Owen Gower
@owentg.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1.3K following 120 posts
Doing comms for a charity tackling health inequalities at a hyperlocal level. Recovering museum professional. Historian of vaccination, smallpox, and Edward Jenner. Life between Bristol and Gloucester. Personal account, own views. He/him. owengower.co.uk
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owentg.bsky.social
“Why should we fix our eyes on this spot only?” A little piece about looking outside of our current circumstances and shouting about the amazing achievements of vaccination, which have all come about despite anti-vaccination activism and monumental logistical challenges. Let’s change the story.
"Why should we fix our eyes on this spot only?"
Recently I’ve been prone to thinking that things are looking bleak for vaccination, that wonder of science which is estimated to have saved 154 million lives since 1974.
owengower.co.uk
owentg.bsky.social
Eek, hope everything’s ok.
owentg.bsky.social
Managed to get tickets (just!) to the Charlie and Daisy May Cooper event, really looking forward to that conversation!
Reposted by Owen Gower
jackshoulder.bsky.social
A huge thank you to everyone who has explored LGBTQIA+ history with me at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

I had some great questions from your goers and I got to ask them some Big Questions too, like "What's your favourite dinosaur?"
A group of people exploring a dinosaur gallery in a museum
Reposted by Owen Gower
petergibbs.bsky.social
Geeking out at the National Hedgelaying Championship on the Waddesdon Estate in Bucks. Around 100 competitors laying in 10 different regional styles over 5 hours on a very challenging hedge.
Reposted by Owen Gower
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
Enid, the surprising and eccentric owner of the brilliant Sound Records in Stroud, UK, has an encyclopaedic knowledge of jazz, soul, funk, ocean fish and wool.
Enid the cat on top of the Soul & Funk section in (the old, smaller) Sound Records in Stroud.
Reposted by Owen Gower
onnigust.bsky.social
Storm Amy is blowing the flags down, she's on the side of immigrants and refugees. Wind knows no borders, learn from the wind.
Reposted by Owen Gower
simonforstroud.bsky.social
Spent time at Hammonds Farm, who run a social prescribing programme with farm visits. Great to see how community farming and social prescribers support local people by connecting them with nature while providing fresh, locally grown produce.
owentg.bsky.social
Some really interesting and important initiatives here that will make such a difference to people's lives and relieve pressures on overstretched public sector services. I'm looking forward to finding out more as the projects progress.
museumsassociation.org
Meet the grantees of our Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund 🪴

We've awarded our first round of grants for health and wellbeing programmes in museums, funded by the Julia Rausing Trust, to support nine museums in developing and continuing their groundbreaking work.

More about the projects 👇
Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund: meet the grantees - Museums Association
The Museums Association has awarded its first round of grants from the Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund, a programme of grant-making, networking and
ow.ly
Reposted by Owen Gower
jpwarchaeology.bsky.social
Happy 259th anniversary of the Nottingham Cheese Riot to all those who celebrate...
Reposted by Owen Gower
queerhcn.org
📢 REGISTRATIONS OPEN! 📢

Registrations are open for the upcoming QHCN Symposium, exploring the innovative queer heritage work being developed by cultural organisations across the UK and beyond

📆 Date: 25-26 November 2025
📍 Location: National Trust - Heelis

Registration links below ⬇
Decorative Banner: QHCN Symposium 2025 - Registrations Open
Logos included: National Trust, Historic Royal Palaces, English Heritage, Historic England, RCMG, University of Leicester, Arts Council England
owentg.bsky.social
Exciting post from @jonpountney1.bsky.social today. I’m a big fan of the Valleys and a big fan of Jon’s work, so I think I’m going to enjoy this.
Valleys photography book on a green and blue painted desk
Reposted by Owen Gower
amplifystroud.com
GLOUCESTER WELCOMES REFUGEES
In the wake of anti-refugee protests outside the Ibis hotel in Gloucester, an upcoming gathering in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers is planned for Sunday 5 October.

amplifystroud.com/gloucester-w...
Gloucester Welcomes Refugees
A peaceful, non-confrontational gathering will be held in Gloucester on Sunday 5 October to show support for people seeking asylum and challenge attempts to stoke division and racism.
amplifystroud.com
owentg.bsky.social
Too much to do and not enough time. I need a
Green button on wall with label reading “Day Extension Button”
owentg.bsky.social
Cannot wait to hear how this turns out!
Reposted by Owen Gower
clarered.bsky.social
First speakers announced for Meeting the Moment, a one day event for the culture sector on speaking up in troubled times. Wed 26 Nov 10:00, @wshed.bsky.social Am very EXCITED. Shares appreciated. www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/1356...
Meeting The Moment
A one day event for the culture sector on speaking up in troubled times.
www.watershed.co.uk
Reposted by Owen Gower
madlinsudn.bsky.social
The Boring Fund will be open for applications in November.

If your small UK charity needs (up to) £200 to cover something boring like insurance or web hosting, take a look.

They welcome donations too.
The Boring Fund - Open Collective
We support small non-profit organisations (UK) by only funding the really boring (but essential) stuff like insurance, accountancy or admin
opencollective.com
owentg.bsky.social
My favourite photo from a trip to Avoncroft Museum yesterday. The windmill was being supervised by a friendly and knowledgeable volunteer showed us videos on his phone of the mill in operation. Excited to see you could purchase flour from the mill in the shop and, of course, I had to buy some.
Brick agricultural building in the foreground with a wooden post mill in the background.
owentg.bsky.social
Huge congratulations on getting it submitted Kate, and all the best for your viva!
owentg.bsky.social
“Why should we fix our eyes on this spot only?” A little piece about looking outside of our current circumstances and shouting about the amazing achievements of vaccination, which have all come about despite anti-vaccination activism and monumental logistical challenges. Let’s change the story.
"Why should we fix our eyes on this spot only?"
Recently I’ve been prone to thinking that things are looking bleak for vaccination, that wonder of science which is estimated to have saved 154 million lives since 1974.
owengower.co.uk
Reposted by Owen Gower
happymuseum.bsky.social
Innovators, thinkers and leaders needed!

Our mission is to re-imagine museums for a sustainable future – by fostering wellbeing that doesn’t cost the earth.

Could you bring your unique perspective, your time and your imagination for a better future – to our Steering Group?

shorturl.at/b0ejo
owentg.bsky.social
Also made a cat friend.
A magnificent fluffy cat with eyes wide open
Reposted by Owen Gower
georgemonbiot.bsky.social
Keir Starmer's aides are reportedly telling him not to go to the COP30 climate conference, because Reform would attack him for it.
Yes, they might.
And he should wear it as a badge of honour.
Standing up for humanity, for science and a habitable planet.
Where's the hazard in that?
owentg.bsky.social
Beautiful light in the churchyard yesterday evening.
Churchyard with table tombs, a bit of the church building, and separate tower, all bathed in evening sunlight.