Beyond the Binary: Queering and Questioning Collections and Displays at the Pitt Rivers Museum

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.