The Gay Shed is a new, tourable addition to the Beamish Museum Collection made by and for LGBTQIA+ and ally youth as a fun and safe space that represents LGBTQIA+ and ally youth culture in County Durham today. Artist Bex Harvey and Sarah Li worked with two youth hubs in County Durham Dawdon Youth Hub in Seaham and TCR Hub in Teesdale to design and construct the fabulous 'Gay Shed' and the accompanying picnic blanket inspired by the Beamish quilt collection.

The Gay Shed was unveiled at Beamish to be shared with members of the public who could come and see the Gay shed, eat a heart shaped biscuit, embroider a patch or learn how to make a proggy rug and help make the lily pad rug for the shed! The shed has since visited other locations including the TCR Hub grounds for Queer Futures Festival and Durham Pride. While it is a part of the Beamish permanent collection, it is available to tour to other festivals and locations.

The Gay Shed was part of the Room to Roam project, funded by Queer Heritage and Collections Network. It was also funded by No More Nowt.

Beamish Museum and Bowes Museum were partners on the project.