Curious Arts: Celebrating 2017-2023

Celebrating 2017—2023

Welcome

Powered by a small team of part-time freelancers, Curious Arts is a North East based Charity, championing and developing LGBTQIA+ arts, artists and communities. Delivering a variety of creative projects and events across the region and beyond.

Our values are Creativity, Inclusivity and Visibility.

“Curious Arts is one of the most joyful, loving and celebratory organisations I know. I have never felt so welcome – it’s more than an arts organisation, it’s a home.”

– National Diversity Awards Nominee, 2023

Founded in 2017, following a pilot festival in 2016, Curious Arts is a charity committed to championing and developing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual + culture and communities across the North East of England and beyond. Our work actively responds to the needs of our communities through meaningful and collaborative partnerships. We live our values and ensure LGBTQIA+ creatives and communities are visible, represented and celebrated.

I joined Curious Arts as Chair in September 2023 driven by a belief that the arts and culture have a unique ability to foster inclusive spaces where people can express themselves and feel a sense of belonging. Curious Arts brings something special to the LGBTQIA+ community in the North East – a chance to come together, to see ourselves celebrated, and to broaden our experiences.

Cover image: Curious Arts Stage / Northern Pride 2019, photo: Michael McGuire

Charity no: 1198108

Company No: 10709247

We have grown over the years and continue to realise informed, impactful and relevant projects, despite the challenging funding and political environment. This report is a reflection and proud celebration of the varied and quality work we have achieved. A true testament to the incredible, creative, and caring team. To ensure we continue to deliver our important work, we invite you to be curious and be an active part of a kinder and fairer future you want to see.

Whether you are an existing friend of Curious Arts or new to our organisation, please read on to find out about our work from youth projects, partnerships, festivals, mini prides and artist commissions to advocacy, consultancy, training and much more.

It’s great to have you with us.

Phil Douglas (He/Him), CEO and Executive Producer

Curious Arts has a growing reach, evolving from a Festival to a year round programme of activities with impressive breadth and quality. They bring joy, they challenge, they help build confidence and develop skills, and the impact is clearly felt within and beyond the LGBTQIA+ community.

In the short time that I have been involved with Curious Arts I have been blown away by the enthusiasm, care, and creativity of the team. They have built a strong foundation and there is a determination to continue to create new opportunities to enrich the lives of LGBTQIA+ people.

Sian Broadhurst (She/Her), Chair of the Board

What we do

Projects

Creative & Curious (2022–23)

QueerChange (2022)

Community Champions (2021–ongoing)

Curious Arts Shop (2021–ongoing)

Queering Middlesbrough Town Hall (2021)

Audio Queer Podcast (2020)

The Grit and The Glory (2020)

36point7 (2018–20)

Touring works

Mini Pride (2020–ongoing)

Wildflower (2021–ongoing)

Curious Storytime (2019)

Curious Takeovers (2021–ongoing)

Night Pansies (2024–ongoing)

Supporting the sector

Audience development

Access, inclusion and representation consultancy

Managing hate/communications consultancy

Public speaking/panels

Artistic/recruitment panels

Workshop facilitation

Paid promotional support

Hosting student placements and interns

Volunteer opportunities

Performance

Annual cabarets platforming LGBTQIA+ artists across the North East and beyond (2018–ongoing)

The Curious Ball (2017–ongoing)

Annual Fundraisers (2018–ongoing)

Youth projects

Newcastle and Middlesbrough monthly youth groups (2022–ongoing)

Wild & Curious (2021–ongoing)

Curious Youth Music (2022–ongoing)

Creative Youth Challenge (2018–ongoing)

Young Producers (2023–ongoing)

Sunderland youth group pilot (2023–ongoing)

Pride

Development of local pride events in Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Teesdale, Hartlepool and Redcar & Cleveland (2019-ongoing)

Curious Arts Stage at Northern Pride (2019, 2022, 2023)

Curious festival

An award winning celebration of LGBTQIA+ culture across the North East

2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022

Networks

Coordinators of Queer Arts North

Part of Tees Valley Festivals Network

Part of Middlesbrough Cultural Partnership

Partnerships

Co-programming

Project collaborations

Advocacy and consultancy

Training

LGBTQIA+ awareness training for the public and cultural sector

Proud Allies training in partnership with Northern Pride

Part of Wear and Tyne Festivals

Heritage

Part of Juice Festival’s takeover

Part of Juice Festival’s takeover of the Hancock Museum (2017)

