Gender and LGBTQ in museums : Approaches for including gender and LGBTQ identities into the displays and narratives of temporary exhibitions

B. Truijens

From the end of the previous century onwards, museums increasingly focused on the experiences of visitors to their institutions rather than concentrating almost exclusively on collecting and preserving objects. More than ever before, visitors, their motivations for visiting and their experiences while in the institution, have become central to the practices of museums. This changing focus, in combination with their often vast collections of objects, makes museums suitable places for presenting the histories and objects of various segments of the population, especially minority groups. Museums nowadays even have an obligation to use this suitability and be socially inclusive. This thesis focuses on gender and LGBTQ identities, which can be included in museums in several ways. Museums can adapt their acquisition policy and set targets for including a certain number of artworks made by female artists or artists with an LGBTQ identity or they can organise special events, lectures, and so forth.