The National Gallery of Ireland, National Museum of Ireland and Kilmainham Gaol Museum are delighted to present OUTing the Past Dublin 2021: The International Festival of LGBTI+ History from 22 to 28 March 2021.
The festival aims to bring LGBTI+ history to a wider audience in an exciting, inspiring and thought-provoking programme of events.
This year marks two years since the festival’s hugely successful Dublin debut in 2019 at the National Gallery of Ireland. For the 2021 festival, three of the capital’s most popular cultural institutions will host events virtually and online.
OUTing the Past aims to provide a platform for fresh perspectives on and new insights into past attitudes and behaviours related to sexuality and gender. Events include a drag story time tour at the National Gallery of Ireland; events exploring clothing as a means of expressing self-identity at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History; and speakers from Kilmainham Gaol.
The festival launches on Monday, 22 March 2021, with the release of a video discussing the history of the LGBT rights movement in Ireland, filmed at the historic Kilmainham Gaol.
From Tuesday, 23 March to Sunday, 28 March, the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland will host virtual talks, workshops and webinars.
The Gallery will host a Drag & Draw Workshop inspired by the Gallery’s collection; a pop-up video on the Gallery’s Instagram; talks on topics such as the life of William of Orange; and asexual representation in art.
The National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History will host a selection virtual events including ‘It’s What You Wear’ by Trans activist Sara R Phillips, exploring the role that clothing has played for the trans-community over the past 200 years; and Taryn de Vere exploring fashion activism in an interactive virtual workshop.
Kate Drinane of the National Gallery of Ireland’s Education Team commented:
We are so proud that OUTing the Past will be hosted by the National Gallery of Ireland again this year. Three years ago, we launched LGBTQIA+ themed tours of the Gallery to make our national collection more accessible. We work hard every day to make the Gallery an inclusive and relevant space for all. Bringing this important festival to our spaces again in 2021 is another step in the journey."
Judith Finlay of the National Museum of Ireland added:
The National Museum is engaging with the LGBTI+ communities through acquisition, research, events and oral histories, for example the Rainbow Revolution exhibition and events highlighting previously hidden LGBTI+ histories. We are delighted to participate in the OUTing the Past Festival in collaboration with the National Gallery of Ireland and Kilmainham Gaol and celebrate the strands of LGBTI+ history that weave through our national collections.”
OUTing the Past Dublin 2021 takes place online from Monday to Sunday, 22 to 28 March 2021, across the Kilmainham Gaol Museum, National Gallery of Ireland and National Museum of Ireland websites and social media. Admission to all events is free. Booking is required for some events. Browse the National Museum of Ireland's OUTing the Past Festival events programme below and visit the National Gallery of Ireland events listings for more.
OUTing the Past Festival programme at the National Museum of Ireland
Breaking Down Barriers
2pm / Wednesday / 24 March
We are joined by Dan Vo, a Victoria and Albert ambassador and founder of the volunteer-led LGBTQ+ tours at the museum. Dan will deliver a live presentation of original research conducted with 50 galleries, libraries, archives and museums across the UK engaged in LGBTQ+ programming. Dan will also be joined by Kris Reid for a Q&A session. Kris Reid is a PhD Candidate at Ulster University. His research focuses on museum-based activism within the context of LGBTQ+ heritage, exploring the pathways and barriers towards museum engagement with issues of social justice.
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I am and CAMP Project
Throughout the day / Friday / 26 March
We are joined by Bríd Murphy and Darren Collins who will be taking over the Museum's social media accounts to discuss the CAMP Project and the 'I am' art installation.
The CAMP project is a series of collaborative works created by artists working directly and in collaboration with a number of different Irish Traveller groups and communities. The project was inspired by Travellers’ Journey, a year long temporary exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life.
‘I am’ is a video and sound installation that resulted from the collaboration between Darren Collins, a Traveller and LGBTQI+ activist, and visual artist and LSAD undergrad Bríd Murphy.
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Reclaiming the Link with the Past: History and Legacy of the Pink Triangle
4pm / Friday / 26 March
Prof Dr Rainer Schulze will deliver a presentation discussing the links between the generation of gay men (and LGBTIQ people more widely) persecuted under the Nazi regime (and before); through to the 'AIDS crisis' of the 1980s and 1990s to the present, creating an awareness of past struggles which continue to cast a long shadow on LGBTIQ lives until today.
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Fashion Activism Workshop
12pm / Sunday / 28 March
Taryn de Vere is an artist, writer and fashion activist living in Donegal. Known for upcycling and wearable art, de Vere is also well known for making unique jewellery and headpieces. Taryn de Vere will deliver an engaging workshop which will examine how LGBTQI+ activism demonstrates the power of fashion as an activist tool.
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It’s What You Wear
3pm / Sunday / 28 March
Sara R Phillips will examine the part that clothing has played for the trans-community over the past 200 years, through her own personal story and an exploration of the Irish trans-archive.
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BROWSE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE NMI - DECORATIVE ARTS & HISTORY