Reimagining Pride (2020)

Hadrian and Antinous (2022)

Handing On Holding On: LGBTQIA+ archives (2023)

National Trust pilot (2023)

When you were me (2024)

Artist development

Annual artist bursaries, commissions and residencies

Artist with company (2023)

Producer surgeries

Artist socials

Professional development workshops

Performance platforms and exhibitions

Our Growth and Impact

Over the last six years Curious Arts has been increasingly recognised and celebrated, having grown and developed geographically, artistically and financially, enabling us to continue to make a positive difference to the lives of the LGBTQIA+ communities we serve.

Since 2017 Curious Arts has:

Become the North East’s leading LGBTQIA+ arts organisation, with national impact.

Produced award-winning Curious Festival, the biggest LGBTQIA+ arts festival in the UK in 2019.

Supported the development of hundreds of artists at varying stages of their careers, based across the North East and wider North.

Championed access, representation and inclusion, becoming known for placing accessibility at the forefront of our work.

Become a significant LGBTQIA+ youth service provider, in recognition of the loneliness statistics for LGBTQIA+ young people in our region.

Developed the first LGBTQIA+ forest school in the country with Birkheads Wild in 2021.

Delivered LGBTQIA+ awareness training to thousands of professionals across the UK.

Founded LGBTQIA+ arts network Queer Arts North, bringing together 13 LGBTQIA+ led/supportive arts organisations to increase support for LGBTQIA+ arts across the North.

Produced our own stage at UK Pride in 2022, showcasing intersectional local and national artists.

Fundraised hundreds of thousands of pounds, directly benefiting LGBTQIA+ arts activity and communities in the North East of England.

Slate is Curious / Curious Festival 2018, photo: Michael McGuire

Financial growth

Year end

2017–2018

2018–2019

2019–2020

2020–2021

2021–2022

2022–2023

*We continued to serve our communities in innovative ways during Covid-19

Awards and recognition

Shortlisted

Newcomer of the year

Journal Culture Awards 2017

Winner Arts Council England Award

Journal Culture Awards 2018

Finalist

Inclusive Arts & Media Award

LGBTQ North East Awards 2019

Finalist

Arts Council England Award

The Journal & The Gazette Culture Awards 2019

Finalist

Arts Council England Award with Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

The Journal Culture Awards 2021

Shortlisted National Diversity Awards 2023

Shortlisted

Partnership of the Year for Teesdale Pop-up Pride

NE Youth Pride Awards 2023

Geographic reach

Supporting LGBTQIA+ arts, artists and the cultural sector

Through continued consultation with communities and the cultural sector, Curious Arts acknowledges that LGBQTIA+ artists are under supported and underrepresented. We are committed to strengthening the North East’s cultural sector by supporting the professional development of LGBTQIA+ artists and creatives, who offer exciting, thought-provoking, and muchneeded perspectives on our society and the challenges it presents to intersectional identities.

“Since being commissioned by Curious Arts the show went on to tour internationally for five years. We performed in Newcastle at Alphabetti Theatre, at Sage Gateshead, two London runs at Vault Festival and Wilton’s Music Hall and we ran for a month at the Pleasance in Edinburgh. We’ve been in New York, Australia twice, Amsterdam and Belgium. It’s all because of that first commission from Curious Arts.”

– Peter Groom

We support LGBTQIA+ artists in many ways including: annual bursaries, commissions and residencies, producer support/surgeries, artist socials, artist with company, professional development workshops, paying fairly and providing paid opportunities and producing performance platforms and exhibitions across the region.

Original works supported by Curious Arts have gone on to tour regionally, nationally, and internationally. Peter Groom’s Dietrich: Natural Duty, co-commissioned by Curious Arts and Northern Stage, has wowed audiences across the globe.

As a non-venue based organisation working across the region, our partnerships are critical in realising Curious Arts’ vital artistic and artist development programmes. Working closely with our valued partners, enables us to champion LGBTQIA+ communities together with a considered and authentic approach and on a wider scale.

