PROJECT DEFINITIONS
The definitions below have been created as a resource to better understand the scope, limits, and intentions of our research project the LGBTQIA+ Cultural Barometer.
If you have any queries about the project or require further clarification please contact research@curiousarts.org.uk and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY LGBTQIA+?
We are defining LGBTQIA+ as anyone who identifies Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transexual, Queer, Intersex, and/or Asexual, with the plus sign representing any other gender identity or sexuality outside those of cisgender and/or heterosexual which might sit under the queer umbrella.
We recognise that queerness by its nature is impossible to categorise, changing, and fluid and that there are experiences of gender and/or sexuality that exist beyond the limitations of English language. Participants in the project will be asked to self-identify and we encourage you to use the terms that feel right for you.
A note on use of LGBTQIA+ instead of ‘Queer’:
Whilst many of the project team and organisations consider themselves to be queer or queer-led, we often use queer and LGBTQIA+ interchangeably. We also recognise for some sections of our community the word queer carries a historical or political significance that they do not identify with. Similarly, some funders, organisations, and local authorities will be more likely to use and understand the acronym LGBTQIA+ rather than using the term ‘queer’. With this in mind we have therefore chosen to use LGBTQIA+ in the hope that this will be understood and utilised by the widest range of stakeholders.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY BACKLASH?
we are defining backlash as:
Opposition, harassment, criticism, obstruction directed towards artists, institutions, venues and/or funders in response to or targeted towards their LGBTQIA+ programming, events, exhibitions and community support activities, or the consideration/suggestion/planning of potential LGBTQIA+ programmes (on the basis of it having LGBTQIA+ themes or featuring LGBTQIA+ creatives).
This might include (but is not limited to):
Digital/online backlash - including negative social media responses (e.g. trolling, malicious comments/messages); receipt of critical or malicious e-mail/letters, spamming, digital security attacks (e.g. hacking emails/social media, deletion of social media accounts etc.)
Media backlash - including critical or malicious responses from public figures (e.g. influencers, authors, politicians). Critical or malicious media coverage (radio, newspapers/magazines, contact from journalists, television).
Physical/in-person backlash - protest or threats of protest; boycotting; complaints from general public; threats (credible or not) made against the safety of individuals, organisations, companies; experiences of physical/verbal/psychological abuse, violence and/or hate crime;
Professional backlash - cancellation or postponement of events (eg. by funders, venues, local authorities, other stakeholders); artist or participant withdrawal from events; organisations/venues/funders cutting ties (either formally or informally) with queer artists/cultural orgs; regular/annual events (eg. Pride) not being re-programmed; decisions not to include LGBTQIA+ cultural events in upcoming programming (before anything is publicly announced).
Structural/legal backlash - legal challenges; law suits or threats of law suits; targeted FOI requests; malicious reporting to funders, charity commissioners, local councils, other governing bodies.
This list is not comprehensive, we recognise that there will be gaps in both our understanding of what backlash might be and also in the experiences of others who may not understand what they have experienced as backlash, particularly if they are in the process of experiencing it whilst reporting. We want to affirm that we trust participants to explain and interpret their own experiences, and for the purposes of our research any contribution or experience which can be understood as backlash is valid.
We also recognise that organisational structures surrounding decision making are often distanced from individuals, and there may likely be implications or incidents of backlash which people aren’t aware of happened or subtle changes to decision makers perceptions of LGBTQIA+ cultural projects and any perceptions of ‘risk’ that might be impacting decision-making without their awareness. We recognise it is harder to talk about what is not happening (eg. quiet decisions about what not to programme) than it is to talk about things which are/have happened (eg. direct experiences of backlash). Similarly we acknowledge that some people will not feel comfortable or safe enough to share their experiences, or parts of their experience, with us. These limitations are often the direct and indirect results of the exact experiences of targeting, challenging, and/or silencing this project is engaging with.
We invite participants to reflect critically on their experiences, and consider the implications of these without censorship or self-doubt. We trust individuals to be able to self-identify that they have experienced backlash, regardless of scale, and the impact this may have had upon you or others.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY LGBTQIA+ CULTURAL ACTIVITY?
We recognise that cultural activity can cover many forms, styles, methods and practices. Similarly we understand and celebrate that queer work is by its nature difficult to categorise, and often actively pushes at boundaries, blurs lines, and rejects categorisation.
To this end we are defining LGBTQIA+ cultural activity as cultural or creative work designed to be experienced/shared by a wider audience than just the individual creator(s) which meets at least one of these criteria:
is made by/with LGBTQIA+ identifying practitioners. This might also include LGBTQIA+ people working on projects that aren’t specifically LGBTQIA+ focused but have received backlash based on their LGBTQIA+ identities.
is about the experiences or interests of LGBTQIA+ communities.
is specifically made to be experienced by LGBTQIA+ communities/audiences etc.
