OTP 2022 Hub Programme - National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History

OTP Ireland NMI CB Programme of Events – Thursday, 7th April 2022

Matt Smith - Keynote Speaker - Online - 12:00 - 12:40 pm

Matt Smith will present on his work as an artist and curator, with a focus on Matt’s own experiences and work with Museums. Matt will share his reflections and thoughts on what the National Museum of Ireland should consider in terms of queering the collections.

Mark Etheridge - Online or Onsite - 1:00 - 1:20pm

Collecting the Contemporary at St Fagans National Museum of History - Mark Etheridge is a Curator at St Fagans National Museum of History, in Cardiff, and is responsible for the LGBTQ+ collection. This presentation discusses the ongoing work with individuals and community groups to collect objects for the St Fagans collection that represent contemporary LGBTQ+ experiences and events in Wales. These include collecting from community groups such as Glitter Cymru, a support and social group for LGBTQ+ ethnic minorities in Wales; collecting contemporary events such as the changes of rules around gay and bi men donating blood, and the passing of a Church in Wales bill that now allows the blessing of same sex marriages; and also the impact of Covid-19 on pride events in Wales, and how St Fagans changed its approach, and collected digital pride events.

Barry Quirke - Online or Onsite - 2:00 - 2:20pm

The Rebirth of Dublin Pride - Gay Community News called it the seven-year itch. This headline captured the mood perfectly, there was a quiet sense within the LGBT community that we had turned a corner and there may be better times ahead. The European Court of Human Rights had ruled that Gay Community News called it the seven-year itch. This headline captured the mood perfectly, there was a quiet sense within the LGBT community that we had turned a corner and there may be better times ahead. The European Court of Human Rights had ruled that Ireland's continued criminalisation of gay sex was contrary to human rights, and in an unexpected move, sexual orientation was included in recently enacted Incitement to Hatred legislation. The authority of the Roman Catholic Church had been shaken by the Bishop Casey scandal, and whereas the AIDS crisis was still raging, more people were living with AIDS and the sense of community was strong while most LGBT activism was devoted to the fight against AIDS. In this context, it seemed that the higher visibility provided by Pride marches and celebrations was needed more than ever after such a long absence, an absence that increasingly seemed to be an aberration given the gradual progress being made towards improved LGBT rights in Ireland. This presentation will recount the story of how Pride returned to the streets of Dublin after a seven-year absence. It will detail the people behind the initiative, their motivations and inspirations, the challenges encountered, support received from allies, and experiences while preparing for and during the event itself. The presentation will conclude with some observations on the immediate impact of Dublin Pride 1992 and on its wider implications for future Prides in Ireland and its effects on the broader lived experience of the LGBT community, our supporters and all who sought amore pluralistic Ireland.

Denis Kehoe - Onsite Performance in Collins Barracks - 1:00 - 4:00pm (tbc)

Esther & Oscar at Collins Barracks - Denis Kehoe - Novelist and lecturer in Visual Culture at the National College of Art & Design in Dublin. has developed two alter-egos, Esther Raquel Minsky and Oscar Esterson and will spend the duration of the opening hours of the Museum occupying the courtyard, engaging
with the space as both Oscar and Esther. Kehoe will move between genders throughout the day and perform different personas (the soldier, the seamstress, the sailor) in a series of walks, dances and physical movements.

No booking required.

Family Workshop

Details TBC