PRESENTER & PRODUCER
"It was a superb, enlightening, hugely enjoyable tour"
Bernard Donoghue, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions
The New York Times called me "a leading figure in the world of alternative museum tours", and I can't argue with that! I have worked as an independent researcher and content developer for various UK museums. As a producer I have overseen more than 5000 creative projects and I have also presented for BBC Arts.
Highlights
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LGBTQ+ Tours V&A (Founder).
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Bridging Binaries University of Cambridge Museums (developed LGBTQ+ tours at Fitzwilliam Museum, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Museum of Classical Archaeology, Polar Museum, Zoology Museum).
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Golwg Queer Amgueddfa Cymru (developed LGBTQ+ tours for National Museum Wales).
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Queer Heritage and Collections Network Art Fund and National Heritage Lottery Fund (Steering Group member and former Project Manager).
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Tan France's Queer Icons Audible (Researcher)
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Zooming Through Queer History Oscar Wilde Tours (Researcher and Presenter).
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Museum From Home and Museum Passion BBC Arts (Presenter)
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Rupert Everett: Travels with Oscar Wilde British Library and HistFest (Presenter)
EDUCATOR & ADVISOR
"Dan's respectful and inclusive tone made it feel like we truly were a community of learners coming together, one of the best online learning experiences I've had"
Student, V&A Academy
With over 15 years of experience providing CPD training to volunteer and staff teams, I have lectured on inclusive museum practices in institutions across the UK and internationally.
Highlights
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A Queer History of Objects V&A Academy (Course Leader).
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Gap Year London Sotheby's Institute of Art (Course Leader).
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Guest lecturer various institutions including BBC Academy, Central Saint Martins, Courtauld Institute of Art, Goldsmiths, Royal Holloway, Solent University, University of Cambridge, University of London, University of Leicester, University of Gothenburg, among others.
EXTENDED CREDITS
Awards
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Queer Britain Museums Change Lives: Best Small Museum Project Award Museums Association (2022)
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Queer Heritage and Collections Network Best Partnership Museums + Heritage Awards (2021)
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Dan Vo Museums Change Lives: Radical Changemaker Award Museums Association (2018)
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V&A LGBTQ+ Tours London Award for Museum Learning Marsh Christian Trust (2017)
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V&A LGBTQ+ Tours Ambassadors of the Year Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (2016)
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V&A LGBTQ+ Tours Bringing Innovation Award London Volunteers in Museums Awards (2016)
Exhibitions and Programmes
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Bridging Binaries: LGBTQ+ Tours University of Cambridge Museums: Fitzwilliam Museum, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Museum of Classical Archaeology, Polar Museum, Zoology Museum (2018-2020)
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Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (public workshop) Mayor of London (2020)
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Fun Palaces National Maritime Museum (2016-2018) and Fun Palaces (2020-2021)
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Golwg Queer: Cynfas Live Sessions with Mike Jackson, Mark Etheridge, Rania Vamvaka and Jonathan Blake Amgueddfa Cymru (2021)
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LGBT+ History Month Launch and Molly Houses and Madams: Unravelling Georgian Subcultures British Library (2020 and 2021 respectively)
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Museum From Home and Museum Passion BBC Arts (2020)
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Pride In Our City Hull Museums (2021)
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Queer Asia Exhibition SOAS University (2019)
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Ray Harryhausen: Queer Creatures The Ancient World with John J Johnson, Medusa with Cheryl Morgan and Kali with Claire Mead National Galleries Scotland (2021)
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Salon Outrē V&A Friday Late: Out For Revolution (2017), William Morris Art Gallery (2016), V&A Friday Late: Queer And Now (2015)
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SoundOut Podcast GiveOut (2020)
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Tan France's Queer Icons Audible (2021)
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The Past Is Queer with Robert Taylor, Anjum Mauj, EJ Scott, Nick Collinson, Claire Mead and Sacha Coward Alphabet Radio broadcasting on Soho Radio (2020)
Lectures and Talks
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All Inclusive: Championing Diversity in Museums Thinktank Birmingham, Manchester Art Gallery (2016-2018)
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Bridgerton: Sex and the Regencity, London's Queer Theatreland, Live Like A Queen: Queer Stately Homes of England, Nureyev: Queer Dance Rebel and Queer Britannia Oscar Wilde Tours (2020-2021)
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Deconstructing the Art World for Emerging Artists Masterpiece and Sotheby's Institute of Art (2021)
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LGBT History in Vietnam V&A Museum (2016)
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Life and Loves of Frederick The Great V&A Museum (2018)
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Monument to Strawberry Hill Strawberry Hill House (2021)
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Non-Normative Representation in Art Spaces Courtauld University (2021)
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Peter Travis, Wizard of Aus: Ceramics, Speedos and Kites, Oh My! Higgins Bedford, Solent University, V&A Museum (2017)
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Queer Britain ICOM UK (2021)
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Queer Lens: LGBTQ+ Lives and Bodies in Photography Gothenburg University (2020)
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Queer Stories at the Museum Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd National Museum Cardiff, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, BBC Academy, British Museum, Central Saint Martins, Charleston Trust, Commercial Crown Service, Courtauld Institute of Art, Fitzwilliam Museum, Imperial War Museum, Museum Ideas Conference, Museums Showoff, National Galleries of Scotland, Reading Museum, Royal Cornwall Museum, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Tate Britain, Tyne and Wear Museums, V&A Museum (2016-2019)
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Queer Heritage and Collections Network AMaGA Conference, British Art Network, British Museum, Goldsmiths University of London, Heritage Compass, London Metropolitan Archives, M+H Show, Museums Showoff, National Gallery of Ireland, Royal Holloway University of London, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, University of York (2020-2021)
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Queer Stories from Hounslow Gunnersbury Park Museum (2021)
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Queerness in Nature Great Exhibition Road Festhival (2021)
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The World We Built Albert Kennedy Trust (2020)
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What Does a Queer Museum Look Like? and Tate Lates: Nights In Tate Britain (2019 and 2020 respectively)
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Where We Belong National Gallery (2020)
Articles and Publications
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A Queer History of Objects Museum Crush (2021)
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Casting a Queer Eye Across the Collections Museum Crush (2021)
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LGBTQ+ Good Practice Guide Arts Council England (2019)
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Love Is Love: Uncovering LGBTQ+ Stories British Museum (2019)
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On My Bookshelf Museums Journal (2020)
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The Compassionate Way: Towards Trans and Non-Binary Inclusive Narratives in Museums Suomen Queer-tutkimuksen Seuran Journal (2020)
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Why the V&A Gay and Lesbian Tour is Essential The Museum Blog Book (2016)
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Within and Without: Body Image and the Self Museums Journal (2018)
Quoted in
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Museums in the Age of Intolerance Sharon Heal in Museum Activism edited by Robert R Janes and Richard Sandell (2019)
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Power and Privilege in the 21st Century Museum Sally Colvin in Power and Privilege (2019)
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Queer Inclusive Museum Margaret Middleton in Exhibition Fall (2017)
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Side-By-Side Memorials Christopher R Linke in New Perceptions of the Vietnam War edited by Nathalie HC Nguyen (2014)