Podcasts from the Beyond the Binary Project, held at the Pitt Rivers Museum. Building on existing engagement work with LGBTQ+ stakeholders and set out an ambitious programme to build inclusive practice within theMuseum. This will transform the Museum through events, interpretation and exhibitions.
By 'queering', we mean challenging hetero-normative interpretations of the Museum’s collections - and identifying human histories that are unrepresented as a result of intolerance. This is so that no individual or group feels excluded from the Museum because of their sexuality or gender, and so that all visitors - however they might identify themselves - can understand humanity better.
We will re-interpret objects within our permanent collections with the aim of providing a richer, more diverse context to their histories and stories. The project will challenge accepted historical interpretations and offer alternative understandings from people with different identities. We will work with a broad range of partners, from researchers to community activists, to reshape the Pitt Rivers as a welcoming inclusive space.
In addition to exploring the existing collections, this project will include a community focussed acquisition programme. Although the Pitt Rivers has some objects that tell the stories of LGBTQ+ histories, there has not been a dedicated endeavour to accession LGBTQ+ cultural and historical artefacts into the collection. We will collect objects from British communities and a number of objects from across the globe that highlight traditions of gender non-conformity, bringing British LGBTQ+ heritage into conversation with global LGBTQ+ material culture.