We work with our partners to: co-programme LGBTQIA+ artists/work, collaborate on LGBTQIA+ focused projects, advocate and consult, develop LGBTQIA+ audiences, support artist commissions, provide residency, exhibition space and performance platforms, deliver awareness training and much more.

Peter Groom / Dietrich: Natural Duty by Peter Groom 2018, photo: Michael McGuire

Artistic Director and CEO of Dance City, Anand Bhatt, shares their experience of working with Curious Arts:

“Dance City made conscious decisions in the months ahead of the pandemic on how it wanted to work. This included decisions around allyship with communities that face discrimination. Working with Curious Arts, the region’s foremost LGBTQIA+ organisation presenting, producing and curating both professional and participatory arts meant that Dance City was working with experts.

Curious Arts came with a wealth of knowledge and programmes which helped their audience, our audience and our staff to find a confluence. This involved Dance City hosting Curious events in our theatre, co-programming theatre work, making space available for Curious Youth groups, training and more.

We find Curious to be an open, flexible and hard working organisation that understand the breadth and complexity of our organisation, allowing them to tailor activity around the needs of the organisation – and crucially understanding that this is a journey for the individuals in the organisation and the organisation itself.”

Vogue Workshop / Dance City’s Theatre 2019, photo: Michael McGuire

The biggest LGBTQIA+ arts festival in the UK in 2019

Curious Festival

Curious Festival 2019’s Commissioned Artists performance night / Alphabetti Theatre, photo: Michael McGuire

Curious Festival is an award-winning celebration of LGBTQIA+ culture across the North East. The festival, which started as a one-day pilot project in 2016, grew into a monthlong festival taking place each July. Showcasing multi art form work by early career and established, regional and national LGBTQIA+ artists.

Working in partnership with arts and community organisations across the region, its exciting programme of events provides a safe space for LGBTQIA+ communities and allies to be Curious and has become a much-needed platform for LGBTQIA+ artists, creatives and young people to be visible, represented and celebrated.

Curious Festival’s partners have included: BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, ARC Stockton, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Dance City Newcastle, Seven Stories The National Centre for Children’s Books and many more.

Reaching audiences in excess of 40,000 to date, Curious Festival remains a firm staple in the LGBTQIA+ arts calendar.

“Curious Arts were the first big champions of my work when I was starting out, and not only has my confidence, skills and friendships grown since working with them, but my own queer identity has been given the space and freedom to blossom, due to Curious’ support, encouragement and kindness. I’m SO excited to be part of Curious Festival with a team I’d be proud to call my queer family!”

– Mack Sproates, Curious Festival commissioned artist speaking in 2022

“A wonderful, inclusive festival of the highest artistic standard. The values of this organisation really shine through in the work programmed and the way everyone feels involved and valued.”

– Audience Member, Curious Festival 2019

360 Artists platformed

20 Venue partners across all Curious Festivals to date

40,000+

Audience reach to date

“Full of meaningful interactions and moments of connection with myself and others. There was so much fun, love and joy packed into every event.”

– Audience Member, Curious Festival 2022

The Inflatable Church of Love / Curious Festival 2018, photo: Michael McGuire

Performance

Curious Arts’ growing performance programme is enabling us to reach more people than ever before, year round. Working closely with our partners to support and showcase local and national talent, developing vital relationships between LGBTQIA+ communities and their local arts venues.

Our seven programming partnerships have seen Curious Arts and our partners bring multiple nationally significant LGBTQIA+ artists and works to the North East. These include: Travis Alabanza’s Burgerz (Northern Stage), Liz Aggiss’ SlapandTickle (BALTIC), Harry Clayton Wright’s Sex Education, Lucy McCormick’s TripleThreat (Alphabetti Theatre) and Oona Doherty’s Hope Hunt and the Ascension Into Lazarus (Dance City).

Curious Cabarets

Our annual Curious Cabarets invite cultural venues and audiences to be Curious for the night, championing early career and established LGBTQIA+ artists from across the North on their stages.

Hosted by renowned artists such as David Hoyle and Jonathan Mayor, Curious Cabarets platform LGBTQIA+ artists based in the towns they are presented in. Increasing the visibility of local artists alongside engaging, developing and building local audiences interested in LGBTQIA+ culture.

