A gathering of artists, scholars, and troublemakers thinking through queer play: sharing knowledge, catalyzing social change, giving us life.

In a context of rising global authoritarianism in which trans and queer people face intensifying attacks, we need new strategies for resistance and thriving. Not only is fascism itself rooted in the suppression of imagination, but too many contemporary examples of 2SLGBTQIA+ education and activism also distance themselves from overtly playful practices in favor of mainstream modes of respectability, policing, and policy. Still, queerness and play share many affinities, particularly in facilitating creative, non-normative, and otherwise outside-the-box approaches to ways of thinking and taking action. Moving beyond simple definitions of “queer” and “play,” this workshop explores alternative worldmaking strategies and critical methods that bridge the complexity of queer studies with novel (and reimagined) forms of pedagogy, research, and action.

The workshop invites a group of scholars, artists, and educators to experiment with strategies of queer play across disciplines, including education, cultural studies, media, art, design, anthropology, performance, and more. The workshop’s pop-up Museum of Queer Play will feature a range of prototypes that put research into practice, offering a public “show and tell” including artworks, games, toys, media, performances, and other types of interactive installations. This website serves as an archive of the workshop’s materials and conversations so the work keeps circulating after the room empties.