Homotopia | |
---|---|
Frequency | Annually in late October and November, some activities all year |
Location(s) | Liverpool, England and international |
Years active | 19 |
Inaugurated | 2004 |
Website | www |
Homotopia is an international LGBTQ+ arts festival held annually in Liverpool, England. The festival takes place in late-October and throughout November every year and features a mixture of theatre, dance, film, photography, art, cabaret and debate at numerous venues across Liverpool. [1] [2]
Homotopia is the longest running annual LGBT arts and culture festival in the United Kingdom. [3]
Homotopia was launched as a pilot project on 1 November 2004, in response to Liverpool's successful bid to become European Capital of Culture. The festival was commissioned by the Liverpool Culture Company's Creative Communities project, and started life as a ten-day programme of film, theatre, photography, art, comedy, storytelling and heritage designed to bring together an assortment of artists. [4] [5] Heavily supported by Liverpool City Council, the initiative was hailed as a sign of the city's 'growing maturity' in the run up to Capital of Culture and as an opportunity for the gay and lesbian community to play a vital part in the region's rich and diverse cultural life. [6]
The first event was attended by some 2750 people, but by the following year its visitor numbers had doubled, partly due to the high calibre of guests who had featured including prominent gay rights activist Peter Tatchell. [7] [8] [9]
By 2008, the festival had showcased the largest Tom of Finland art retrospective in the UK as well as the first ever North-West Grand Vogue Ball and visitor numbers had climbed to over 12,000. City leaders praised the celebration as a highlight of Liverpool's cultural calendar. [10] [11]
2009 marked a new chapter for Homotopia, when a youth visit to Poland helped to forge new international partnerships. The visit became instrumental in the development of the festival's international arts programme and burgeoning social justice work. [12] The trip also inspired an anti-homophobia documentary and education pack, which was rolled out to 100 schools and youth centres across Liverpool, gaining notable support from out gay Hollywood actor Sir Ian McKellen. [13]
Since 2010, in addition to offering its diverse Liverpool schedule, Homotopia's work has expanded internationally and attracted audiences at various functions in Turkey, Finland, Sweden and Russia. [14] [15] [16]
In 2011, Homotopia was granted National Portfolio status by Arts Council England. [17]
In 2018, Homotopia founder and long term Artistic Director, Gary Everett, parted ways with the organisation. Guest Curator, Cheryl Martin, led the programming of the 2018 festival.
After a period of uncertainty, the Board of Trustees appointed Char Binns as Festival Director in early 2020. Alex Ferguson was appointed as Producer to lead the organisation into a new era. The pair had previously managed the festival in a freelance capacity.
Homotopia was founded in 2004 as an unincorporated association, with a small grant from Liverpool City Council. In 2012, in the same year it was included in the Arts Council England National Portfolio of organisations (NPO), it became a private limited company limited by guarantee, with charitable aims. Its main annual funders are Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council. [18]
As of 2023, it is governed by a nine member Board of Trustees who volunteer their time to run the festival and oversee its finances. [19] [20]
The board members are (as of 2023):
Additional staff include:
Board members do not have to identify as LGBTQIA, but must have a good understanding of the challenges faced by the community and share a 'passion for queer culture'. The board meets every two to three months in Liverpool City Centre and/or via Zoom meetings. Board members are required to maintain a minimum of 50 percent attendance at meetings. They must be willing to attend key events, launches and performances, be an advocate and ambassador for the festival and must serve for a maximum term of 4 years (2 x terms of 2 years).
Year | Dates | Theme | Location of launch party | Description | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 1 November until 20 November | Queer Joy Is A Protest | Tate Liverpool | Numerous events including:
| [21] [22] [23] |
2021 | 28 October until 14 November | Coming Out | Numerous events including:
| [24] [25] [26] [27] | |
2020 | 29 October until 15 November | Show Your Working | Over 20 events including:
| [28] [29] | |
2019 | 31 October until 10 November | Resist! Resist! | Hope Street Hotel | Over 20 events including:
| [30] |
2018 | 2 November until 1 December | I Will Survive | Hinterlands | Over 30 events including:
| [31] |
2017 | 26 October until 25 November | Liberation 50 | Double Tree Hotel | Over 50 events including:
| [32] [33] [34] |
2016 | October until November | Forbidden | Foundation for Art and Creative Technology | 19 events across Liverpool including:
| [35] [36] |
2015 | October until November | Art = Life | Camp and Furnace | Over 50 events including:
| [37] [38] |
2014 | 23 October until 23 November | Miracle of Miracles | Hope Street Hotel | Over 30 events including:
| [39] [40] |
2013 | 30 October until 25 November | The Liverpool Dream | Camp and Furnace | 10-year anniversary events include:
| [41] [42] |
2012 | 30 October until 25 November | Traditional Family Values | Camp and Furnace | Over 20 events including:
| [43] [44] [45] |
2011 | 1 November until 30 November | Cruising for Art | Hope Street Hotel | Over 30 events including:
| [46] |
2010 | 1 November until 30 November | Love Conquers All | Over 50 events including:
| [47] | |
2009 | 1 November until 30 November | Homotopia Not Homophobia | Over 30 events including:
| [48] | |
2008 | 1 November until 30 November | From Liverpool With Love | Hope Street Hotel | Over 50 events including:
| [49] |
2007 | 1 November until 19 November | All Things Bright and Beautiful | Hope Street Hotel | Over 70 events including:
| [50] [51] |
2006 | 26 October until 18 November | A Queer New World | Over 70 events including:
| [52] [53] [54] | |
2005 | 31 October until 12 November | There's no place like Homotopia | Alma De Cuba | Over 50 events including:
| [55] |
2004 | 1 November until 11 November | Pilot Festival |
| [56] [57] |
Over the years, the Homotopia festival has forged links with groups and organisations around the world and its international work includes the following...
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