Museums join forces in trans inclusion partnership

The University of Leicester's Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (RCMG) has announced a partnership with museums, galleries and heritage organisations to advance trans inclusion in the culture sector.

Supported by Art Fund, the partners will work with experts in trans-inclusion, equalities law and ethics to develop new guidance and practical resources for the UK’s culture sector that will be launched in 2026.

Confirmed partners include: Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales; Culture Leicestershire; Glasgow Women's Library; National Museums Liverpool; National Museums NI; The New Art Gallery Walsall; Royal Air Force Museum; and the Whitworth in Manchester.

More organisations will join as the project develops.

Richard Sandell, co-director of the RCMG and E-J Scott, founder at the Museum of Transology, will lead a session on the initiative at the Museums Association Conference in 2025 at Sain Ffagan Amgueddfa Werin Cymru – St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff. More details will be confirmed in due course.

“Cultural organisations of all kinds have shared with us their deep commitment to advancing trans inclusion as well as the challenges they encounter in taking this work forward in the context of increasing misinformation surrounding trans lives,” said Sandell.

“Our partnership will generate strategies and actions that address the uncertainties and anxieties that cultural organisations face and equip them to be proactive in countering the increasing hostility, discrimination and violence that trans communities are facing.”

The partnership has been developed over the past 18 months to support cultural organisations as they seek to advance trans inclusion and equity, and in response to the increasing hostility towards trans people, misinformation around trans lives and a complex and evolving legal landscape.

This includes the Supreme Court gender ruling on 16 April.

E-J Scott said: “Research and experience tell us very clearly that museums, galleries, libraries, archives and heritage organisations of all kinds have a unique and powerful role to play in supporting trans communities engaged in struggles for rights, respect and dignity.

“The involvement and commitment of so many leading cultural institutions and agencies in this new partnership clearly shows how timely and significant this issue is for the sector and highlights the need for more bold and ambitious approaches to trans-inclusive practice.”

For further information, please visit transinclusiveculture.le.ac.uk