Post by michele cryer on Aug 21, 2004 2:32:07 GMT
Welcome to this month's issue of the QueerupNorth newsletter...as well as a report on the now charitable status of the organisation, it contains links to events taking place in Manchester over the next 10 days, to celebrate Manchester Pride...
We’re here! we’re queer! And we ARE a charity!
Well it took longer than we expected, but queerupnorth is now a registered charity – number 1105510! We’d planned to have this sorted months ago, but our application was delayed due to several issues – one of which, rather surprisingly, was the ‘Q’ word. So, If you’re looking for us in the registry, you’ll find us listed under our company name, IQUN Ltd and not the name you know us by, queerupnorth . Seems our friends over at the Charities Commission aren’t as fond of our name (based on the old ‘It’s queer up north” expression) as we are - and irrespective of the work that queerupnorth does, and the broad acceptance of ‘queer’ as a concept AND an identity (not to mention Queer Eye, Queer as Folk, etc) we were informed that the name ‘queerupnorth ’ was capable of ‘giving offence to persons of average sensibility’(sic). We didn’t know whether to laugh or cry! Ironically, queerupnorth does appear three times on the registry – in our address, email, and website! Having spent nearly fifteen years challenging perceptions and educating people to the possibilities of lesbian, gay and queer culture and experience, we are ever aware that our work is not finished!
Charitable status is great news, and will benefit our work tremendously – and allow us to access additional funding from numerous Trusts and Foundations, as well as to claim Gift Aid on donations from individuals (that’s YOU!) For every £1 you donate we can claim an additional 28p via the Inland Revenue’s Gift Aid Scheme. So a donation of £10 becomes £12.80 to us, and £100 becomes £128 etc. And since delays in achieving charitable status have meant delays in achieving income from new sources, we are already behind on our income targets towards next year’s festival. So if you can help us out, then GIVE, GIVE, GIVE! (secure online donations at www.paypal.com directed to donate@queerupnorth.com or email our Fundraising Manager, jan@queerupnorth.com for more information).
queerupnorth05 International Arts Festival
A lot of work to be done still, and a lot of funds to raise, but efforts are well underway for queerupnorth ’s return to festival next year. queerupnorth is evolving, and growing, and while we will continue to bring best of UK and international queer arts to the city, expect to see more community involvement, opportunities to participate in workshops and projects, and a stronger focus on developing and platforming the work of queer artists in the city and region – we’ve got a lot of talent right on our doorstep! You can also expect a broader range of performances and events taking place all over the city – inside, outside, and in large and small venues (perhaps the smallest exhibition space in the world?!). We have a new Artistic Director, Jonathan Keane, who will be joining us in October (more about that in our next newsletter), and a new Chief Executive, John Malpass, who’s been with queerupnorth for seven years (many of you will know from his former role of Administrative Director). And collectively we’ve got a new vision, new ideas, and a commitment to make queerupnorth the biggest celebration of queer culture in the world -- placing Manchester at the centre of the queer universe! Next year’s programme of events remains under wraps (we’ll start giving you hints later on in the year) but pencil 5th - 28th May 2005 into your diary for now – you won’t want to miss it!
Expect monthly updates from now on – next edition will be late September.
In the meantime, don’t miss...
Manchester Pride
It all kicks off today with ten starry days and nights of sport, film, arts & entertainment, heritage, parade, debate and partying, providing a diverse festival to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life. Key events include a visit from the Queer Storytelling Festival on Saturday 21 August at Manchester's greenroom; the Key 103 Manchester Pride parade on Saturday 28 August - a loud and proud carnival celebration through the city centre; the Big Weekend celebrations in the Gay Village with 62 hours of partying and entertainment from 10pm Friday 27 August - midnight Monday 30 August; and the closing HIV Candlelit Vigil to remember and celebrate the lives of those affected by HIV.
To find out a full listing of events, visit www.manchesterpride.com
********************************************************************************
and as part of Manchester Pride,
the greenroom will be presenting a range of events
info@greenroomarts.org
www.greenroomarts.org
Queer Story Telling Festival
Saturday 21 August Workshop 3pm, Performance 8pm
Celebrating Queer life stories from beyond Manchester’s straight and narrow, and bringing together a host of known, new and never before heard queer storytellers from all backgrounds to share their experiences. If you’re interested in contributing a story or participating in the workshop, contact stories@qsf.org.uk or call 07981 944 1680. No previous experience at storytelling is required.
Chloe Poems’ The Big Scary Poo Monster
greenroom Funday Sunday @ Manchester Pride Picnic (Sackville Park)
Sunday 22 August Performances at 2pm and 3.30pm
Chloe’s delightfully self-affirming tale of a young boy, bullied at school, who learns a few lessons in life from the Big Scary Poo Monster. There’s also a workshop where children and adults can create a life-sized self-portrait.
A:Gender
Transaction Theatre Company
Friday 27 August
A:Gender reports from the frontline of the multi-billion dollar sex-change industry. Whether an appointment at a doctors’ surgery or a visit to a public toilet, diverse stories take the audience to the heart of so-called gender dysphoria. Conceived, developed and performed by Manchester’s Joey Hateley, A:Gender sold out at Contact Theatre and London’s Oval House earlier this year
Black Angel
Saturday 28 August
10pm ‘til late
Black Angel is a culturally diverse lesbian & Gay RnB and Bhangra club nite for queer divas and non-believers. Club DJs are mixed with musicians, poets rub shoulders with dancers and performers collide with the freshest visual artists from the gay community.
