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Make a Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity and Club Culture in the 90s
About
In the 1990s, a vibrant and creative underground nightclub and dance party scene emerged in Brisbane for LGBTQIA+ people and their allies – safe places to wear fabulous fashions that celebrated the community’s diversity and reflected a fearless self-expression of identity.
Coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality, this original exhibition by Queensland Museum brings together fashion, pop culture and LGBTQIA+ lived experience. Featuring extraordinary pieces from the museum’s costume and fashion collections, Make a Scene will reveal untold stories of Queensland’s LGBTQIA+ communities and illuminate key moments from this period of Brisbane’s history.
Exploring a diverse range of dress codes expressing LGBTQIA+ identity of the early 1990s, the exhibition will also highlight the works of two distinctly different, but interconnected Brisbane-based labels that represent a new queer youth culture crystallising in Queensland at the time – Mark Wilson’s Hairy Dog, and Kenn Bushby and Chrissy Feld’s Glamourpussy.
Journey back to the 90s dancefloor through fashion, objects and lived experiences generously shared by community, artists, designers and cultural institutions from Brisbane and beyond. The scene is set.
Accessibility
This exhibition features:
Music/soundscapes
Very low light
Seating
Light projections
Interactive and touch objects
For accessibility assistance please visit our accessibility page or contact the museum on (07) 3153 3000.
Sensory Map
Large Print Guide
Coming soon
Acknowledgements
Queensland Museum extends respect and gratitude to organisations and individuals across the LGBTQIA+ communities for sharing their stories and objects with us. The exhibition would not have been possible without this generous support. We extend our respects to those members of community who are no longer with us to share their stories, and for those that fought and continue to advocate for our human rights and equality.
Queensland Museum acknowledges our partner Queensland Human Rights Commission Queensland, support from individual donors and Nightlife Music, Australian Queer Archives, Brisbane Powerhouse and MELT Festival, Melbourne Arts Centre, Museum of Art And Applied Sciences, Queensland State Archives, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art and State Library of Queensland.
Brisbane Fashion Month in Conversation
6.30pm to 7.30pm | Wednesday 15 October 2025 and Friday 31 October 2025
$48 per talk or $80 for both talks
Join Fashion Queensland for this specially curated series during Brisbane Fashion Month. Talk tickets include exclusive, after-hours access to Make a Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity and Club Culture in the 90s.
4ZZZ Dykes on Mykes: Broadcasting Live from Queensland Museum Kurilpa
5.30pm to 8.30pm | Wednesday 19 November 2025
Free, bookings required
This after-hours event is recommended for audiences aged 18+.
Be in the audience for this special edition of 4ZZZ Community Radio’s Dykes on Mykes, broadcasting live from the Squid Lounge at Queensland Museum Kurilpa.
We’ve invited this iconic radio show team to reflect on the program’s long history, with a particular focus on the 90s to coincide with the museum’s latest free exhibition - Make A Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity and Club Culture in the 90s.
This special live broadcast will run from 6pm to 8pm and feature Queensland Museum curators.
Make A Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity and Club Culture in the 90s will be open late, until 8.30pm. Enjoy exclusive access to the museum after-hours in celebration of 4ZZZ’s 50th Anniversary and Make a Scene.
Make a Scene also features in the 2025 Melt Festival programs. Sign up to our eNews and follow us on social media to hear when new events and programs are released.
Additional Information
This exhibition explores LGBTQ+ histories and experiences.
Some stories and artwork include experiences of stigma and marginalisation, themes of sexuality, drug use, discrimination, the AIDS epidemic, and its personal and political impact. While the exhibition was developed in consultation with experts and community representatives, some content may be emotionally challenging. We encourage visitors to engage with care and reflection. Support resources are available. Parents and carers should decide if it’s suitable for younger visitors.
Children supervision
Children 12 years and under must be accompanied by a carer or guardian at all times when visiting the museum.
Exhibition partner
Plan your visit
Plan your visit to Queensland Museum Kurilpa, centrally located at the Queensland Cultural Centre, South Bank.
How to get here & parking
Queensland Museum Kurilpa is easily accessible by foot, on public transport or by car.
Accessibility
Accessibility and sensory information to help you plan your visit to Queensland Museum Kurilpa.
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