The lives and experiences of one of Europe's most marginalised groups, the lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) Roma community, is the focus of a new exhibition.
A free exhibition ‘Visualising the Lives of LGBTIQ Roma' on 7 November showcases the work of University of Portsmouth post-doctoral researcher Dr Lucie Fremlova.
The day will start at 11.30am with a 1.5 hours creative workshop about identities for up to 30 participants (register free here).
In the afternoon, the exhibition is open to the general public. The exhibition opening will take place from 6 to 8 pm (register free https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exhibition-opening-visualising-the-lives-of-lgbtiq-roma-tickets-75587003763).
A day later, on 8 November, the exhibition will be followed by a symposium for up to 50 participants on (register free of charge https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/symposium-visualising-the-lives-of-lgbtiq-roma-tickets-75650483633).
All the events will be held at Portsmouth's Aspex Gallery.
Dr Fremlova said: "The lived experiences and images of lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex and queer Roma remain invisible to many people, Roma and non-Roma alike. LGBTIQ Roma are often subject to prejudice, including anti-Romani, homophobic, transphobic and other stereotypes.
"The exhibition includes photographs taken by LGBTIQ Roma visual activists and artists and by so doing, offers an insight into the lives of this marginalised community and shows us how LGBTIQ Roma wish to be represented."
Because the project touches upon diversity, equality, tolerance, migration, identity politics, representation and participation, Dr Fremlova said she expected it would have particular traction in Europe.
She also hopes the symposium will give third sector organisations, charities, governmental and intergovernmental institutions, academia and other stakeholders working with Roma and LGBTIQ people an opportunity to obtain images and information about this group and help start a constructive dialogue about ways in which others use images of Roma and LGBTIQ people.
The lived experiences and images of lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex and queer Roma remain invisible to many people, Roma and non-Roma alike.
Dr Fremlova's post-doctoral fellowship is also supported by the University of Brighton as part of the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership and is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Funding for the production of the photographs came from The Open Society Foundations.
The exhibition is part of the annual Festival of Social Science run by the ESRC on 2-9 November. The festival includes more than 470 events across the UK covering a variety of topics, including AI, mental health, sexuality, parenting, weather, gender, ageing, love, death, economics and education.
The festival has a history of helping researchers engage with new audiences, from teenagers to pensioners, and from businesses to policymakers. It celebrates some of the country's leading social science research, showcasing the work of the UK's social scientists and demonstrating how their work has an impact on society.