visitors to engage with a heritage and identity
choose to collect a trail guide. Therefore, the
that they may not otherwise encounter. These
prevalence of heteronormativity in our museums
audiences can be reached through Queering
remains resistant to change. Nonetheless, the very
Collections, a method that is examined below.
presence in the above national cultural institutions of the interpretation of queer history – and the
Queering Collections
strategically-placed rainbow stickers beside
The interpretation of collections from the
chosen objects – must be recognised as ground-
perspective of gender diversity and sexuality is
breaking steps.
a powerful way of adding queer narratives to the existing visitor offer. At some museums this has
Through their adoption in national museums
been achieved through the acquisition of new
and galleries, these methods will undoubtedly
objects – for example, the Ulster Museum’s ‘The
encourage more visitors than ever before to
Troubles and Beyond’ exhibition displays a t-shirt
engage with Ireland’s queer history. It is also true
from the first Belfast Pride parade and badges
that despite their limitations, the interpretation
worn during a marriage equality rally. An even
methods discussed above are effective in
more effective method however is to re-interpret
facilitating the slow erosion of heteronormativity.
existing collections. This process is known as
The Irish museum sector is still in the early stages
‘queering the museum’ and has been described
of this journey and much research is still needed to
by Horn et al as “an opportunity to look at our
develop methodologies through which to promote
collections with a fresh eye and explore further the
queer discourse.
multitude of possible perspectives and readings” . 21
Through this method, the museum presents
In this paper, I have demonstrated how queer
visitors with narratives that challenge their pre-
programming in the Irish museums sector has
conceived notions of gender and sexuality.
developed over the last two decades, and how the movement has accelerated since the 2015
The National Museum of Ireland’s ‘Rainbow
Referendum. It is also my argument that, as
Revolution’ exhibition and trail (June 2019 – June
demonstrated by the efficacy of the two methods
2020) is an excellent example of its usage. This
for queering the museum that I have explored
includes a series of newly displayed artefacts “that
above, any museum can and should consider
define some of the most memorable moments
how they too can draw out these narratives. By
in the LGBTI+ movement in recent years” . It is
doing so, the sector not only has the potential
however the reinterpretation of existing objects
to represent a group that has historically been
that has been particularly impactful. Visitors
marginalised from heritage discourse, but also
receive a map of the museum galleries guiding
to effect positive change on its lived experience
them through centuries of queer history via
beyond the museum walls.
22
objects already in situ within their permanent displays. This form of programming is effective because it refuses to assign ‘other’ status to queer
Kris Reid is a Heritage and Museum Studies PhD
objects, instead revealing the presence of queer
Student at Ulster University. His topic is focused on
stories in unexpected places. It is furthermore
the pathways to museum-based activism in Northern
efficient because it enables museums to introduce
Ireland with a focus on LGBTQ+ representation and
queer narratives to their sites without requiring
display in the region’s museums.
gallery re-structuring, new acquisitions or new exhibitions. Conclusion The challenge of queer programming remains to consider how best to integrate queer narratives with the existing visitor offer . Even in the case of the NMI ‘Rainbow Revolution’ trail – amongst
Notes 1. Smith, Laurajane. 2006. Uses of Heritage. Oxon: Routledge 2. Sandell, Richard. 2017. Museums, Moralities and Human Rights. Oxon: Routledge.
the best examples of usage of the Queering Collections method in Ireland – visitors must
3. Janes, Robert. 2015. ‘The End of Neutrality: A Modern
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