Homotopia | |
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Frequency | Annually in late October and November, some activities all year |
Location(s) | Liverpool, England and international |
Years active | 20 |
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]
History
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Homotopia_2004.png/240px-Homotopia_2004.png)
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.
Structure and governance
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):
- Jess Shannon (Chair)
- Daniel Kilbride (Deputy Chair)
- Darren Begley
- Joan Burnett
- Gillian Clotworthy
- Tabitha Lamb
- Sinéad Nunes
- Francesca Peschier
- Stephen Welsh
Additional staff include:
- Alex Ferguson - Executive Director
- Alice Holland - Festival Programmer
- Olivia Graham - Marketing and Development Manager
- Josiah Worth - Creative Partnerships Producer
- Jess Gallie-Daly - Marketing Officer
- Al Matthews - Finance Officer
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).
Past festivals
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] |
Gallery
-
Fenella Fielding, Homotopia 2015 launch at Camp and Furnace
-
World premiere of 'Savage Style', 2011 festival: Outfits worn by Lily Savage
-
The Liverpool Grand Vogue Ball, 2008 festival
-
An Evening With April Ashley, 2008 festival
-
Club Federation @ 2006 festival
-
Lady Sian @ The Lavender Club (Unity Theatre), 2004 festival
-
Homotopia 2004 Closing Party @ The Masque, Liverpool
Global impact of the festival
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Kulturhuset_2009.jpg/240px-Kulturhuset_2009.jpg)
Over the years, the Homotopia festival has forged links with groups and organisations around the world and its international work includes the following...
- Homotopia 2012, in association with the Finnish Consulate, developed a new human rights led project in St. Petersburg. 'Art As Social Change' chronicled the emergence of gay rights movements in the UK and Europe through photographs, testimonies and film.[58]
- Homotopia brought its Tom of Finland exhibition to Kulturhuset, Stockholm in June 2012.[59]
- In 2012, Homotopia launched the world's first IDAHO 50, a collaboration with 50 of Liverpool's leading companies, organisations and institutions to support action against Homophobia & Transphobia.[60]
- In 2011, Homotopia's Tom of Finland exhibition formed part of the official programme for Turku's European Capital of Culture year. It attracted a record audience of 90,000 to the Logomo space.[61]
- In November 2011, Tranny Hotel was held in Liverpool as part of the European-wide transgender arts festival. The city was one of only 11 cities in Europe to hold the event.[62]
- In December 2010, Homotopia produced a series of interventions, debates and research culminating with the Pansy Project in Istanbul, Turkey as part of its European Capital of Culture year. Hundreds of pansies were planted to symbolize the ongoing international struggle for LGBT rights and equality.[63]
- In 2009, 12 young people from Homotopia's Project Triangle went to Auschwitz and Warsaw to learn about the Holocaust. A group of young LGBTQ people from Poland's KPH travelled to Liverpool to learn from Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Liverpool City Council. The visit inspired a training programme for Polish police.[64][65]
References
- ^ "Homotopia". Arts Council England. Archived from the original on 9 January 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "Homotopia 2007 – Opens November 1st". ArtinLiverpool.com. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "Liverpool Homotopia Festival 2023". Gay Out. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ Louise Sardais. "Liverpool > Capital of Culture > Events > Homotopia". BBC Liverpool. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "Drag queens launch gayfest". Liverpool Daily Post. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "City hosts first Homotopia festival". Southport Reporter. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "Record Audience for Homotopia". liverpool08.com. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "Homotopia festival to double in size". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "Queer Conversation". BBC Liverpool. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ Christopher Brown. "Success for Homotopia". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ Andy Green. "New high at Homotopia; Out & About". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "Homotopia: Tom's Coming Home/Istanbul". Homotopia. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ Staff Writer (10 March 2010). "Ian McKellen backs Liverpool anti-homophobia effort". Pink News. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ Staff Writer (7 December 2010). "Homotopia and The Pansy Project go to Istanbul". Pink News. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ Catherine Jones. "Liverpool's Homotopia arts organisation takes Tom of Finland home for Turku's Capital of Culture". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ Andy Green. "Out & About". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ Natalie Woolman. "LGBT group succeeds in challenge against ACE funding decision". The Stage. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "NOW RECRUITING: CHAIR AND TRUSTEE for the UK's longest running LGBTQIA arts and cultural festival". Homotopia Festival. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "HOMOTOPIA". Companies House. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Staff". Homotopia Festival. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Homotopia Festival 2022 Launch Party". homotopia.net. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Homotopia Festival 2022". Culture Liverpool. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Homotopia Liverpool 2022: Full event guide". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ Danni King. "Homotopia Festival 2021: Full guide to this year's event". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ Vicky Andrews. "Coming Out - Homotopia 2021 will be 'loud, proud and extra fabulous'". Confidentials Liverpool. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ The Guide Liverpool. "Homotopia! is coming out as the festival returns for 2021". The Guide Liverpool. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ Eleanor Noyce. "Homotopia has just announced their 2021 lineup including Jade Anouka, Rosie Jones and Tabby Lamb". Diva Magazine. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ Homotopia Festival. "Homotopia Festival 2020 Round-Up". Homotopia. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ Uncover Liverpool. "Homotopia 2020". Uncover Liverpool. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Homotopia 2019 marks 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots". 2 September 2019.
