A “gorgeously queer” new festival is coming to Oxford!
Local not-for-profit events company T(ART) Productions are putting on a brand new festival called T(ART) Pride from 1 – 24 July. The festival promises to be a fabulous month of workshops, performances, and social events for LGBTQIA+ people and their allies in Oxford.
T(ART) Pride asks its audiences to say goodbye to social norms, and say hello to self expression instead. From celebrating queer bodies at life drawing, to finding clothes that feel like the real you at a clothes swap and style workshop, this festival is about not just accepting yourself as you are, but celebrating it. Events also include an open mic night, cabaret shows, a gender neutral tango class, and a pride picnic.
Experience the magic of the London ballroom scene and learn to vogue with the UK Pioneering Father Jay Jay Revlon. Show your body some love at queer yoga, an hour of breath, movement and relaxation. Find gender-affirming clothes at G(end)er Swap. Share your story at Queer Voices. Try something new at Queerlesque. And come and see the iconic cabaret show OxPHWOARd, displaying powerful queerness in all its gorgeous, dazzling forms.
Offbeat Festival has given £1,000 of seed funding to help T(ART) Pride happen. The funds have been used to secure BSL interpreters for OxPHWOARd – Oxford’s best-loved cabaret show, offer paid performance slots at open mic night Queer Voices, and to put on a voguing dance class with the UK Pioneering Father Jay Jay Revlon.
The core team leading this festival are made up of transgender, neurodivergent, and/or disabled people, and the whole festival is centring underrepresented groups in the LGBTQ+ scene.
Chair of T(ART) Productions Anna Sturrock says “All of our events have a safe space policy so you can be your authentic self without fear. The events are all in accessible venues with detailed accessibility information on each event description. Intersectionality is a huge thing for us – we believe that queer experiences are hugely diverse, and that diversity deserves to be showcased and celebrated.”
T(ART) Pride is taking place across Oxford from 1 – 24 July. More information and tickets can be found on tartproductions.co.uk/tartpride.
Supported by Offbeat Festival and OU LGBTQ+ Society
