The Role of Programming in Interpreting LGBTQ Identities in Contemporary Art Museums

Museums and LGBTQ Representation

This thesis focuses on the methods through which art museums represent LGBTQ identities, facilitate discourse about diverse sexualities through programming, and address targeted media controversy. It analyzes the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture and the Brooklyn Museum's exhibition of the same show, comparing their approaches in engaging diverse communities when faced with opposing voices or perspectives. [ 5 ]

The paper discusses the curatorial choice of works included in Hide/Seek, the methods of representation used, and the successes in highlighting LGBTQ identities and histories that had not been previously acknowledged at the National Portrait Gallery. It evaluates the effectiveness of programming used to support the exhibition and engage both museums' communities, and examines how each museum responded to media backlash.

Censorship, Controversy, and Community Engagement

The National Portrait Gallery's removal of David Wojnarowicz' film A Fire in My Belly from Hide/Seek due to complaints from conservative groups sparked a new controversy about freedom of speech, gay rights, and the role of the museum when faced with criticism. The Smithsonian held a symposium two months after the show closed that was heavily criticized for not directly addressing the controversy. In contrast, the Brooklyn Museum kept A Fire in My Belly in the exhibition and actively engaged its community in a dialogue about the show and the earlier controversy.

Importance of Programming for Social Activism

This thesis emphasizes the importance of programming when addressing topics of identity, human rights, and social activism. Such programming is vital to reaching diverse communities and facilitating discussion that helps to further the equality and human rights of all. It provides recommendations for contemporary institutions in developing programming for exhibitions about these subjects, highlighting the need for museums to embrace potential discourse instead of avoiding controversy. By engaging diverse voices through programming and advancing cultural dialogues, museums can better serve their communities and promote social understanding and positive change.