Queer Heritage and Collections Network
banner
queerhcn.org
Queer Heritage and Collections Network
@queerhcn.org
Sharing expertise, skills and best practice on LGBTQ+ heritage 🌈 • UK-wide subject specialist network • Supported by National Lottery through Arts Council England

Contact: qhcncomms@gmail.com
Website: queerhcn.org
Newsletter: mailchi.mp/46de0e53f704/qhcn
Pinned
QHCN is a subject-specialist network with the aim to foster leading-edge approaches to LGBTQ+ heritage.

Our work includes:
• Peer support for practitioners & collaboration opportunities
• Mapping sector needs around LGBTQ+ histories
• Delivering workshops & presentations in response to these needs
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
🐏 New Absolute Units 🐏

Same-sex relationships have always been part of rural England, but they've been underrepresented in our collections.

In the first of 2 episodes, @timjerrome.bsky.social shares his work tracing queer rural lives in The MERL archives.

merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 16, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
New online: The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) collection is now available on LSE Digital Library! We’ve digitised and published the GLF Diaries and the GLF newspaper Come Together. Further series from the archives will be added as digitisation continues.
1/2
digital.library.lse.ac.uk/collections/...
October 14, 2025 at 11:16 AM
📢 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 ⬇
October 2, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
We've got active two calls for papers out now!

Trans Museology: www.museumedu.org/journal/call...

Translating Museum Education: www.museumedu.org/journal/call...
September 17, 2025 at 9:46 PM
📢 Upcoming event from The National Archives
📅 Tuesday 23 Sept, 13:00 (UK time)

Queer places: Feelings, emotions & ways of rebuilding intangible heritage 🌈

With Luke Fawcett (Queer Places), Vicky Iglikowski-Broad & Giorgia Tolfo (TNA).

🔗 Sign up via The National Archives website 👇🏻
September 19, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
TOP - NOW OPEN ✨
Our newest exhibition Top by Claye Bowler is now open!

This exhibition, disguised as a museum store, uses Bowler’s experience as a museum registrar to create an archive of his seven-year journey through the UK’s healthcare system to access top surgery.

Images from Queer Britain
September 10, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Queer Britain has just launched a crowdfunding campaign to support their upcoming exhibition 🌈 Consider donating using the link below! ⬇
"I wish there was more."

We hear it all the time, so we're making it happen.

Help us raise £20k to create 6 new Queer Britain displays for 2026
Donate to enter & win queer prizes:
Mighty Hoopla tickets, art, books + more.

crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qb-displays

#QueerHistory #LGBTQ
Bring LGBTQ+ History to Life in New Exhibition!
Enter now to launch a groundbreaking exhibition and win prizes! Your entry makes a real difference - thank you.
crowdfunder.co.uk
August 19, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
COMING SOON
We’re so excited to announce our upcoming exhibition and our first-ever artist installation: Top by Claye Bowler.

Top explores Claye’s seven-year journey through the UK’s healthcare system to access gender-affirming top surgery.

🗓 10 Sept – 23 Nov

@clayebowler.bsky.social
August 15, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
🌈 New webinar recording: Engaging children and families with LGBTQ+ content in museums

Learn how museums can enable kids and their grown ups to engage with new topics in a safe space - and perhaps, to also see their experiences reflected back.

➡️
RECORDING: Engaging children and families with LGBTQ+ content in museums by Kids in Museums on cademy.io
This is a recording of a session which took place on Zoom on Thursday 3 July 2025. Are you interested in developing programmes and exhibits with LGBTQ+ content for children and families? About this…
kids-in-museums.cademy.io
August 14, 2025 at 11:35 AM
⌛ The deadline for applications is this Friday, 15 August!

Proposals welcome for LGBTQ+ heritage projects and papers – from all career levels, in the UK and internationally.
📣 Call for Papers: QHCN Symposium 2025
🗓️ 25-26 Nov 2025

We're inviting proposals from heritage professionals, researchers, artists & community organisers working with queer collections, stories & spaces.

📥 Deadline: 15 Aug 2025
📌 Full details & how to apply: queerhcn.org/symposiums/symposium-2025
August 12, 2025 at 9:46 AM
📣 New Job Opportunity! 📣

Home Live Art is looking for a coordinator to support a queer and community-led project at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery in 2026.

🗂 Job type: Freelance, fixed-term, part-time
🕒 Start date: 1 Nov 2025
📍 Location: Hastings
📅 Deadline: 1 Sep 2025

📲 More info below!
Job Opportunity: Exhibition and Events Coordinator — Home Live Art — Home Live Art
Application deadline: 23:59 on on Monday 1 September 2025
www.homeliveart.com
July 18, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
PRIDE RECAP
Pride Month is Queer Christmas for us and this year we have been as busy as ever!

