Exhibition: ‘Visualising the Lives of LGBTIQ Roma’

An exhibition and a symposium entitled “Visualising the Lives of LGBTIQ” Roma will take place at the Aspex Gallery on 7 and 8 November 2019. The events are convened by University of Portsmouth post-doctoral researcher Dr Lucie Fremlova as part of her postdoctoral project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which she is conducting at the University of Portsmouth in partnership with the University of Brighton (South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership). Most of the photographs were created thanks to additional funding from the Open Society Foundations (OSF). Participation is free of charge.

The lived experiences and images of lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) Roma remain invisible to many people, Roma and non-Roma alike. Simultaneously, LGBTIQ Roma are the subject of a plethora of anti-Romani, homo/transphobic and other stereotypes. The exhibition showcases photographs produced by LGBTIQ Roma visual activists and artists as part of this collaborative, participatory postdoctoral project. By doing so, the exhibition not only offers an insight into the lives of LGBTIQ Roma; it also seeks to demonstrate to various audiences ways in which they wish to be represented.

On 7 November, the exhibition day will start at 11.30 am with a 1.5 hours creative workshop about identities for up to 30 participants (register free of charge here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/visualising-the-lives-of-lgbtiq-roma-workshop-tickets-75471532385?aff=ebapi). In the afternoon, the exhibition is open to the general public. The exhibition opening will take place from 6 to 8 pm (register free of charge here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/symposium-visualising-the-lives-of-lgbtiq-roma-tickets-75650483633). A day later, on 8 November, the exhibition will be followed by a symposium for up to 50 participants on (register free of charge here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exhibition-opening-visualising-the-lives-of-lgbtiq-roma-tickets-75587003763).

The exhibition and the symposium aim to provide third sector organisations, charities, governmental and intergovernmental institutions, academia and other stakeholders working with Roma and LGBTIQ people with images and information about LGBTIQ Roma; and to create a constructive dialogue about ways in which stakeholders utilise images of Roma and LGBTIQ people in their communication with the public. The outputs of the research project speak to current societal issues that have particular traction within European societies such as diversity, equality, tolerance, migration, identity politics, representation and participation within Europe’s ever-changing political landscapes.

The exhibition takes place as part of the annual Festival of Social Science run by the ESRC. This year’s Festival runs from 2 to 9 November 2019, with over 470 events being held across the UK and covering a wide range of topics: AI, mental health, sexuality, parenting, weather, gender, ageing, love, death, economics and education, to name but a few. Over the years, the Festival has helped researchers to engage with new audiences from teenagers to pensioners, including individuals representing businesses, charities and policymakers. It celebrates some of the country’s leading social science research, giving an exciting opportunity to showcase the valuable work of the UK’s social scientists and demonstrate how their work has an impact on all our lives.

If you are interested in attending the events, please pre-register by 31 October 2019 on the Eventbrite links above or directly with Dr Lucie Fremlova on the following email address: lucie.fremlova@port.ac.uk