MATERIAL DESIRES Mapping professional awareness and understanding of LGBT heritage in Sweden

Abstract

The field of heritage has increasingly involved itself with discussions of representation and inclusivity. Playing a major part in the construction, preservation and management of cultural heritage, the role of the heritage professional has been a prominent topic in literature and media. While museums have taken increasing strides to include and recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) narratives, the topic appears absent within heritage management. This raises questions in regard to the field’s in-sights and awareness of LGBT perspectives as well as these histories’ place within a larger heritage discourse. Drawing on an authorized heritage discourse (AHD) characterised by professional privileging of physical aspects of heritage, the thesis investigates the relationship between LGBT heritage and those who are tasked with its preservation. Positioning itself within the context of trends towards more inclu-sive heritage practices, the thesis explores the professional understanding of and attitudes towards LGBT heritage and perspectives by examining interviews with nine heritage professionals from the Swedish National Heritage Board. Combining qualitative semi-structured interviews with onsite observations, the study demonstrates how minor interventions such as presentations and presence of a “specialist” have notable (if potentially short-term) impact on professional understanding and awareness. Illustrating how traditional material-focused frameworks carry limitations when faced with heritage which poses particular demands, the study maps out the unfamiliarity of LGBT perspectives within the field. Further, the thesis reveals several possibilities of preservation of LGBT heritage and application of LGBT per-spectives. In addition to further contributing to the general discussion of ethical implications for official heritage recognition, the thesis calls attention to unique issues tied to state- and governmental level of implementation and recognition. Although concluding that the sector is slow-moving, the study recog-nizes several openings for approaching LGBT heritage and perspectives, finally presenting recommen-dations and suggestions for further research and practice.