10 years on: Reflecting on Art and Marriage Equality is a one-day event co-organised by IMMA and the National Gallery of Ireland. The event will focus on visual art, bringing together artists, historians, and activists to explore a century of LGBTQIA+ visibility, cultural expression, and resistance. Conceived to mark the tenth anniversary of the 2015 Marriage Equality Referendum, the focus expands to consider a broader historical and artistic perspective, acknowledging the struggles, setbacks, and victories that have shaped queer lives over the past 100 years. The event will bring together leading international voices, contributing to the ongoing LGBTQIA+ narratives and revision of history.

The event seeks to provide a distinctive, reflective space—one that foregrounds lived experiences, artistic interventions, and historical struggles, situating Irish experiences within a wider global and historical context while deepening public awareness of LGBTQIA+ history and the role of art in queer activism.

In the lead-up to the event, we have launched an Oral History Initiative to collect public reflections on the 2015 referendum. Contributions can be submitted via this link. 

Recognising the emotional weight of the topics discussed, onsite wellbeing resources will be available for speakers and attendees, in cooperation with Outhouse.

The event will be convened by Kate Drinane, National Gallery of Ireland; and Seán Kissane, IMMA.

Central themes include: 

• The Marriages that Never Were: Reflects on relationships and histories erased by legal and social exclusion
• Creative Reconstruction: Embraces the reimagining and reclaiming of queer histories, identities, and artistic expressions, transforming loss and erasure into new possibilities for visibility and resistance.
• Backlash: Considers the resistance faced by queer communities in the fight for rights and recognition.

The full programme will be shared closer to the event.