Stephen E. Weil Memorial Lecture – LGBTIQ+Museums

22 August 2022, 11:45–13:55

The Stephen E. Weil Memorial Lecture commemorates the work of this outstanding pioneer and author in museum studies, recognized for his contribution to the world of museums and the development of the profession. Since 2006, the organizers of the lectures have invited eminent figures from the sector of museums and culture to provide new perspectives for museums and their professionals. This year, the lecture will focus on the relationship between LGBTIQ+ communities and contemporary museums. It is organized by ICOM, ICOM US, INTERCOM and ICOM ICEE.

Moderator: Carlos Serrano Vásquez (he/him) ICOM Capacity Building Coordinator

Lecturers

Ben Garcia

Ben Garcia (he/him) is Executive Director of the American LGBTQ+ Museum, dedicated to preserving, investigating, and celebrating the dynamic histories and cultures of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, as well as those of emergent and adjacent identities. Ben works in service to the dead - especially those whose lives were considered expendable and whose legacies have been dismissed or erased - and to the lives of their descendants. He envisions a museum ecosystem where consent, respect, kindness, liberation, and queerness abound.

Craig Middleton

Craig Middleton (he/him) is a Senior Curator at the National Museum of Australia and an Honorary Lecturer at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. At the National Museum of Australia, he is responsible for creative, content, and collections development across a range of projects and programs within the Discovery and Collections division. He is a widely published author and his book, co-authored with Dr Nikki Sullivan, Queering the Museum was published by Routledge in 2019. His commitment to LGBTIQ+ representation has informed his work in museums, including through the creation of tours, programs, exhibitions, and research.