Bermuda Society of Art’s newest exhibition, Pioneers who Persevered: Black Nurses in Segregated Bermuda, was recently unveiled by the Department of Community, Culture and Sport.

In the exhibition, viewers can scan QR codes on the art installations, which sends them to a new Emancipation website developed by the department.

The website allows viewers to learn about major moments in Bermuda’s history, specifically regarding the many obstacles faced by black Bermudian nurses during the early and mid-20th century.

The exhibition and website were launched after the premiere of the documentary film Healthcare Heroines: Black Nurses and the Struggle for Equality last week.

Junior Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Senator Arianna Hodgson, briefly addressed people at the film’s premiere.

She said: “Healthcare Heroines only chronicles a few individual stories, but there were many former nurses whose interviews are not included in this film.

“Thankfully their stories are part of the Department of Culture’s oral history collection.”

Ms Hodgson encouraged everyone to learn more about the nurses highlighted in the film by attending the department’s exhibit.

The lead researcher for the project was veteran journalist and former nurse Meredith Ebbin.

Ms Ebbin was assisted in her research by Randy Williams, who wrote CARE, the history of KEMH and Cottage Hospital Nursing Home, as well as Maryann Farkas.

The film was shot and edited by Andrew Kirkpatrick and Nhuri Bashir from Burnt House Productions.

In addition to the documentary and art exhibit, which is on display until August 12, there will be a lecture on the Cottage Hospital featuring Cecile Simmons, Meredith Ebbin and heritage officer for the Department of Planning Jessica Dill. It is scheduled for August 11.

The lecture is entitled: Cottage Hospital: Segregated in Bermuda.