Staff and students visited the ‘Queer the Pier’ exhibition at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery as part of their course.
The students were all first-years studying on our Politics BA, Politics and International Relations BA and Politics, Sexuality and Gender BA – the visit aligned to the Politics in Practice module with a focus on the politics of museums and galleries. The module encourages students to think about politics in broad terms by considering a range of ways in which they might see it being practiced in the world around them.
‘Queer the Pier’, a community-curated exhibition, provided students with thought-provoking insights into Brighton’s LGBTIQ+ history. The exhibition highlights the role of writers, artists, performers, and activists in Brighton & Hove and encouraged conversations about celebrating lives and reclaiming narratives.
A backdrop of criminalisation for some artefacts, led to discussions about ‘hidden histories’ and how the community curators sought to bring ‘the everyday’ into the museum. The neighbouring ‘Queer Looks’ display of outfits and oral histories from LGBTQ contributors in Sussex gave students the opportunity to bring their discussions up to the present.
Ella Okra Kwao, Politics and International Relations student, said: “The visit to the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery was enlightening due to the historical nature of the trip.”
Senior lecturer Fran Burke said: “This exhibition, which was created by a group of volunteer curators from the local community, provides insights into Brighton’s queer history. Importantly, it encourages us to think about how different histories are represented and what this means for politics today.
“The trip really opened up discussion between the students on the politics of representation and whose stories are told in cultural institutions.”
Learn about studying politics at the University of Brighton.
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