Presented in-person and online and featuring artists including Jackie Hagan, Jamie Heward, RhyssPieces and Ashleigh Owen; our Curious Cabarets have wowed audiences in Newcastle, Gateshead, Hexham, Darlington, Stockton-onTees and Middlesbrough.

The Curious Ball

An unforgettable celebration of the North East’s LGBTQIA+ culture, The Curious Ball has grown from a disused office block party to an extravaganza in Dance City’s theatre!

An evening like no other, professional dancers, voguers and community members take to the catwalk to celebrate queer excellence with fierce performances and incredible fashion. The event champions the QTIPOC and global majority communities who birthed vogue culture as a means of unapologetic expression for LGBTQIA+ people.

Curious Ball / Curious Vogue Ball 2019, photo: Michael McGuire

Fundraisers

Twice a year, Curious Arts brings our community and supporters together to enjoy an evening of music and cabaret and fundraise to support our work championing LGBTQIA+ communities across the North East.

We’ve held fundraisers at Alphabetti Theatre, Gosforth Civic Theatre and the Magic Hat Cafe, showcasing talented local artists and raising thousands of pounds to support LGBTQIA+ arts.

7 Programming partners

19 Curious cabarets hosted across the North East to date

£2200+

Raised at our March 2023 Fundraiser

“Sage Gateshead is Curious was one of the most exciting and yet also relaxed evenings I could have asked for…The whole evening was comforting, relaxing and a nice way to connect to Newcastle’s queer scene without having to hit the clubs.”

– The Crack, Sage Gateshead is Curious 2022

Farrell Cox performs Ambivalence, 2022, photo: Matt Jamie

Touring works

Curious Arts’ touring works have enchanted audiences across the country, from Wildflower performances and Mini Prides to a successful North East tour of Curious Storytime.

Wildflower

An outdoor pop-up performance which takes audiences of all ages on an emotional journey of companionship, self-expression and acceptance. Wildflower explores what it truly means to be a Wildflower – a metaphor for LGBTQIA+ peoples’ lived experience and the hope of being free to be your authentic self. Wherever your place in the world and sometimes under the harshest conditions.

32 Wildflower performance days

18 Locations across the country

Riding their large flower adorned trike through public spaces, from parks to city centres, the Wildflowers’ colourful presence and poignant performance has drawn audiences across the country to share their experience, with over 100 performances since its launch in 2021.

Co-commissioned by Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) and Hartlepool Waterfront festival. Supported by Northern Pride, Blue Stone Collaborative, Well Newcastle Gateshead, Northern Stage, ARC Stockton, Dance City, Culture Recovery Fund and Arts Council England.

“A very welcome burst of colour and wonder on an otherwise gloomy day”

– Audience member

Wildflower / Woodhorn Museum 2023, photo: Jason Thompson

62 Mini Pride days since 2020

24 Artists and creatives received paid opportunities as part of Mini Pride

Mini Pride

A pop-up, family-focused event, inviting families to ‘drop-in’ and celebrate their individuality and creativity through arts, crafts and storytelling led by LGBTQIA+ artists.

Launched in 2020, Mini Pride has popped up across the North East and beyond 62 times, from Newcastle to Barrow-in-Furness, Hartlepool to Liverpool. Providing a welcoming, relaxed space for families with free, fun creative activities.

A colourful, uplifting event, Mini Pride can be delivered indoors in community/cultural venues and outdoors at festivals and public spaces (if the weather permits!)

“Very relaxed and creative, supporting all sorts of identities and diverse needs.”

– Mini Pride at Gateshead Central Library attendee

Supported by: Blue Stone Collaborative, Well Newcastle Gateshead, Northern Pride, Helix Arts, Gateshead Council and Arts Council England.

“It was fantastic to collaborate with Curious Arts to draw upon the team’s skill, experience, knowledge and professionalism. They helped us curate and communicate a welcoming and inclusive Mini Pride offer, building something bespoke that complemented both the historic setting as well as the existing offer at the hall and supported us in our goal of broadening our audience reach.”

