On August 29th, 2020, MPOC presented On Possible Futures, a two-panel event focused on highlighting LGBTQ+ BIPOC experiences related to museum and cultural work. This event was co-hosted and driven by the work of Dulcina Abreu and the International Coalition of Museum Professionals and Communities. The work of each of the panelists has been critical for communities to thrive during the pandemic, each of them addressing different aspects of systemic racism and building up the spirits of their communities.
Panel 1: LGBTQ+ BIPOC Digital Activism
The first On Possible Futures panel was moderated by Dr. Nicole Ivy, Director of Inclusion for the American Alliance of Museums, and featured Syrus Marcus Ware, Armando Perla, Adrienne Gaither, and Thiané Diop. Discussions centered around site-specific activism, the importance of intersectionality when doing advocacy work, and the power of museums and art spaces in crafting cultural narratives.
Panel 2: LGBTQ+ BIPOC Sanctuaries for Manifesting
The second On Possible Futures panel was moderated by Dulcina Abreu and featured panelists Chris Udemezue and Yves B. Golden, as well as beautiful performances by Christine H. Tran and Julian Santa Putricia. Chris and Yves shared their work in constructing queer BIPOC collectives and mutual aid initiatives. Christine performed a powerful spoken word commentary on queering the status quo, and Juli delivered an extremely moving piece calling attention to the oppression of queer and trans folx in Colombia.
We are very grateful to the Faculty of Information and the Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at the University of Toronto, and to the Curatorial Practice Program at the Maryland Institute College of Arts for supporting this event.
Museum Professionals of Colour 