Symposium

Over the past two decades, trans studies has become fertile ground for interdisciplinary work that explores the diversity of gender, sex, sexuality, embodiment, and identity.

The Trans* Research Association of Ireland (T*RAI) is honoured to be partnering with Outburst Queer Arts Festival and the Centre for Gender in Politics at Queen’s University Belfast for this groundbreaking two-day symposium that brings together international scholars, artists and activists, alongside an Outburst-curated programme of trans focused arts events that weave through and around the vital talks, panels and creative presentations. Additionally, we are indebted to the support of Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre in Dublin and the University College Dublin School of English Drama and Film in making this symposium possible.

This gathering is a space for critical thought, organising, play, flirtation, collaboration, and solidarity in order to strengthen our shared critical ideas and meet difficult questions head on with compassion, generosity, and curiosity. We ask that you join us in the formation of this field.

We are delighted to announce Liz Rosenfeld, a Berlin/ London based interdisciplinary artist and educator as our keynote speaker on Friday the 21st. We are equally as delighted to announce THE OUTBURST BIG TALK 2025 – Trans Formations: Writers on Making Art & Making Change as our keynote event on Saturday the 22nd.

Keynote Blurbs:

LOADS: a keynote encounter with Liz Rosenfeld

If you fail the w(h)ole the will may fail. But what does this look like? What does this mean to let down the undivided, a majority, the complete…. the/my/ yours/ theirs/ our w(h)ole?

Hormones. Sugar. Cum. Sweat. Piss. Ozempic. Blueberries. Unknown Materials. Dissociation/ Extreme Performance. The Myth of Transdisciplinary Practices.

Just a lot of LOADS.

An initial inclination is to always burn it down, often a privilege no less.

In this keynote encounter, between text, image and flesh Liz Rosenfeld addresses the question: What does it mean to build a body?

Trans Formations: Writers on Making Art& Making Change: Eris Young With Juliet Jacques, Matty Kennedy and Nat Raha

Reflecting on themes from across T*RAI’s symposium and Outburst programme,this year’s Big Talk asks: what do writers and artists bring to the formation of the field where trans culture, trans studies and trans activism cross paths? Three writers join our panel to share what they see happening in their field of writing, publishing and the media – where there are new transformations, and where there are challenges to face. What tactics and frameworks do we have to hand? Can organisations in our field be transformed? As a community and with our allies, how do we get what we need to make art and make change right now, and– crucially – to imagine a trans future to come?

The symposium schedule and full programme will shortly be available here on our website.

Both in-person and Zoom attendance is free. Please only register for in-person attendance on days you are certain you will attend, as in-person space is extremely limited. Speakers have been automatically registered.

If you wish to attend any of the Outburst x T*RAI events, including THE OUTBURST BIG TALK, you will need to book tickets separately (this also includes presenters). Information on these events can be found on the Outburst Queer Arts Festival Website.

Friday 21st November

• Registration and Refreshments: 9:30 – 10:30 hrs
• Opening Address: 10:30 – 11:00 hrs
• Keynote Encounter – Liz Rosenfeld: 11:00 – 12:15 hrs
• Lunch & Action Lab Drop-In: 12:15 – 13:00 hrs
• Art and the Archive: 13:00 – 14:00 hrs
• Comfort Break: 14:00 – 14:10 hrs
• Theoretical Interventions: 14:10 – 15:40 hrs
• Comfort Break: 15:40 – 15:55 hrs
• Quantifying and Qualifying Irish Trans Life: 15:55 – 16:55 hrs
• Comfort Break: 16:55 – 17:10 hrs
• Performance – Boxing Day: 17:10 – 17:50 hrs

Saturday 22nd November

• Registration and Refreshments: 9:30 – 10:00 hrs
• Transhistorical Ireland: 10:00 – 11:00 hrs
• Comfort Break: 11:00 – 11:10 hrs
• Session 6 – Body Mapping Workshop: 11:10 – 12:25 hrs
• Lunch/Zine making workshop in response to Friday’s working session: 12:25 – 13:15 hrs
• Reading Irish Transness: 13:15 – 14:45 hrs
• Comfort Break: 14:45 – 15:00 hrs
• Outburst Arts Screening & Talk – Purebred: 15:00 – 16:00 hrs
• Comfort Break: 16:00 – 16:30 hrs
• THE OUTBURST BIG TALK Outburst x TRAI x English PEN – Trans Formations: Writers on Making Art & Making Change: 16:30 – 17:30 hrs
• Close of Conference: 17:30 – 18:00 hrs