Angelica Vanasse, Education Manager, Arts Council Collection at the Walker Art Gallery explains how the Gallery worked to put engagement activity centre stage as part of their major National Partners exhibition, Coming Out: Sexuality, Gender & Identity.
When we decided to create FORUM, an embedded engagement space within the Coming Out exhibition, we were hoping that it would be used by individuals and groups to bring their voices and perspectives to the exhibition.
The exhibition featured artworks from the Arts Council Collection as well as the Walker Art Gallery’s own collection, which offered many different ways to explore a range of ideas around identity, including looking at art and activism, intersectionality, and the words we use to describe ourselves.
It’s been wonderful to see the potential of this space realised through over 36 events programmed as part of Coming Out – many inspired and led by members of LGBT+ communities.
Using public collections to explore themes that are meaningful to our audiences within a public institution has helped to build upon our LGBT+ work and enhance awareness for our audiences alongside representation and visibility of LGBT+ communities.