- ^ Culture Liverpool. "Full programme announced for Homotopia". Culture Liverpool. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Potter, Gerry (28 October 2017). "While my mother grieved, noisy, bawdy Liverpool was my missing parent". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ homotopiafestival (6 November 2017), "Do You Mind If I Smoke…?" Memoirs of Fenella Fielding, retrieved 23 May 2018
- ^ homotopiafestival (13 November 2017), Maggi Hambling, In Conversation, retrieved 23 May 2018
- ^ Catherine Jones. "9 things that make this year's Homotopia one of Liverpool's most radical festivals". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Attitude Magazine. "Homotopia - Liverpool's gay arts and culture festival is back". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Kirsty McHale. "Art = Life: Homotopia 2015 line-up revealed". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Kate Pasola. "Liverpool Homotopia 2015: Preview". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Artlyst. "Homotopia Announces Events Line Up For 2014 Liverpool Festival". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Attitude Magazine. "Homotopia festival 2014 lineup revealed". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Confidentials Liverpool. "Homotopia 2013 - full listings". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Sinead Nunes. "Big Name Line-up for Homotopia's 10th Birthday Bash". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Liverpool Express. "Homotopia back for 2012". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Michael Langan. "Homotopia Festival 2012". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Pink News. "Liverpool: LGBT arts festival gets underway". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ "Homotopia 2011 festival listings". Homotopia. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "Homotopia's seventh sizzling year". ArtinLiverpool.com. 24 October 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "Homotopia 2009". ArtinLiverpool.com. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "LIVERPOOL'S GAY FESTIVAL HAS VERVE AND VOGUE". ArtinLiverpool.com. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ Caroline Innes. "Queer Culture Festival aims to highlight city's life of variety". Liverpool Daily Post. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ Simon Moffatt. "Liverpool's Homotopia". BBC Liverpool. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ Catherine Jones. "HAPPY GAYS ARE HERE AGAIN; Homotopia festival will be biggest ever". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "Hundreds celebrate queer culture". liverpool08.com. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "HOMOTOPIA BEGINS". Southport Reporter. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "Homotopia Festival 2". BBC Liverpool. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ Andy Green. "Out & About: All hail to Homotopia". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ Catherine Jones. "HOLLY'S BACKING OUR GAY FESTIVAL". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ Andy Green. "Out & About". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ "Home / Calendar / Tom of Finland". Kulturhuset. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ "IDAHO UK: Liverpool". Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ "Kulturhuset Stockholm presents: Tom of Finland Retrospective". Tom of Finland Foundation. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ "Liverpool opens Tranny Hotel for Europe-wide arts festival". Creative Times. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ Staff Writer (7 December 2010). "Homotopia and The Pansy Project go to Istanbul". Pink News. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ Emma Marvin. "'First Prominent Polish campaigner is Homotopia's special guest". PinkPaper.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ "Homotopia HMD Pink & Black Triangle Wreath Laying Ceremony". Seen Mag. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2012.