– National Trust at Seaton Delaval Hall

Mini Pride / Durham Botanic Garden 2021, photo: Curious Arts

Pam the Dinner Lady storytelling / Manchester Science & Industry Museum 2023, photo: Jonathan Blackburn

Takeovers

Curious Takeovers are joyful celebrations of LGBTQIA+ culture and communities, bringing LGBTQIA+ representation and visibility to museums, theatres, galleries and public spaces.

Inviting organisations that wish to highlight or that are missing the stories, experiences and perspectives of LGBTQIA+ communities, to bring this representation to the forefront of their offer.

Through activities led by LGBTQIA+ artists and inspired by the community’s culture and heritage, Curious Takeovers are jam-packed with colourful, creative fun.

Curious Takeovers can happen during the day with family focused activities, during the evening tailored to an 18+ audience or in busy travel hubs capturing the stories of those travelling on the day!

To date Curious Arts have taken over:

Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough (twice!)

York Art Gallery

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Tyne & Wear Metro (Nexus)

Darlington Hippodrome

Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle

“We absolutely loved the Curious Takeover, it worked perfectly in our venue and the Curious Arts team were like a well-oiled machine! We were delighted with the vibrancy of the event which offered a broad range of artists and activities, all of whom offered positive and warm interactions with our attendees.

We were so pleased with the diversity of families that engaged with the event and it was noticeable that for some families, it was their first time visiting the Hippodrome. It was important to us that the event operated on a fully funded model, offering access for all, and removing any financial barriers.

The Curious Arts team have created a wonderful event, building awareness around LGBTQIA+ narratives which we’re keen to repeat in the future.”

– Heather Tarran-Jones, Programming & Development Director, Darlington Hippodrome

Express Yourself activity / Darlington Hippodrome 2023, photo: Haydn Brown

Community and Heritage projects

Committed to championing the vibrant culture and heritage of LGBTQIA+ communities, Curious Arts works to ensure our communities voices and experiences are celebrated and captured for generations to come through our community and heritage projects.

In 2020/21, we partnered with Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums to produce Re-Imagining Pride, commissioning six Tyne & Wear based LGBTQIA+ artists to produce digital works based on what pride meant to them.

In 2022, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, our Arts & Heritage Associate Richard Bliss delivered Hadrian & Antinous. The project explored the relationship between Emperor Hadrian and his lover Antinous through creative writing, sculpture workshops, musical performances and podcasts.

Curious Arts also launched our Community Champions panel, inviting a cohort of local LGBTQIA+ people and allies to come together to share perspectives on our and the North East’s cultural offer and the representation they’d like to see.

In 2023, Richard hosted a sold-out Handing On, Holding On event at Newcastle’s Discovery Museum; exploring methods of preserving and archiving LGBTQIA+ historical objects, towards the creation of an LGBTQIA+ archive in the city.

In 2024, we’ll launch our intergenerational project When you were me, supported by Historic England.

19,800 Reimagining Pride views since its launch

728 People heard Hadrian & Antinous’ original songs performed by Northern Proud Voices in 2022

& Antinous Clay

Hadrian

Workshop / BALTIC 2022, photo: Benjamin Michael Smith

Pride

A historic and vital part of LGBTQIA+ culture, Pride remains paramount in bringing communities together to celebrate, empower and give visibility to LGBTQIA+ communities. Pride events continue to raise awareness of the inequality, the rights and freedoms LGBTQIA+ people are denied across the globe and the work still to be done.

12 Number of Pride events Curious has been part of across the North

44 Artists platformed on the Curious Arts Stage at Northern Pride

3700 Visitors to Middlesbrough Pride 2023

Curious Arts Stage / Northern Pride 2023, photo: Haydn Brown

The Curious Arts Stage at Northern Pride

Curious Arts has worked in partnership with Northern Pride to present the Curious Arts Stage at its Pride festivals in central Newcastle in 2019, 2022 and 2023. Including being part of UK Pride in 2022!

Offering an alternative experience to the main stage, championing local and national LGBTQIA+ arts and artists. In 2023, the Curious Arts Stage was the focal point of the Community Village, ensuring free, quality, representative performances for all.

44 artists have performed on the Curious Arts Stage to date including Adam All, Lady Bushra, Gem Andrews, HUSK, Kay Greyson, Mack Sproates, Tiny Temper and more!

Supported by Northern Pride, Ubisoft, Co-op and North of Tyne Combined Authority.

