{"product_id":"let-it-go-queer-histories-memory-and-liberation-in-argentina-and-south-africa","title":"Queer History Club: Silences, Signals, and Subtext - A Queer Look at Emma Novello","description":"\u003cdiv id=\":522\" class=\"ii gt adO\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\":8fa\" class=\"a3s aiL\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"avWBGd-14363\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiscover the queer story of forgotten nineteenth-century artist Emma Aloysia Novello (1814-1902) with Dr RJ Wade, Exhibitions Curator (Cultural Collections) at the University of Leeds.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eDrawing on newly examined archival materials, this talk reconsiders Novello’s artistic practice, her resistance to gendered constraints and the intimate networks of women who shaped her world. From her convent education and self‑directed training in defiance of Royal Academy exclusion, to her close relationships with women artists and her later institutionalisation under patriarchal authority, Novello’s story invites queer readings that illuminate how nonconformity, chosen affinities and gender‑noncompliance were policed (and how they persisted nonetheless). Through queer methods of interpretation, we’ll trace the silences, tensions and possibilities in Novello’s letters, travels and artistic collaborations, revealing a life that unsettles Victorian norms and opens space for LGBTQ+ historical imagination. Using Emma's artwork, we'll move into a reparative art\/writing workshop, using Emma's own paintings to imagine an alternative, better future for her, and thinking about how we can use creative practice and queer community to look after our own mental health.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContent warnings: mental ill health, financial coercion and incarceration. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThere's no expectation to disclose anything about your own mental health unless you want to.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDr RJ Wade\u003c\/strong\u003e is Exhibitions Curator (Cultural Collections) at the University of Leeds and Deputy Editor of\u003ci\u003e Art History\u003c\/i\u003e, the journal of the Association for Art History. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\":7sy\" class=\"hq gt\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKit Heyam\u003c\/strong\u003e is \u003cspan\u003ea Leeds-based heritage practitioner, trans awareness trainer, academic and\u003c\/span\u003e author of \u003cem\u003eBefore We Were Trans\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate\u003c\/strong\u003e: Wednesday 3rd June 2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTime\u003c\/strong\u003e: 7-9pm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVenue\u003c\/strong\u003e: The Bookish Type, 77a Great George Street, LS1 3BR\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTickets\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eare on a sliding scale (£8 \/£5 \/ £3 \/ £0)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease be honest about your financial situation when selecting what to pay for your ticket.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIf you purchase a ticket at the lowest end of the scale when you could afford the higher ticket prices, it makes it harder for us to provide financial flexibility to those who most need it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e£8\u003cspan\u003e \"I have more than enough to comfortably meet my basic financial needs and can afford to contribute a little extra to support access for others.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e£5 \"\u003cspan\u003eI am comfortably able to meet all of my basic financial needs.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e£3 \"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI may stress about meeting my basic financial needs but still regularly achieve them.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e£0 \"I have no disposable income to afford the event\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTickets are only refundable up to 7 days before the event starts. Please email to cancel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"\u003e----------------------\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eAccess Info\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe shop has an 8cm step but we have a ramp we can put in place if required.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is a downstairs bathroom with toilet and hand basin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is a range of seating including chairs that are armless with padded seats and backs, armless sofa, bench with cushions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFace masks are encouraged but not required; an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eH13 HEPA  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eair purifier will be in use. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn street parking available (charges may apply).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease email in advance if you have any specific access needs: thebookishtypeleeds@gmail.com\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Bookish Type","offers":[{"title":"Free","offer_id":58034157355389,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"£3","offer_id":58128904880509,"sku":null,"price":3.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"£5","offer_id":58128904913277,"sku":null,"price":5.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"£8","offer_id":58128904946045,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0264\/0891\/0933\/files\/sss2.png?v=1778077423","url":"https:\/\/thebookishtype.co.uk\/products\/let-it-go-queer-histories-memory-and-liberation-in-argentina-and-south-africa","provider":"The Bookish Type","version":"1.0","type":"link"}