In this lively talk and Q&A, the award-winning artist, filmmaker, drag king and space-culture pioneer Dr. Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian will share their new in-development film, Heartsnatcher, and investigate how to turn the International Space Station, due to be decommissioned in 2030, into a love hotel. Drawing on decolonial, diasporic, ecological and LGBTQIA+ perspectives, they ask us: who is entitled to represent humanity in space? Whose histories travel with us? How can art and collective action challenge militarised, colonial and billionaire-led visions of the future? Space is queer – and it could become a site for resistance, collective imagination and liberation for all. Nelly’s past projects include the world-first mission carrying Armenian pomegranate seeds to the International Space Station, and Picadilly Un:Plugged, which moonbounced human heartbeats and music, from Fela Kuti & Seun Kuti, Massive Attack and Pussy Riot, to the Moon and back. This event forms part of Scotland’s Human Rights Festival 2026, 9 – 13 December, led by the Human Rights Consortium Scotland and core festival partners Art27 Scotland and Libereco. Themed for 2026 on Dignity, Freedom and Justice For All, this is the first national, multi-day festival dedicated to celebrating, explaining and strengthening support for human rights across Scotland. Art27 Scotland are based in Edinburgh and take their mission from Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – ‘everyone has the right freely to participate in cultural life and to enjoy the arts.’ They explore how contemporary arts, cultural practice and ideas can defend culture as a human right through great art and storytelling. They curate a multi-artform program of exhibitions, performances, publications and events that respond to themes and provocations they believe are urgent for our times e.g. migration, climate change and democracy. Image Credit: Nick Ballón

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