By Alexander Dawson
York Art Gallery has announced that it has formed a partnership with the LGTB Forum in order to diversify the Burton Gallery by incorporating various stories and pieces from the LGBTQIA+ community.
Visitors will be able to wander through the renovated art gallery with a fresh perspective on the original pieces from members of the LQBTQIA+ community.
The LGBT Forum is a community that believes that where barriers exist, there is inequality! The LGBT Forum actively promotes awareness and understanding of LGBT people’s needs to enable full participation in society and encourage greater participation in the prevention and detection of homophobia, transphobia and biphobia.
Its new initiative, named ‘Queering the Burton Project’ is a project between the York Museum Trust and the LGBT Forum to help create a more inclusive and welcoming space for everyone, and to help morph the historically negative depiction of the word ‘Queer’ into the commonly used modern version to represent sexual and gender minorities while de-weaponising what was once a slur.
From the 2nd February and onward, Queering the Burton will help to provide the space and exhibits for many future LGBTQIA+ stories as they can tell.
During February half-term, the Art Gallery will commence the ‘Curious Takeover’, which will help to diversify and accept different families of shapes and sizes, with a full day of activities, for everyone of all ages, including Drag Storytime, creating your own family logo, Protest Poster Making and more.
Reyahn King, Chief Executive Officer at York Museums Trust, said: “Here at York Museums Trust we’re so grateful for the partnership we have formed with York LGBT Forum for our Queering the Burton Project. The project has also shed light on histories that are missing from York Art Gallery collections and through this collaboration and the formation of the York Museums Trust Allies Group, we have identified our priorities for future collecting and displays.
“It is essential that York Art Gallery is an inclusive and welcoming space for all communities, and I want to thank York LGBT Forum, our Allies Group and the wider local LGBTQIA+ Community for their commitment to this important work”.
Queering the Burton is now open to the public. For anyone who wishes to visit, you can book a ticket at York Art Gallery
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