Tickets/Information for all greenroom events: 0161 615 0500
********************************************************************************
To join queerupnorth’s mailing list
call 0161 833 2288 or subscribe at the website
www.queerupnorth.com
********************************************************************************
queerupnorth is funded by
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
and Manchester City Council
We’re here! we’re queer! And we ARE a charity!
Well it took longer than we expected, but queerupnorth is now a registered charity – number 1105510! We’d planned to have this sorted months ago, but our application was delayed due to several issues – one of which, rather surprisingly, was the ‘Q’ word. So, If you’re looking for us in the registry, you’ll find us listed under our company name, IQUN Ltd and not the name you know us by, queerupnorth . Seems our friends over at the Charities Commission aren’t as fond of our name (based on the old ‘It’s queer up north” expression) as we are - and irrespective of the work that queerupnorth does, and the broad acceptance of ‘queer’ as a concept AND an identity (not to mention Queer Eye, Queer as Folk, etc) we were informed that the name ‘queerupnorth ’ was capable of ‘giving offence to persons of average sensibility’(sic). We didn’t know whether to laugh or cry! Ironically, queerupnorth does appear three times on the registry – in our address, email, and website! Having spent nearly fifteen years challenging perceptions and educating people to the possibilities of lesbian, gay and queer culture and experience, we are ever aware that our work is not finished!
Charitable status is great news, and will benefit our work tremendously – and allow us to access additional funding from numerous Trusts and Foundations, as well as to claim Gift Aid on donations from individuals (that’s YOU!) For every £1 you donate we can claim an additional 28p via the Inland Revenue’s Gift Aid Scheme. So a donation of £10 becomes £12.80 to us, and £100 becomes £128 etc. And since delays in achieving charitable status have meant delays in achieving income from new sources, we are already behind on our income targets towards next year’s festival. So if you can help us out, then GIVE, GIVE, GIVE! (secure online donations at www.paypal.com directed to donate@queerupnorth.com or email our Fundraising Manager, jan@queerupnorth.com for more information).
queerupnorth05 International Arts Festival
A lot of work to be done still, and a lot of funds to raise, but efforts are well underway for queerupnorth ’s return to festival next year. queerupnorth is evolving, and growing, and while we will continue to bring best of UK and international queer arts to the city, expect to see more community involvement, opportunities to participate in workshops and projects, and a stronger focus on developing and platforming the work of queer artists in the city and region – we’ve got a lot of talent right on our doorstep! You can also expect a broader range of performances and events taking place all over the city – inside, outside, and in large and small venues (perhaps the smallest exhibition space in the world?!). We have a new Artistic Director, Jonathan Keane, who will be joining us in October (more about that in our next newsletter), and a new Chief Executive, John Malpass, who’s been with queerupnorth for seven years (many of you will know from his former role of Administrative Director). And collectively we’ve got a new vision, new ideas, and a commitment to make queerupnorth the biggest celebration of queer culture in the world -- placing Manchester at the centre of the queer universe! Next year’s programme of events remains under wraps (we’ll start giving you hints later on in the year) but pencil 5th - 28th May 2005 into your diary for now – you won’t want to miss it!
Expect monthly updates from now on – next edition will be late September.
In the meantime, don’t miss...
Manchester Pride
It all kicks off today with ten starry days and nights of sport, film, arts & entertainment, heritage, parade, debate and partying, providing a diverse festival to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life. Key events include a visit from the Queer Storytelling Festival on Saturday 21 August at Manchester's greenroom; the Key 103 Manchester Pride parade on Saturday 28 August - a loud and proud carnival celebration through the city centre; the Big Weekend celebrations in the Gay Village with 62 hours of partying and entertainment from 10pm Friday 27 August - midnight Monday 30 August; and the closing HIV Candlelit Vigil to remember and celebrate the lives of those affected by HIV.
To find out a full listing of events, visit www.manchesterpride.com
********************************************************************************
and as part of Manchester Pride,
the greenroom will be presenting a range of events
info@greenroomarts.org
www.greenroomarts.org
Queer Story Telling Festival
Saturday 21 August Workshop 3pm, Performance 8pm
Celebrating Queer life stories from beyond Manchester’s straight and narrow, and bringing together a host of known, new and never before heard queer storytellers from all backgrounds to share their experiences. If you’re interested in contributing a story or participating in the workshop, contact stories@qsf.org.uk or call 07981 944 1680. No previous experience at storytelling is required.
Chloe Poems’ The Big Scary Poo Monster
greenroom Funday Sunday @ Manchester Pride Picnic (Sackville Park)
Sunday 22 August Performances at 2pm and 3.30pm
Chloe’s delightfully self-affirming tale of a young boy, bullied at school, who learns a few lessons in life from the Big Scary Poo Monster. There’s also a workshop where children and adults can create a life-sized self-portrait.
A:Gender
Transaction Theatre Company
Friday 27 August
A:Gender reports from the frontline of the multi-billion dollar sex-change industry. Whether an appointment at a doctors’ surgery or a visit to a public toilet, diverse stories take the audience to the heart of so-called gender dysphoria. Conceived, developed and performed by Manchester’s Joey Hateley, A:Gender sold out at Contact Theatre and London’s Oval House earlier this year
Black Angel
Saturday 28 August
10pm ‘til late
Black Angel is a culturally diverse lesbian & Gay RnB and Bhangra club nite for queer divas and non-believers. Club DJs are mixed with musicians, poets rub shoulders with dancers and performers collide with the freshest visual artists from the gay community.
Tickets/Information for all greenroom events: 0161 615 0500
********************************************************************************
To join queerupnorth’s mailing list
call 0161 833 2288 or subscribe at the website
www.queerupnorth.com
********************************************************************************
queerupnorth is funded by
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
and Manchester City Council