Local Prides

At Curious Arts we feel that every town deserves their own Pride, which is relevant to the communities it celebrates. Providing quality performances, creative activities and a safe environment for LGBTQIA+ people and allies of all ages to be proud together.

To date we’ve partnered with local organisations and facilitated community committees to realise Stockton Pop-up Pride, Teesdale Pop-up Pride and Middlesbrough Pride, with plans to support local Prides across the Tees Valley in 2024-2025.

Curious Arts’ contributes to Pride events across the North throughout the year, popping up with Mini Pride and Wildflower at Scarborough, Sunderland, Trafford, Batley and Ashington Prides in 2023.

“The atmosphere was brilliant. Everyone was really welcoming and friendly. Lots to do with a great variety of activities!

– Visitor to Middlesbrough Pride 2023

“Northern Pride’s partnership with Curious Arts has gone from strength to strength and we’re keen to support their endeavours to support the growth and nurture of new talent. Bringing queer arts to a whole new and different audience through the Curious Arts Stage. Some of which may not ordinarily be exposed to such progressive programming that Curious Arts are renowned for.”

– Ste Dunn, Director – Northern Pride

Stockton Pop-up Pride 2023, photo: Haydn Brown

Youth Projects

Affected by the impact of the pandemic and charity Just Like Us’ findings that LGBTQIA+ young people in the North East were the loneliest in England, Curious Arts launched four regular youth groups and expanded our annual Creative Youth Challenge programme. Shaped by the LGBTQIA+ young people who engage, all of Curious Arts’ youth projects are free at the point of access and provide fun opportunities to develop their creative skills and meet friends with shared experiences.

Youth Groups in Newcastle and Middlesbrough

Launched in 2021, our monthly youth groups for LGBTQIA+ 11-15 year olds meet at Dance City Newcastle and Middlesbrough Town Hall. Offering the opportunity for young people to work with professional artists to build their confidence, develop their creative skills and try out new artforms, from pottery and illustration to creative writing and crafts.

Curious Youth Music

Curious Youth Music meet weekly in Newcastle. Providing LGBTQIA+ 12-18 year olds who are passionate about music with the opportunity to meet fellow music fans, develop their skills working with professional musicians, learn more about the music industry and even form their own band! To date our Curious Youth Music band have performed on the Main Stage at Northern Pride, The D’Addario Stage at Alphabetti Theatre and at Cluny 2 for Ouseburn Family Pride.

Wild & Curious

The country’s first LGBTQIA+ forest school, Wild & Curious was launched in partnership with Gateshead based charity Birkheads Wild, to provide 11-15 year olds with a safe space to meet new friends, learn new creative and forestry skills and spend time in nature.

Creative Youth Challenge

Curious Arts’ Creative Youth Challenge days invite LGBTQIA+ young people aged 11-19 to come together to experience a day of creative workshops in their local arts venue or community space. Building connections between LGBTQIA+ young people and the organisations who serve their communities. To date Creative Youth Challenge days have taken place at: ARC Stockton, TCR Hub, Middlesbrough Town Hall, on Seaham Beach, Queen’s Hall Arts Centre and more!

Curious Youth Music 2023, photo: Haydn Brown

Live Theatre is Curious / Creative Youth Challenge 2019, photo: Michael McGuire

150

The number of young people who engage annually in our youth projects

27 Artists and Creatives have provided our young people with positive role models

“As a young LGBTQ+ person it can be so hard to find a place you truly feel you belong and fit in, Curious Arts gave me and so many more young people that place. They bring so much joy to so many people and make our lives so much better, I am endlessly grateful for this charity.”

– Youth project participant, 2023

“Curious Arts is an inspiring and amazing organisation. My son attends the youth music group and the staff are incredible, they are so supportive and welcoming. This type of organisation is something that is badly needed in the North East area and the work that they do is life changing.”

– Curious Youth Music parent, 2023

Curious Arts Youth Projects are currently supported by BBC Children in Need, Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Dance City, Gateshead Council, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Lumo, Middlesbrough Town Hall, Sir James Knott Trust, UK Youth and Youth Music.

