Tranches Not Traces: A Case Study on Embedding Trans and Non-Binary Narratives into a National Museum Collection

Abstract

This article summarizes the results of an Art Fund UK New Collecting Award at the Victoria & Albert Museum to improve the national collections by purchasing the work of more trans and non-binary artists, plus key allies who have pioneered progress in representing trans lives. This case study charts each object collected during the 2-year project (2022–2024), examining how they fit within the context of museum collecting policies, plus the challenges faced and the positive outcomes of having instigated this tranche of targeted collecting.