With support from the California Arts Council, ONE Archives Foundation will host Circa, the first and only queer histories festival in the United States. Kicking off during LGBTQ+ History Month, October 2023, this month-long, LA County-wide programming series will showcase the trailblazing histories and vibrant cultural contributions of the LGBTQ+ community through the lens of present-day challenges and triumphs.
Each year, One Institute produces dozens of high-quality, low to no cost queer history-focused education, arts, and cultural public programs at our two primary programming locations (One Gallery in West Hollywood, ONE Archives at USC Libraries in South Los Angeles) and across LA County at various partnered arts programming hubs. Our public programs, exhibitions, and multimedia projects tell the intersectional histories and stories of LGBTQ+ lives. In collaboration with LA-based curators and artists, these projects feature original creative content as well as materials from ONE Archives at USC. Recent projects include:
– It’s Where I Belong: 40 Years (and More) of Drag in West Hollywood (May-June 2025), exhibition on local drag history that uncovers rarely-seen materials from the ONE Archives and from community contributions to spotlight this uniquely queer art form;
– Circa: Queer Histories Festival (Oct 2023 & 2024), the country’s first and only LGBTQ+ History Month festival;
– Together On the Air (Dec 2022-Mar 2023), exhibition on Radio GLLU, the first bilingual LGBTQ+ radio program in the US. Web exhibit and pop-up installation with live radio recording;
– “Days of Rage” (Apr 2022), award-winning web exhibit showcasing 30+ activist posters and 5 in-depth storytelling videos from community experts;
– “The Normal Heart” (May & Dec 2021), virtual presentations of Larry Kramer’s play with first predominantly BIPOC and LGBTQ+ cast.
One also provides critical K-12 educational initiatives, including youth mentorship programs, curriculum development, and advocacy work, including:
– Youth Ambassadors for Queer History (Sept-Jan 2023 & 2024): Leadership program for LGBTQ+ high school students to connect with history through creative archival research;
– K-12 Teachers Symposium (Jul: 2023 & 2024): Week-long symposium that supports LAUSD teachers in the development of inclusive LGBTQ+ history/social studies lesson plans;
– YouSpeak Radio (Aug 2023 & 2024): Podcast exploring intergenerational conversations between LGBTQ+ youth and elder change-makers.