Wild & Curious 2022, photo: Birkheads Wild

Training

Curious Arts’ LGBTQIA+ Awareness

Training was developed to ensure progression and excellence in equality, diversity and inclusion in the practice of arts, culture and public organisations. In particular, those actively working with LGBTQIA+ artists, audiences, participants and young people. Devised and informed by a representative team of intersectional LGBTQIA+ community members, our training sessions create a safe space to raise awareness, develop understanding and increase confidence to ensure authentic engagement with LGBTQIA+ communities.

Over 100 organisations nationwide and overseas have undertaken our LGBTQIA+ awareness training since its launch in 2019, including: Twitch (Amazon), Crafts Council, National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Engage London, Aberystwyth Arts Centre and many more.

Launched in 2023 to support organisations in the private sectors, our ‘Proud Allies’ training in partnership with Northern Pride has worked with clients including: Sky, Nexus, St Oswald’s Hospice and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria.

Supporting thousands of professionals across the UK and internationally to be active in their allyship, increase their awareness of LGBTQIA+ experiences and better support the LGBTQIA+ communities they engage.

“The training was a safe environment where no questions were out of bounds. We found the session to be informative and eye opening and the pace of the training was perfect. Personally, it gave me a new perspective and understanding, but professionally it has helped our organisation (and other cultural organisations in Hexham) think about what we can do better to ensure we are a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.”

– Sales Manager, Queen’s Hall Arts Centre Hexham

98% Would recommend our training to a colleague 95% Were satisfied/ very satisfied

“The training with Curious Arts introduced our learners and staff to the importance of providing positive and inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ communities. It was a fantastic training opportunity, delivered in a friendly and professional manner which has had an ongoing impact in raising awareness, and increasing confidence around the use of inclusive language, helping us to be more proactive, accessible and informed.”

– Academic Development Officer, Open College of the Arts (OCA)

97% Felt more informed Survey of 316 participants (2022)

Training development supported by Seven Stories, Dance City, LGBT Consortium, Arts Council England and Queer Arts North.

Northern Pride march through Newcastle 2019, photo: Michael McGuire

Queer Arts North

Queer Arts North (QAN) is a network of arts organisations strategically supporting LGBTQIA+ arts, artists, venues, festivals and organisations across the North of England.

21 Northern LGBTQIA+ Artists showcased at Leeds Playhouse in 2020

Brought together in 2019, Queer Arts North’s partners work collaboratively to develop and champion the LGBTQIA+ arts sector across the region; sharing best practice, responding to issues affecting LGBTQIA+ creative communities and creating opportunities for LGBTQIA+ artists and creatives to develop their practice. The Network has facilitated paid bursaries, commissions and fundraising clinics to showcase events and professional development workshops.

Coordinated by Curious Arts, Queer Arts North’s 2023-2024 partners are: Andro and Eve, Bradford Producing Hub, CLAY (Centre for Live Art Yorkshire), Curious Arts, Happy Valley Pride, Homotopia, Trans Creative and Yorkshire Dance.

Our previous partners include: Black Gold Arts, Contact, Northern Stage, Leeds Playhouse and Mothers Ruin.

“Working with Queer Arts North is really valuable to Homotopia as it allows us to be part of a network reaching beyond our home in Merseyside, to work with and for artists from across the North of England. Coordinated efforts like Queer Arts North demonstrate the amazing potential for LGBTQIA+ culture and creativity in our home regions.”

– Char Binns, Festival Director, Homotopia (2020-2023)

Supported by: Superbia, LGBT Consortium, Arts Council England and Cause4.

13 Northern LGBTQIA+ Artists/Companies supported through paid bursaries and commissions

“Queer Arts North is such a vital community for artists looking to get their foot in the often closed doors of the industry. I can’t thank them enough for how much of a positive effect they’ve had on my career.”

– Mandla, QAN supported artist

13 Northern organisations connected through their commitment to supporting LGBTQIA+ arts

Artist panel at Queer Arts North Showcase 2020, photo: Michael McGuire

Mandla performs at Queer Arts North Showcase 2020, photo: Michael McGuire

How to be Curious

Champion LGBTQIA+ arts, artists and communities

Be a good ally

Come along to a Curious Arts event

Buy a ticket for someone else

Collaborate on a project

Start a partnership conversation

Become a Queer Arts

North partner

Book LGBTQIA+ awareness training for your organisation Co-commission an original work Co-programme

LGBTQIA+ artists together

Book Wildflower or Mini Pride (or both!)

