Shout x Birmingham Queer Archive Steering Group Call Out

Shout x Birmingham Queer Archive Steering Group Call Out  

Help shape Birmingham’s queer histories and Shout. We’re building a steering group for the Birmingham Queer Archive, and we want you involved. Whether you’re a long-time queer-bod about Brum, a queer history lover, or just passionate about preserving LGBTQ+ stories, we want to hear from you. Interested? Get in touch. 

Project Background: 

Birmingham LGBT delivers a range of services to the LGBTQ+ community in Birmingham and the West Midlands, including trans services, wellbeing support, counselling, sexual health promotion, youth work, older people’s support, arts, and domestic violence (IDVA) services. We are based at Birmingham LGBT Centre, the first LGBT Health and Wellbeing Centre in England and Wales.  

The Birmingham Queer Archive will tell the story of Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ heritage from the 1960s to the present day paying particular emphasis to the previously overlooked accounts of women, Global Majority, trans and non-binary voices. 

We will present new and refreshed oral histories alongside ephemera and images from Birmingham’s queer social history, presenting the new collection through an accessible and intersectional lens, hosted on an online interactive archive which will be explored through expert talks and a long-term public exhibition. 

The steering group will support decision making and development of the project through delivery. 

About you: 

We are seeking people who are curious and want to be involved in making sure we are meeting the project aims of being relevant to those traditionally excluded from the annals of history.  

You do not need to be an expert or have a background in history and heritage. 

This project explicitly includes people from the Global Majority, women, and trans and non-binary people. This is not an exhaustive or exclusionary list of people we want to engage- but we will endeavour to ensure the makeup of the group is inclusive of people with these lived experiences and backgrounds. 

NB: Allies- we love you, but this is a queer project by and for queer people. The steering group is explicitly for LGBTQIA+ people. Feel free to follow us on socials, donate to the project, and attend our public events. 

Steering Group Expectations: 

The group will be between 8-14 people who will meet every 2 months with the Project Manager and Project Lead to help shape, steer, and inform the decision-making process. (Keeping us on track!) 

Along with project updates and decision making, we will brainstorm ideas, map events, and spot gaps in the project together. 

Birmingham Queer Archive will provide snacks and soft drinks. 

We will meet Thursday evenings and Birmingham LGBT Centre 

This is a voluntary role, pre-agreed reasonable expenses incurred (such as travel to and from the meeting) will be paid. If you have any access requirements, including accessible transport please let us know!