Did you know that scattered around the world, there are LGBTQIA+ and Feminist archives? These centers, operated by a system of rooms, personnel, budget, and volunteers, play a crucial role in preserving history. However, every Queer archive has humble origins, often starting in someone’s home to save and protect their community’s heritage. Local archives and personal practices are essential, as history should not only be seen through outsiders’ eyes.
In response to this need, the Queer Museum, ba-bau AIR, Hanoi Pride, and Goethe-Institut Hanoi collaborate to create an expanded Queer and Feminist archive, emphasizing community participation. This project is part of the “Open Call: Queer Ideas” program initiated by Goethe-Institut Hanoi in 2023. We invite individuals, especially those in Hanoi, to join our diverse community in phase 01 of this project.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
The project at this stage includes workshops and open discussions on Queer & Feminist Archives, coordinated by local and international artists, curators and archivists. In February 2025 there will be a collective exhibition of the research/findings of the participating members.
- Time: September 2024 - February 2025 (specific time for each session will be announced via email during the project and based on discussion with participating members).
- Location: Queer Museum (No. 103 Ngoc Lam, Long Bien, Hanoi), Goethe-Institut Hanoi (56-58-60 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ba Dinh, Hanoi) and other locations.
- Admission fee: Free of charge. Participants in all workshop series and archives to be exhibited in February 2025 will receive a small production grant.
- Registration deadline: 15 August 2024
PROGRAM:
- Learn methods and strategies for archiving, preserving and displaying materials related to the queer and feminist community.
- Discuss the challenges and opportunities in archiving queer stories and experiences.
- Discuss the role of archives in the social movement process.
- Participate in the process of collecting documents, storing them, creating databases and classification lists for the collected documents.
- Activate the archive with your ideas by organising exhibitions, creating, responding to archival materials - with the aim of creating new perspectives and approaches to queer and feminist materials, not just to store the boxes.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Researchers, development officers, archivists, curators, artists and individuals interested in the field of archives, queer and feminism.
- No experience required, just commitment, openness, willingness to learn and work collaboratively.
- If you live and work in Hanoi, this is a priority.
- Be sure to participate directly in the 02 workshops in Hanoi.
ORGANIZERS:
A Queer Museum
A Queer Museum aims to create a communal and creative place in Vietnam dedicated to preserving, nurturing and celebrating queer heritage and feminism. A Queer Museum's mission is to promote a society that respects and encourages diversity, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Queer Museum documents queer and feminism, education through discussions, screenings and performances, connects diverse communities and empowers community members to lead initiatives with the desire to contribute to creating a society that is fair, open and respectful of differences as well as more tolerant and inclusive.
ba-bau AIR
Founded in 2019, ba-bau AIR is a collective of curators, producers and artists. ba-bau's practice includes curating and producing exhibitions, designing intimate spaces, while also producing fictional films and art programmes. ba-bau always aims to create a space for multidisciplinary connections, with art at the centre. Ba-bau's work has been shown at Documentafifteen, Kassel, Germany (2022), Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong (2022, 2023), Vietnamese Women's Museum (2022), Thai Nguyen University ( 2021), cyberspace (2021, 2022).
Hanoi Pride
Hanoi Pride is an LGBTIQ+ rights advocacy organisation founded in 2012. Through community building and nurturing spaces by annual cultural activities, Hanoi Pride hopes to promote a friendly and harmonious Hanoi City for LGBTIQ+ people.
Goethe-Institut Hanoi
The Goethe-Institut Hanoi was founded in 1997. Its main intention is to foster cultural exchange between Vietnam, Germany and Europe. In this perspective, we organize a broad range of cultural activities, presenting German culture in Asia and intensifying the cultural dialogue between our countries.
The Goethe-Institut Hanoi focuses its programme work on seven main areas, which are:
- Migration & diaspora;
- Postcolonialism & fair culture;
- Inclusion;
- Equality for women & LGBTIQ-persons;
- Urbanization & urban development;
- Sustainability in documentary films;
- Digitalization & society
