, labour sounds inspire solidarity through auditory engagement. Through time and space, music & protest sounds continue to inspire workers to build community and fight for a better world.
Visit the exhibition between March — July 2026 to explore artifacts ranging from vinyl records and song lyrics to archival video footage from WAHC’s permanent collection.
For more information, please contact Ada Bierling, Interim Programming and Exhibitions Specialist, at (905) 522-3003 ex. 29 or ada@wahc-museum.ca
Top image: D.O.A. perform at Vancouver Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts (still) (1989). Image courtesy of Vancouver Mayworks.
Bottoms image: Katari Taiko perform at Vancouver Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts (still) (1989). Image courtesy of Vancouver Mayworks.
WAHC acknowledges the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Hamilton, the Province of Ontario, the Canada Council for the Arts, CUPE National, Canada’s Building Trades Unions, OPSEU/SEFPO, the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, and Teamsters Local Union 879 for their support of our exhibitions and ancillary programs.