We started pride month with the launch of our 20 Years of UK Black Pride exhibition and honoured
Terry Higgins 80th birthday with the Terry Higgins Trust AIDS Memorial Quilt.

Images From Queer Britain
July 2, 2025 at 11:27 AM
📣 Call for Papers: QHCN Symposium 2025
🗓️ 25-26 Nov 2025

We're inviting proposals from heritage professionals, researchers, artists & community organisers working with queer collections, stories & spaces.

📥 Deadline: 15 Aug 2025
📌 Full details & how to apply: queerhcn.org/symposiums/symposium-2025
June 26, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
On this day in 1978, the rainbow flag first flew as a symbol of pride. It was raised at San Francisco Gay Freedom Day.
June 25, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Interested in developing programmes and exhibits with LGBTQ+ content for children and families?

This online training session run by @kidsinmuseums.bsky.social will address the challenges museums face when creating LGBTQ+ content for children and families.

📅 3 Jul, 10:00-12.30
👇🏻 Link to sign up
Training - Kids in Museums
We provide a range of training events and consultancy for the museum sector in the UK and internationally - our new summer programme is available to book now.
kidsinmuseums.org.uk
June 19, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Pride season is in full swing! 🌈 Are you planning to visit any LGBTQ+ exhibitions or cultural events? Drop your recommendations below 👇 We’ll kick things off!

20 YEARS OF UK BLACK PRIDE, Queer Britain (4 Jun-31 Aug)
The exhibition chronicles the evolution of UK Black Pride: queerbritain.org.uk
June 16, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
News | New toolkit provides advice on integrating queer narratives in heritage spaces – free resource advises heritage workers on how to explore LGBTQ+ themes in historic sites

@queerhcn.org
New toolkit provides advice on integrating queer narratives in heritage spaces - Museums Association
Free resource advises heritage workers on how to explore LGBTQ+ themes in historic sites
www.museumsassociation.org
May 29, 2025 at 11:32 AM
ICYMI 🎦 How to Queer You Historic House: Toolkit Launch!

The recording of this event is now available on the QHCN website: queerhcn.org/resources/ho...
May 29, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
Explore the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks through an LGBTQIA+ lens
Join guided tours uncovering hidden histories & diverse identities from the 17th to–21st century.
📍Sat 24 May: Hourly 11 am–4 pm (incl. ISL at 1 pm)
📍Sun 25 May: 2 pm & 3:30 pm
#SpeirGorm
www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museum...
May 21, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Thanks to everyone who came to today's session, 'How to: Queer Your Historic House', where we launched Indigo Dunphy-Smith's brilliant toolkit 🌈

The recording of the event will soon be on our website. In the meantime, you can download and share the toolkit here: a-queer-was-here.com/how-to-queer...
May 20, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Congratulations to Melton Carnegie Museum and the Culture Leicestershire team for a successful launch of 'Villiers Revealed – We Have Always Been Here', in collaboration with artist Aaran Sian.

We were honoured to attend such a powerful celebration of queer art and the community behind it!
May 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Reposted by Queer Heritage and Collections Network
Jaime Starr @jskstarr.bsky.social speaking about using queer or LGBTQ in museums: not everyone will agree. You might get pushback about ANY term. The key is to choose your terms thoughtfully, stay consistent, and train staff to explain the museum's choice.
May 15, 2025 at 2:23 PM
📣 New AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership PhD with Royal Museums Greenwich & Historic Royal Palaces!

‘Femininity, race-making and gender non-conformity in Queen Henrietta Maria’s court performances (1625-42)'

🗓️ Info webinar: 20 May 2025
🗓️ Apply by: 30 June 2025

🔗 Full details & how to apply ⬇
AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership studentship: Henrietta Maria’s court performances
AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership studentship: Henrietta Maria’s court performances
www.rmg.co.uk
May 16, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Quick reminder that we will be at the #MandHShow tomorrow! Our stand will be X12 (Sector Support Zone)

We are also co-hosting a networking session at 13:00, so please pop by if you are there 👋🌈

Register for a FREE ticket here: museumsandheritage25.smartreg.co.uk/Visitors/Vis...
May 13, 2025 at 4:17 PM
🏳️‍🌈 Coming up in just over a week!

How to Queer Your Historic House: Toolkit Launch

A resource to help heritage professionals and researchers uncover and integrate queer narratives into historic spaces.

📅 Online | 20 May 2025, 10:00-12:00
🎟️ Free | Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-que...
May 12, 2025 at 9:51 AM