Queer Economies takes its cue from the handmade artworks and objects that queer artist and activist David McDiarmid gifted to friends and loved ones during his lifetime. Following in McDiarmid’s generous logic, Queer Economies explores the non-monetary, in-kind economies that emerge within LGBTQIA+ communities, in order to foster resilience, love and connection. 

Queer Economies is a curatorial project encompassing newly commissioned artworks at Bus Projects; a community-led open call exhibition inviting the LGBTQIA+ community to contribute an artwork ‘gift’ to someone to whom they are grateful, to be held at St Heliers Street Gallery, Abbotsford Convent; a series of contemporary video works to be screened after dark as part of the Centre for Contemporary Photography’s Night Projection Window; and a series of public programs and events taking place during Midsumma. A publication of commissioned essays and creative contributions will be developed in partnership with Perimeter Editions, to be launched in mid-2019.
  
Queer Economies is curated by Abbra Kotlarczyk and Madé Spencer-Castle, with overall project participation by Tony Albert, Frances Barrett, Archie Barry, Nathan Beard, Debris Facility Pty Ltd, Briony Galligan, Rafaella McDonald, Callum McGrath, Claudia Nicholson, Spiros Panigirakis, Nikos Pantazopoulos, Parallel Park (Holly Bates and Tayla Jay Haggarty), Francis E. Parker, Charlie Sofo, Amy Spiers, Athena Thebus, Peter Waples-Crowe and Behn Woods, with more to be announced.

Queer Economies is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. 

Queer Economies takes inspiration from Gifts from David McDiarmid, a Perimeter Editions publication conceived and developed by Dr. Sally Gray, executor of the David McDiarmid Estate.

Presented by Midsumma Festival in association with Bus Projects, Abbotsford Convent and the Centre for Contemporary Photography, with support from Perimeter Editions and the David McDiarmid Estate. Bus Projects is supported by the City of Yarra through the Creative Yarra Grants program.