Liverpool's Homotopia - the only lesbian, gay, bisexual and
trans combined arts organisation in the north of England - has
returned for its eighth year.
The festival, which launches today, has been given a new lease of
life after being re-awarded three years funding following a
successful complaint to Arts Council England, last summer.
Gary Everett, Homotopia's Artistic Director, said at the time that
the decision was pivotal for the future of LGBT artistic expression
in Merseyside.
"I believe this funding acknowledges the exceptional quality of
the art we deliver and the valuable work we do to tackle Hate
Crime, bullying and prejudice through our award winning Project
Triangle," he said.
"With this support and the continuing support of Liverpool City
Council we can engage with more artists, writers, producers,
dancers and performers to reach new communities."
This year's program boasts five brand new commissions and four
world premieres which will be presented over thirty events across
the city, next month.
Two of the scheduled highlights include an Alternative Miss
Liverpool competition and a screening of the film Tomboy.
Throughout 2011 Homotopia has also presented a year long
exhibition of the work of iconic artist Tom of Finland in Turku,
Finland, European Capital of Culture 2011, presented a film in the
London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and won a community safety
award from Merseyside Police Authority.
Meanwhile, the city's youth education group Project Triangle
organised Liverpool's first ever Youth Hate Crime conference in
February, which took young LGBT people to Warsaw on a cultural
exchange.
