The representation of female visual artists in national cultural institutions: A case study of the Ulster Museum Belfast

Abstract

This paper adopts a qualitative approach to examine factors that influence the programming of women’s visual artwork in national cultural institutions. A single case study was conducted at the Ulster Museum, Belfast. Semistructured interviews with three key members of staff working at different levels of the organisation were thematically analysed. The findings identified three main themes; institutional responsibilities (the public remit of a national institution) the role of trust (curatorial specialism, staff support, policy) and pace of change (collections’ limitations and competing priorities for policy demands in the wider context of the Ulster Museum and NMNI). Museums are institutions embedded in patriarchal customs and systems but in the Ulster Museum gender is an ongoing conversation. The representation of women’s visual art is driven bottom up by a specialised curator and it is dependent on an open framework of communication and power-sharing with senior management. Each participant supports inclusivity from a broader intersectional perspective rather than a purely feminist lens. Overall, the empirical research suggests that there is a strong programming of women’s visual artwork and change is taking place.