LGBTQ Archives - Blackpool Social Club

08 Mar

Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival returns to Blackpool on its 20th Anniversary tour

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsFilmAunty Social, Blackpool Film Festival, Film, Iris Prize, LGBTQ

The 20th anniversary celebrations of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival will honour lesbian-focused films in this year's tour of 25 towns, including Blackpool.From forbidden kisses to real-life revolution, Blackpool Film Festival and Aunty Social will be welcoming Iris on Tour to Arc Cinema, Blackpool on Wednesday 11 March 2026 for an evening of fabulous LGBTQ+ film from the Cardiff-based film festival. The evening’s screenings will include the 2025 Iris Prize winner, One Day This Kid, directed by Alexander Farah and Best British winner Chris Urch, for his film Blackout, giving audiences outside Cardiff the chance to see award-winning queer…

12 Jun

Gallery: Blackpool Pride Parade

Jill Reidy0 CommentsVisual Arts & ExhibitionsBlackpool Pride, Gay Pride, LGBTQ, Queer Blackpool

Rainbows descended down Blackpool Promenade this weekend as LGBTQ+ locals and allies paraded through the town. The huge parade began at the Sandcastle on South Promenade on the morning of Saturday 10th June 20223 before setting out on its journey to St John’s Square. The theme for this year’s pride parade was Bright, Bold and Beautiful - a theme that attendees did justice. There was music, dancing and colour as people flew there LGBTQ+ flag high. The parade was also an opportunity to call for safety and equality for the queer community and there was huge support for the trans…

26 Oct

Make! Craft! Live! The Halloween Crafternoon Tea Party

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsceramics, crafts, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQIA, workshops

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] On their 50th anniversary, the Crafts Council has announced that they have selected Blackpool's Aunty Social as a Make! Craft Live! partner. The Crafts Council celebrates this special birthday from October 2021 to October 2022 with a season of nationwide exhibitions, learning events, fairs, and digital activities that celebrates the value of craft to empower, enrich and connect our society. These craft activities will take place at venues across the UK such as craft studios, museums, galleries, schools and community centres. Aunty Social is pleased to be selected as one of the Crafts Council’s partners. Working together we will…

20 Oct

Open casting call: Trans women, Trans men, Non-Binary and Gender Diverse people

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsOpportunitiesacting, casting, Film, LGBTQ, LGBTQIA, Trans

Casting call for Trans women and men as well as people who identify as Non-Binary or Gender Diverse to star in a Blackpool-based film in the first half of November 2021. Shaheen Baig Casting is looking for UK based people to feature in an exciting Short Film produced by Mercury Studios shooting in Blackpool in November 2021. They would love to hear from the following: TRANS YOUNG WOMEN AND/OR TRANS FEMMES (16+) This is to play the lead character Charlie (she/her) who is 16 years old You must be 16yrs or older TRANSGENDER, NON-BINARY AND GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE (16-25) This…

07 Oct

Artists to explore LGBTQIA+ heritage in Blackpool

Catherine Mugonyi0 CommentsHeritage, Local Newsheritage, history, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQIA, local history, Queer

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Abingdon Studios has received funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to create the first permanent collection of LGBTQIA+ heritage in Blackpool. The ‘We’re Still Here’ project, led by Abingdon Studios director Garth Gratrix and producer and artist Harry Clayton-Wright, will capture stories from members of the community, and will kick off with a sound installation at new arts space The Old Electric on Saturday October 23. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] As well as viewing the installation on the day, members of the public will also be invited to share their stories, have them recorded and added to the digital archive which…

09 Jul

You Otter Know: Queer joy & creativity in Blackpool

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken WordLGBT, LGBTQ, Queer, zine

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Multi-award winning Blackpool-based theatre maker Harry Clayton-Wright shares issue 4 of queer online zine, You Otter Know and we are here for it. In this collab with with indie publishing house Polari Press, Harry celebrates all things Blackpool and its queer community.💖 Originally commissioned by Homotopia as part of their Queer Art Always initiative during the first lockdown, You Otter Know is a glossy, thoughtful and unabashedly joyful queer online magazine experience. With a focus on Harry’s hometown of Blackpool, issue four, supported by Marlborough Productions, Abingdon Studios, Homotopia and Arts Council England, features photospreads, writing, artwork and interviews…

14 May

LGBTQ+ Positive Voices Exhibition

Lauryn Eliza0 CommentsOpportunities, Visual Arts & Exhibitionsartists, Creative Arts and Futures, Exhibition, LGBTQ

LGBTQ+ artists and creatives are invited to contribute to an online exhibition, launching in June 2021, as a celebration of theirpositive experiences, lives and perspectives. The LGBTQ+ community is continuing to break through social barriers and is becoming inspiring and paramount community in todays modern society empowering people to be their true selves. Art and creative works provide the perfect environment to expressing yourself and immersing into a creative world where anything is truly possible. The Positive Voices online exhibition, which is launching in June 2021, are inviting LGBTQ+ artists and creatives to contribute to the exhibition as a celebration…

15 Jan

Artist Opportunity: Making Intimate Performance

Catherine Mugonyi0 CommentsOpportunitiesartist, cabaret, Drag, funding, LGBT, LGBTQ, performance, Queer, Theatre

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Free online artist talk, plus three opportunities for artists to develop new intimate performance Submerge are hosting a free online talk from three inspiring artists making intimate performance, and inviting three North-West based artists working in drag, club performance and cabaret to experiment with the creation of new covid-safe live encounters. The project is aimed at artists who may not have much experience of working in contemporary art and performance contexts, and artists will receive coaching from Submerge and mentoring from artist Jo Bannon. Artist Talk Making Intimate Performance Time: Tuesday 19th January 2021 (7pm – 8.30pm) Register Here…

29 Jul

Harry Clayton-Wright thinks You Otter Know

Catherine Mugonyi0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Wordartist, Blackpool, Collaboration, Contemporary theatre, LGBTQ, performance, Queer

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] After hanging up the old touring heels for the time being; I spoke to performance artist Harry Clayton-Wright about coming home, collaboration and making new work beside the sea. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Hi Harry, welcome home! A little bird tells me that you've headed back to the Fylde Coast to work on some new projects. How do you work? Can you tell us a bit about your processes? Usually I’m sat on ideas for quite a while, then when the medium becomes clear (stage, screen, installation, photographic work, zine) I’ll spring into action to make things happen. I’m very lucky to have…