Vabamu’s permanent exhibition tells the stories of repression and the aim of freedom. The exhibition is accompanied by an audio guide, which has received a new level – namely the audio journey that tells the stories of Estonian LGBT people of the 20th century. The curator of the new audio journey is Rebeka Põldsam, a doctoral student in ethnology at the University of Tartu. The new audio guide layer guides the exhibition visitor through the Vabamu permanent exhibition, drawing attention to some new and some old objects that help understand Estonia’s LGBT history.

What happened to “such people” during World War II? How and where was homosexuality discussed in Soviet Estonia? What led to the decriminalization of homosexual relationships? What role has marriage played in the lives of homosexual people in Soviet times and today? The audio guide in Estonian, English and Russian brings to the museum the stories of LGBT people, from the time when we were called “such people” to today’s LGBT activism and community issues.

The LGBT audio journey is part of the project Practices and Challenges of Mnemonic Pluralism in Baltic History Museums (Estonian Research Council, PRG1097, leader Ene Kõresaar), by the department of ethnology of the University of Tartu, and is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.

Curator: Rebeka Põldsam (Tartu University)
Project leaders: Kirsti Jõesalu (Tartu University), Piret Karro (Vabamu)
Dramaturgy: Kertu Moppel
Sound designer: Lauri Kaldoja
Designer: Agnes Ratas (Stuudio Stuudio)

Check the route of the audio journey within the exhibition here: LGBT heliteekonna plaan.