AIDS Histories & Cultures Festival 2018
AIDS Histories & Cultures Festival 2018 explored some of the histories and cultures of AIDS from the 1980s to the present day. The month long Festival, with over 50 events, took place across London and in Amsterdam throughout July 2018 and was open to all – many events were free to attend. It aimed to explore how HIV/AIDS has been experienced, represented, and remembered. Events included workshops, film screenings, party nights, music, talks, poetry and performance.
It was convened by the Raphael Samuel History Centre, with the cultural events curated by Ash Kotak at Aesthesia. The RSHC is an outreach and research centre supported by Birkbeck and Queen Mary, University of London, dedicated to exploring public, interdisciplinary, and experimental history across periods and regions. Named after the historian Raphael Samuel, the Centre also maintains an interest in London history and history from below.
The Festival relied upon many partners across heritage, academic, and charitable sector organisations including: #AIDSMemoryUK; BFI; Birkbeck; Bishopsgate Institute; Club Kali; Glory; Fitzrovia Chapel; Gay’s The Word; ICW; Phoenix Artist Club; Poetry LGBT; NAZ; Royal College of Nursing; The Terrence Higgins Trust; the V&A & Wellcome Collection. View gallery:
