Podcast Museums And Chill – IMD Special: Museum Uniting a Divided World

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How can museums create connection in an increasingly divided world?

For this special International Museum Day episode of Museums and Chill - The ICOM Podcast, we visited Queer Britain in London to speak with Andrew Given, Director of Queer Britain, about the evolving role of museums today and the responsibilities cultural institutions hold within their communities.

Recorded as part of International Museum Day 2026 and during the celebrations of ICOM's 80th anniversary, this episode engages directly with this year's theme: "Museums Uniting a Divided World."

In a time marked by social fragmentation, polarisation, and unequal access to culture and knowledge, museums are increasingly being asked to act as spaces of dialogue, inclusion, and belonging. This conversation explores how Queer Britain approaches these questions through programme-making, community engagement, and institutional leadership.

As the UK's first national LGBTQ+ museum, Queer Britain offers an important perspective on the global conversations shaping museums today - from representation and participation to public purpose and institutional responsibility.

Join us as we explore:

• How museums create meaningful and community-led programming
• The role of museums in fostering dialogue and inclusion
• How cultural institutions can contribute to connection in divided societies

Welcome back and we hope you enjoy this conversation with Andrew Given!

This episode's guest

Andrew Given is the Chief Executive of Queer Britain, the national LGBTQ+ museum, based in Kings Cross, London. A self-described queer history nerd, Andrew is leading the museum into its next phase, from start-up organisation into becoming established as a leading cultural institution in the UK.

His previous roles include English National Opera, Hampstead Theatre, and the National Youth Music Theatre. He is Deputy Chair of Tara Theatre, a company championing South Asian voices and artists, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Global Arts Leadership Fellow with the DeVos Institute in Washington DC.

Before working in the arts, Andrew taught KS3, GCSE and A-level music within secondary schools in Liverpool and London.

Anapaula García Soto is a Communications Coordinator at the International Council of Museums Secretariat in Paris, and producer and host of the ICOM podcast Museums and Chill. She works on editorial and storytelling initiatives highlighting diverse museum perspectives. She holds a B.A. in Communication and Digital Media and a Master's degree in Creative Project Management, Culture and Design.

Museums and Chill is the official ICOM podcast, offering a space for museum practitioners and thinkers from across the globe to reflect on the ideas, practices, and challenges shaping museums today. Each episode invites listeners into conversations on inspiration, innovation, ethics, and strategy, highlighting how museums navigate change while remaining relevant and inclusive cultural spaces. In recognition of its editorial approach and impact, the podcast was nominated for a European Excellence Award in 2024.