Join our celebration of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ history and explore the lineage from the original Mardi Gras 78ers to now. Hear what the future holds with Qtopia, Sydney’s new Queer Museum, then end the night with a big ol’ party.
Join dance floor anthropologist, Aunty Jonny for ‘Disco Conversion Therapy’, an edifying lecture on the history of radical music, sexed up dance floors and the people your mother warned you about.
Curated by Johnny Allen, C.Moore Hardy, Dino Dimitriadis, see drag performances, alongside talks and archival footage and photos of Sydney’s queer party scene. Hear different perspectives on the topic ‘From Camp to Gay to Queer — a Continuum or a Disconnection?’ and learn more about Sydney’s internationally acclaimed response to the HIV & AIDS epidemic.
Proudly presented by Vivid Ideas and Powerhouse.
PERFORMANCES
| 5–6 pm
Entrance, Level 3 |
Meet and greet |
| 7.45–8.15 pm
Escalators, Level 2
|
Queer fashion parade
Featuring: |
SCREENINGS
| 5–6 pm
7.30–9 pm Kings Cinema |
Queer short films
Life in 3D by Stuart Vauvert William Yang – The Art of Seduction by Craig Boreham Quaybait by Joseph Pol Wicked Women by Anna Brownfield |
| 6–7.30 pm
Kings Cinema |
Feature film
Vegas In Space by Philip R. Ford |
QTOPIA SYDNEY PANEL
| 7.15–7.45 pm
The Lab Gallery, Level 2 |
A panel talk about Qtopia Sydney, a new organisation that will host permanent and temporary exhibitions that explore the LGBTQIA+ community through the lens of history, culture, art and contemporary issues.
Join Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, Katherine Wolfgramme, Shane Stirgiss from Blaq Aboriginal Corporation and David Polson for a live panel facilitated by Jeremy Fernandez. |
QUEER SOUND HEALING
| 5.30–6.30 pm
6.45–7.45 pm Microcars, Level 1 |
Matt Bergan leads a sound bath meditation with soundscape and narration by Paul Capsis |
TALKS
| 5:30–6.15 pm
Theatrette, Level 2 |
Stages live podcast recording. Peter Eyers interviews Miss 3D and Cindy Pastel, two iconic drag queens from 1970s Sydney still performing today. Pre–registrations required here. |
| 6–6.45 pm
Theatre, Level 2 |
‘From Camp to Gay to Queer a Continuum or a Disconnection?’ Panel with Dennis Altman, C Moore Hardy, Dino Dimitriadis moderated by Shirleene Robinson. |
| 6.30–7.30 pm
Theatrette, Level 2 |
Stages live podcast recording. Peter Eyers interviews Declan Greene, artistic director of Griffin Theatre Company and founder of Sisters Grimm. Pre–registrations required here. |
DISCO CONVERSION THERAPY
| 7.15–8.15 pm
Theatre, Level 2 |
Aunty Jonny presents a lecture on the history of disco, culminating in an interactive disco |
| 8.15–9 pm
Theatre, Level 2 to Cafe |
Parade and disco with Aunty Jonny |
VISUALS
| 5–9 pm | Images from the Powerhouse collection curated by Anni Turnbull, and queer images by photographers Lexy Potts and Jamie James |
MUSIC
Curated by FBi
POWERHOUSE MAP
FREE event as part of Vivid Ideas x Powerhouse Late. No bookings required.
Over three nights, we celebrate what makes Sydney unique: the artists who push boundaries, the creative leaders who build community, and our city’s distinct diversity and queer history.
Download a Visual Story here. This Visual Story has been developed in collaboration with Autism Spectrum Australia. Powerhouse supports the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme.
Read about the COVID Safe measures we’ve put in place to keep everyone safe when visiting the museum here.
Find accessibility information here or contact Bookings for access support on +61 (02) 9217 0222 or via email book@maas.museum.