We are researching creative events, activities, and programmes that might include (but are not limited to) film, visual art, theatre, performance, museums, nightclubs, parties, cabaret, heritage, burlesque, circus, dance, music, libraries, archives, academic, and community practices. This is not limited to in person events with live audiences, but could also include digital media, print media, and online events.
The scope of our research is limited to individuals and organisations working professionally in the cultural sector, we are not collecting information about amateur or voluntary groups.
WHO ARE WE ENGAGING IN THIS RESEARCH PROCESS?
Our aim is to generate a holistic picture of experiences of anti-queer backlash in the culture sector, and to consider the different ways this will impact different parts of the sector. To ensure this we have identified three key target groups for participation in the research:
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS & CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS
We are defining a cultural practitioner as an individual working professionally independently or on a freelance basis in the cultural sector to create, reshape, or deliver cultural content and experiences. The term is broad, encompassing artists, writers, musicians, performers, academics, community organisers, and technical or administrative staff, as well as those who work in more non-traditional ways within the cultural field including nightlife, cabaret, academia, and community contexts.
This definition is adapted from Arts Council England’s definition of a cultural practitioner.
We want to understand the impact of backlash on individuals. We anticipate that these will be freelancers/self-employed practitioners who are not employed directly by the venue/organisation where backlash might have taken place.LGBTQIA+ LED ORGANISATIONS
We are defining a queer-led organisation as a company, collective, group, or organisation (constituted or otherwise) that is led by majority LGBTQIA+ identified people, and is in some way responsible for the creation, touring, planning, programming of professional LGBTQIA+ cultural activity and/or working specifically with LGBTQIA+ cultural practitioners.
We recognise there are many different ways that organisations might be structured and with various degrees of formalisation and that often queer creatives are at the forefront of building alternatives working structures. We want to understand the impact of backlash on queer-led organisations that are responsible for working with, paying, or employing (either by salary or as freelancers) other artists/practitioners/volunteers.
This could include a small company with no permanent employees led by a freelance practitioner who employs other artists/freelancers as well as more structured organisations - specifically we want to understand the impact of backlash on organisations/groups (who do and don’t receive funding) where there are implications for more people than just yourself.
The scope of our research is limited to individuals and organisations working professionally in the cultural sector, we are not collecting information about amateur or voluntary groups.NON-LGBTQIA+ LED ORGANISATIONS OR VENUES
We are defining a non-queer led organisation or venue as a company, venue, or formal cultural organisation that programmes a broad range of cultural activity which may include LGBTQIA+ content, but is not specifically about delivering/supporting/programming LGBTQIA+ content. This might include publicly, privately, or commercially funded theatres, galleries, museums, cinemas, festivals, nightclubs, universities, libraries, funders, development organisations, and local authorities. You might be an LGBTQIA+ person working within a wider organisation but the organisation’s remit is not specifically about creating/supporting LGBTQIA+ person, however you do not need to identify as LGBTQIA+ to participate in the research.
We want to hear from organisations that meet one or more of these criteria:
- Have previously programmed LGBTQIA+ cultural activity.
- are currently programming LGBTQIA+ cultural activity.
- or considering/planning to programme LGBTQIA+ cultural activity in the next 5 years.
We are specifically looking to hear from representatives from organisations who are responsible for deciding what activity a venue/organisation is going to do, and who will be responsible for delivery of that activity eg. programmers, directors, board members, producers, decision makers and policy makers. We want to understand the experiences of venues who may have received backlash for their work, who may be considering making changes to their programming based on backlash or the increased risks of backlash, who may have met with challenge or resistance to programming LGBTQIA+ cultural activity, or who may be identifying potential risks for backlash for projects either currently in delivery or in the future. We want to understand the implications of this across organisations which might include for staff, artists, audiences, programmes, board members, or funding.
We want someone to be able to speak on behalf of the experiences of a venue/organisation (rather than as an individual within that organisation). We want to understand the organisation that they work for. - if you are an individual within an organisation who has received backlash directed at you specifically without wider implication for the organisation, you may want to complete the individual form.
We want to encourage people to share their experiences honestly and recognise that people may feel unable to speak freely about their employers as such there will be the option to complete this form anonymously and without naming the organisation you work for (we will want to know some general information about the size, scale, and remit of your organisations).
Each group will answer a survey tailored to better understand the experience of their respective group. We recognise that the project is attempting to cover a wide range of experiences and practices, and therefore there might be specific examples which don’t perfectly fit into one of these three categories. We encourage participants to pick the group that feels most aligned with their experiences and to use the free comment parts of the survey form to provide additional context. If you feel that more than one category is applicable, you are welcome to respond to multiple group’s surveys.