GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts Festival 09 came to a celebratory close on 22 November and the feedback from GFest 09 was overwhelmingly encouraging. Watch the GFest 09 showcase here.
Full programme info on : http://www.gaywisefestival.org.uk.php
London’s premier LGBT cross-arts festival, GFest is a platform for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and queer artists, organisations and venues to promote LGBT and queer arts. Organised by arts charity Wise Thoughts, GFest features queer artists and talent across the arts, including visual arts, theatre, dance and performance, LGBT short films, debates, workshops and parties.
GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts Festival 09 came to a celebratory close on 22 Nov. And GFest 10 preparations carried on full steam from yesterday. There was a lot to celebrate & enjoy in GFest 09 and the general feedback was very encouraging. For the audiences of GFest 09, London’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgenger) and queer arts fest for all, artists flying into London from USA to Neatherlands, sold-out nights and standing ovation were some of the special moments. Majority of LGBT & queer artists sent a feedback saying how much they enjoyed and they are looking forward to the next year’s activities.
Key learning points will be fed back into festival activities and its organisation and we are happy to get such a positive response. Particularly, broader coverage of the festival by travel & tourism sector is one such remarkable development this year. British Airways, Eurostar, Best Western Hotels, Red Carnation Hotels, Visit London, Visit Britain coverage for GFest 09 was a great help and encoraged tourists to attend the festival. Several Blogs and online networks & social media news covered the festival news throughout its duration. Apart from London based LGBT and mainstream media sources, GFest 09 news was covered in Norway, Spain, Italy, Japan and several international online event review websites.
Niranjan Kamatkar, artistic director of GFest commented, “For me, a standing ovation after the much awaited Mavin Khoo performance on Friday was the star moment of this year’s festival. I think all the GFest 09 artists worked very hard & contributed to the festival with their best artistic abilities to send a common message – Stamp Out Homophobia. A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL – GFest 09 artists, funders, media, community partners, supporters, audiences and several thousands LGBT community members who helped us and made GFest 09 possible in these particularly challenging economic times.”
Watch this space & GFest online networks for further news and developments of GFest 10 in November 2010.
WISE THOUGHTS – Arts charity that organises GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts Festival ( known as GFest in short) in London.
The recent incidents of increased homophobic attacks & post the temporary setback to gay rights movement in Maine, it is time to tackle hidden homophobia that exists in society.
Lesbian, Gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have seen the benefits of the relatively recent human rights achievements. Civil Partnerships or unions in UK and Europe (and gay marriages in some countries), some equal rights to access the general services, hate crime protections, these are a few notable examples. But it has been a victory not yet fully won.
Full social acceptance is still slow to follow & wider religious acceptance is still hard to come by.
Against this backdrop, some social issues, that have their reasoning in cultural differences, need to be tackled through cultural means.
Several artists, straight or gay, have been exploring themes around their sexuality for a long time.
It is more relevant now because LGBT artists exploring their sexuality related issues, artistic sensibilities and gender issues, help us to be diverse & truly inclusive societies. Exploring some experiences of say, gay adoption, gay parenting, confident young queer sexuality in schools (or in playgrounds) and in workplaces have a greater relevance today through their artistic, cultural & social expressions.
‘LGBT arts for All’ is still an ongoing development and we need to work towards it for all the time.
GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts Festival opens next week (9 – 22 Nov). It is an opportunity for all of us to engage in the festival activities. From last year’s audience feedback (based on 1000+ responses), over 30% said they were straight. This is a welcomed change that allows greater engagement with the mainstream. GFest, while offering a platform for LGBT & queer artists, is truly inclusive and open to all audiences who have an appreciation for both established and emerging talent offering greater and ever-expanding artistic content.
Artists, who can be seen as ‘street-fighters’ can do this in a ‘responsible & responsive way.’ They do need to feel free to express themselves, or their sexuality, or their sexual identity through their chosen medium – and their work can be open for wider public enjoyment.
Welcome to GFest 09. Full programme on : www.gaywisefestival.org.uk & see you along with your friends and potential friends at the various events.
We are proud to announce 2009 programme of GFest short films screenings @ Rich Mix. GFest – gayWise LGBT arts Festival is London’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) cross-art festival.
GFest 09 Short Films Screenings: 13 / 14 / 15 November 2009 / 7.30 PM / £8 / £6 concs/ Box Office: 020 7613 7498 / Online Booking: http://bit.ly/16H7rO
Film Screening details: http://www.gaywisefestival.org.uk/filmscreening.php
Rich Mix Cinemas, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA.
Many thanks & see you at GFest 09 Short Films Screenings.
Many thanks & see you at GFest 09 Performances. Niranjan Kamatkar – Artistic Director & GFest 09 Team WISE THOUGHTS / GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts Festivalwww.wisethoughts.org / www.gaywisefestival.org.uk +44 (0) 20 8889 9555
Post GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts Festival 09 Launch at the Houses of Parliament, the news is spreading like wildfire through London’s online community and LGBT networks.
London’s LGBT arts festival for all, GFest, runs from 9 to 22 Nov in venues across the UK capital.
Thanks to various travel, news, hospitality links and help from London’s LGBT community members GFest 09 is set to attract an exciting audience turn out.
GFest 09 Visual Arts Exhibition @ McKenzie Paivilion in Finsbury Park, GFest 09 Short Film Screenings @ Rich Mix and GFest Performances @ Cochrane Theatre are some of the key events apart from arts workshops, film cafes & parties happening around the city.
For full programme & booking (links) please check: http://www.gaywisefestival.org.uk
Hope to see you all with your present friends and ‘would be’ friends at GFest 09 events.
Niranjan Kamatkar – Artistic Director & GFest 09 team
GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts Festival, London’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) cross-art festival was launched on Monday 26th October at the Houses of Parliament. Hosted by David Lammy, MP, GFest 09 launch was attended by Ministers, Members of Parliament, Deputy Mayor of London Richard Barnes, GFest 09 artists and other dignitaries.
GFest artistic director Niranjan Kamatkar commented, “The very next day of the delightful GFest 09 launch, we also had an ‘LGBT arts and Culture for All’ seminar sponsored by Equality & Human Rights Commission on 27th October. The seminar panel included experts from Strategy and Policy fields, organisation such as BFI and Arts Council England. It was great to see so many distinguished people supporting the festival, the artists and their ideas.”
GFest 09 runs in various venues across London during 9 to 22 November.
Please visit or full festival programme & contacts: www.gaywisefestival.org.uk Niranjan Kamatkar – Artistic Director & GFest 09 team
We are proud to announce 2009 programme of GFest Performances @ Cochrane Theatre. GFest – gayWise LGBT arts Festival is London’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) cross-art festival.
Niranjan Kamatkar – Artistic Director & GFest 09 Team
WISE THOUGHTS / GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts Festival
www.wisethoughts.org / www.gaywisefestival.org.uk
RT @se1: The South Bank & Bankside Cultural Quarter is looking for an Executive Coordinator/Consultant http://bit.ly/6fY17b------------------------------2 days ago
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