Northern Pride continues to champion local talent, with a host of events announced, providing six commissioned artists with the platform to showcase their creativity during this year’s Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1.
Azula Bandit and Chris Fleming (IDa4) were announced as the two artists selected to receive full creative commissions last month, following a commissions call out in partnership with Creative Central NCL and Curious Arts.
A further four local artists were also awarded a ‘Get Ready Grant’, spanning dance, writing, physical art, and music. Jenny Chrisp, Emory Southwick, Alison Carr, and The Girls, Theys and Slays Choir led by Maya Torres and Rosie Bowden have received £750 of funding to enhance their art and explore new ideas.
The call out challenged artists to respond to the theme Unapologetically Visible, highlighting what this means to them and how it is expressed and explored through their creativity.
Director of Northern Pride, Ste Dunn, said:
“It’s important that we continue to recognise the huge pool of talent that exists in the North East. As big and as bold as our plans are for Pride in the City, there is still a grass-roots element that we’re keen to preserve. Our events programme this year works to amplify queer voices and talent in the region, giving all of our performers and artists a platform where they can comfortably showcase their artistry.”
To launch their new or elevated concepts, each artist will exhibit at a Newcastle venue in the lead up to pride weekend, starting from this Saturday 6 July.
GIRLS THEYS & SLAYS POP UP CHOIR
Date: Saturday 6 July – 12:00
Location: Discovery Museum, Blanford Square
Tickets: Free Event
Maya Torres, Rhian Jade, Rosie Bowden and the Girls, Theys and Slays Choir are thrilled to be sharing their first original song thanks to the ‘Get Ready Grant’ they received as part of this year’s commissions. The aim is to create a larger sense of identity as a group and promote growth by creating a community that encourages local people to get involved.
QUEER BODIES ARE HOLY
Date: Saturday 6 July – Thursday 11 July
- Sat 6 19:00-21:00
- Sun 7 10:00-15:00
- Mon 8 – Thu 11 13:00 -18:00
Location: Grainger Market, 11 Clayton Street
Tickets: Free Exhibition
An exhibition that features over 20 new works by artist and life model Emory Southwick (they/them), including digital art, gouache and acrylic paintings, and oil pastel drawings. These works capture the diversity of the queer population of the North East and celebrate how beautiful these bodies are in bright and colourful art.
QUEER LIFE DRAWING
Date: Sunday 7 July – 16:00
Location: Grainger Market, 11 Clayton Street
Tickets: Free Event – Registration Required
A life drawing class working exclusively with models on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, led by artist Emory Southwick, this event is open to everybody but space limited and registration required.
MISS SANDY BEACH
Date: Monday 8 July 18:30
Location: Prohibition Cabaret Bar 25-27 Pink Lane
Tickets: Free Showcase – Registration Required
When Nicola was ten she was crowned Miss Sandy Beach. It was the best moment of her life and now she’s going to recreate it and you’re all invited! A new concept from the talented Alison Carr, creating a space to work collaboratively with other local artists to explore a new idea.
MURAL OF QUEER EXCELLENCE
Date: from Wednesday 10 July
Location: Cross Street, Charlotte Square
Tickets: Free Public Exhibition
A collection of queer icons by IDa4 made from hand cut stencils and spray paint. Celebrating the diversity and the contribution of the queer community.
IPHATHI KUBANTU
Date: Friday 12 July 19:30 (club night from 21:00)
Location: The Lubber Fiend, 81 Blanford Street
Tickets: Get tickets – £0-£7.50
Iphathi (party) Kubantu (to the people) brings musical flavours from South Africa from Amapiano, Gqom, Tech-House & more. Brought to life by multi-talented dancer and DJ Azula Bandit, who aims to encourage and inspire through cultural representation and self-expression. The event opens with a showcase from Azula and friends with tickets pay as you feel. And then later into the evening Iphathi Kubantu will transform The Lubber Fiend into a new club night fusing culture and experiences together with musical flavours from South Africa from Amapiano, Gqom, Tech-House & more
Sorry, Are You Lost?
Date: Wednesday 17 July 17:00 (relaxed performance) 19:00
Location: Dance City, Temple Street
Tickets: Free Showcase – Registration Required
A dance theatre work that will take you on a personal rollercoaster ride exploring the ups and downs of motherhood, queer identity, loss and visibility from the incredibly talent mind of Jenny Chrisp. A sharing of Sorry, Are You Lost? in its early stages of development followed by a Q&A with audience members.
These events feature as part of a wider programme of exciting satellite events, designed to celebrate the wonderfully vibrant queer community, the valuable impact they have on society and the richness of their talents. Events are running across July from 5-21, in the lead up to Pride in the City: https://www.northern-pride.com/post/northern-pride-announces-exciting-satellite-events-as-part-of-this-year-s-pride-in-the-city
The main event, which will take place over the weekend of 19 -21 July, has moved from the Town Moor to various locations across Newcastle. The Pride Arena, at Central Park in Times Square, will host Drag icons, 90s favourites, top DJs, leading tribute acts and local stars for this year’s new-look Northern Pride. Across the city, the Curious Arts Stage will take over Northern Stage, and the Family and Youth activities will consume the newly renovated Assembly Rooms, and the vibrant market stalls will take over the streets surrounding Greys Monument and Old Eldon Square, truly encompassing a city-wide take over.