A major photography exhibition has been commissioned as yet another new addition to the Liverpool Pride Festival 2016 programme. Organisers at Liverpool Pride have announced they are delighted to collaborate with the dynamic LOOK team, organisers of the biennial Liverpool International Photography Festival, using funding received from the Arts Council of England.
Together, Liverpool Pride and LOOK are inviting people to send in photographs in support of this year’s Liverpool Pride Festival 2016 theme – Liverpool Icons. The call is to encourage images that represent Liverpool, tolerance and community, which epitomise lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer icons, lives, participation in past Prides and connection to the city.
The images may be surprising, moving or hilarious. They can be abstract renderings, portraits or even buildings that have been at the centre of LGBT debate. We are particularly keen on images that present people or ideas that have broadened perspectives and helped to diversify the cultural scene in the city and beyond
The images will form a curated, public work, available for all to see, demonstrating a city that is proud, connected, creative and caring. The public exhibition will be shown on Thomas Steers Way, in Liverpool ONE and will launch on 23rd July and run to 14th August. Wider presentations using additional images will take place throughout the festival.
The call opened on 22 April 2016 and will run until 10 June 2016. For more information, terms and conditions and to download an application form, please use the link lookphotofestival.com/exhibitions/liverpool-icons
Liverpool Pride Festival 2016 offers a week-long programme which culminates with a two-day event on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st July. It takes place in a new, more prominent position in the St George’s Quarter and features the well-established Liverpool Pride March on the Saturday.
Michael Carey, from Liverpool Pride Festival, said:
“We are really excited to be working with LOOK to deliver a fantastic opportunity for local people to participate and get involved in a unique photography project that will celebrate LGBT culture and all things Scouse. The public realm installation will showcase this work and we encourage City residents and tourists alike to take time to visit and enjoy this unique and iconic art installation as a precursor to attending our main event on 30th and 31st July in the St George’s Quarter. This is one of a series of new creative and participatory projects that is helping shape the look of Liverpool Pride Festival 2016 and in particular our thanks go to the Arts Council who have played an important role in helping to make this and other creative partnerships a reality.”
‘Liverpool Icons’ Exhibition Project Director, Emma Smith added:
“Tolerance and community are the staples of our existence and a very real feature of Liverpool’s character, development and growth. We are excited about the possibilities the exhibition brings with it. We can’t wait to see what the creative people of Liverpool – and beyond – interpret as iconic and the artistic ways in which they demonstrate this. Curating the submissions will be fascinating. It is a privilege to be working with Liverpool Pride and to be a part of its continued success.”
LOOK’s Liverpool Icons is the latest addition to the Liverpool Pride Festival 2016. Other new initiatives for 2016 include ‘What’s Your Pride Story’ in partnership with Writing On The Wall. ‘Dress With Pride’ to encourage customer facing businesses to dress up during the week of Pride to help raise funds for the Liverpool Pride charity; and ‘Come Out Of The Shadows’, a campaign to see the city’s iconic venues lit in the Pride rainbow colours in a bid to make Liverpool the most visibly LGBT friendly city in the UK, this is supported by the Police Commissioner’s Fund as a Hate Crime initiative.
As always, the festival coincides with the anniversary of murdered gay teenager Michael Causer, who tragically lost his life on 2 August 2008. The Liverpool Pride festival was specifically created in his memory as a way to celebrate his life and to empower the LGBT communities.
Liverpool Pride Festival is now a key highlight in the city’s Summer events programme, attracting more than 25,000 people each year to attend, take part and support the annual LGBT festival.
Keep up to date with Liverpool Pride’s new announcements at:
Website www.liverpoolpride.co.uk
Facebook LiverpoolPride
Twitter @LiverpoolPride
Photo Credit: Jeb Smith