Queer archives – A study of LGBTQIA+ archival practices used in art - Caroline Pauwels Schrijfmandaat Ella Dezuttere

The research I am proposing entails a study of the archival practices of people within the LBTQIA+ community, also referred to as ‘queer archives’. The study aims to elucidate the motivations behind the building of such archives, as well as the ways in which these archives have been explored and showcased in art. In Belgium in particular, such research is scarce, despite the relatively positive
societal attitude towards people in the LGBTQIA+ community in comparison to some other countries. Several other countries have similar archives, however, so it would be interesting to make a comparative study of the usage of the material in those different contexts. A possible methodology would consist of an extensive study of the archives through the perspective of art, potentially in collaboration with cultural institutions that are working on the subject matter as well. This way, a collaborative and interdisciplinary project could take form, which would allow for a more nuanced and profound study. The study of archival material in art has furthermore been on the rise within the academic field for some time now. This proposed research could build upon that scientific interest in the subject, as well as include a more societal lens on it. With my research, I aim to shed light on an underrepresented subject within the research field, as well as further examine the concept of the archive as art.