Stories of Partnership: Kelowna Museums and UBC Okanagan Library

We are excited to share the second episode of our Stories of Partnership series—recorded live in front of an audience on October 2, 2024, in Kelowna, BC.  In this episode, we feature an inspiring partnership between Kelowna Museums and the UBC Okanagan Library. Together, they’ve launched projects like the Okanagan QueerStory podcast and Kelowna’s first-ever Queer Zine Fair. You’ll hear firsthand how this collaboration is amplifying queer history and building essential community spaces in the Okanagan.  Our guests, Erik Beardmore, a queer artist and Programming Associate at Kelowna Museums, and Donna Langille, the Community Engagement Librarian at UBC Okanagan, share the challenges of maintaining momentum in community partnerships and the creative solutions they found to keep their projects thriving. From organizing live podcast recordings to overcoming funding limitations, Erik and Donna emphasize the importance of flexibility, trust, and communication in their work.  Moderating the conversation is Christian Isbister, UBCO’s Indigenous Initiatives Librarian, who helps explore not only the successes but also the hurdles faced by the team—such as the ongoing search for safe, accessible queer spaces in Kelowna—and how partnerships with institutions like UBCO can help address community needs.  Whether you’re passionate about preserving queer history, interested in community-driven creative projects, or looking to learn more about fostering reciprocal community-university partnerships, this episode has something for you.