Host a Curious Cabaret or Takeover

Invite Curious Arts to speak at your conference or event

Invite Curious Arts to deliver a workshop

Invite Curious Arts to be part of a panel

Join our community champions panel Volunteer with us

Follow Curious Arts on Social media

Join our mailing list for email updates

Spread the word about our work

Tell your local community/arts centre about Curious Arts

Fund a Curious Arts project

Sponsor a Curious Arts event

Make a donation

Become a regular giver

Buy merch from our shop

Let’s start a conversation

hello@curiousarts.org.uk

07305 948 834

www.curiousarts.org.uk

Facebook @teamcuriousarts

X @CuriousArts

Instagram @curious_arts

LinkedIn Curious Arts

#CuriousArts

Charity

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders, partners, sponsors and supporters.

Current

ARC Stockton

Andro and Eve

Arts Centre Washington

Arts Council England

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art

BBC Children in Need

Birkheads Wild

Bradford Producing Hub

CLAY Centre for Live

Art Yorkshire

Cause4

Cleveland Fire Brigade

Cleveland Police

Co-op

Community Foundation, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland

D’Oyly Carte

Charitable Trust

Dance City

Darlington Borough Council

Darlington Hippodrome

Gala Durham

Gateshead Council

Gosforth Civic Theatre

Happy Valley Pride

Hart Gables

Historic England

Home Group

Homotopia

John Bell Fund

LGBT Northern Social Group

Live Theatre

Lumo

Middlesbrough Council

Middlesbrough Town Hall

Mortal Fools

NARC

Newcastle Theatre Royal

North East Culture Partnership

Northern Pride

Northern Stage

Queen’s Hall Arts Centre

Sail Creative

Sapphires Middlesbrough

Sir James Knott Trust

Stockton-on-Tees

Borough Council

Sunderland Culture

Tees Valley Combined Authority

Tees Valley Creative Education Partnership

The 1989 Willan Charitable Trust

The Crack

The Glasshouse, International Centre for Music

Trans Creative

UK Youth

Yorkshire Dance

Youth Music

Previous

AKT

Alphabetti Theatre

Ampersand Inventions

Ben Hoare Bell LLP

Beyond Housing

Black Gold Arts

Blue Stone Collaborative

Breeze Creatives

Cake Tin Foundation

Cardboard Citizens

City of Dreams

Clifford Chance

Contact

Crowne Plaza Newcastle (Clouston Group)

Crystallised

Durham Community Foundation

Durham University Art

Collection

Eclipse Theatre

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Film Hub North

GemArts

Hartlepool

Waterfront Festival

Helix Arts

Holiday Inn Express

Jerwood Foundation

Junction Point

LGA Foundation

LGBT Consortium

Leeds City Council

Leeds Playhouse

Less is More Productions

MIMA

Matt Nevin Fund

Middlesbrough Museums

Middlesbrough Theatre

Milk Presents

Mothers Ruin

NECS, NHS North East

New Writing North

Newcastle City Council

Newcastle

Gateshead Initiative

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Newcastle NE1

Newcastle University

Northern Heartlands

Northumberland

County Council

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner

Northumbria University

November Club

Novum

Poke

Police and Crime

Commissioner for Cleveland

Praxis Gallery

Pride Radio

Raze Collective

Royal Northern Sinfonia

Seascapes

Seven Stories

Stockton Globe

Stockton International

Riverside Festival

Summer Streets Festival

Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

TCR Hub

Tees Valley Community Foundation

Teesside University

The Auxiliary

The Cultural Spring

The Culture Recovery Fund

The Culture Vulture

The Customs House

The National Lottery Heritage Fund

The NewBridge Project

The Staiths Cafe

Theatre Company

Blah Blah Blah

Theatre

Hullabaloo

Thirteen Housing Group

Thought Foundation

Tiny

Tyne & Wear

Archives & Museums

Tyneside Cinema

Ubisoft

Unfolding Theatre

Unison

Urban Green Newcastle

Virgin Money Foundation

Wellington Square

Well Newcastle Gateshead

York Museums Trust

Your Homes Newcastle

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