News / Bristol Pride
Pride arts trail celebrates LGBTQ+ artists in Bristol
2020 sees Bristol Pride going online, and, with that, organising new ways for the city’s LGBTQ+ community to celebrate their identities and talents.
The Bristol LGBTQ+ Arts Trail is creating space for queer artists to display their work and raise money for charity at the same time.
Organised by local photographer Keir Gravil and running until July 21 2020, the first Bristol Pride arts trail features seven artists, with each exhibit raising money for a different LGBTQ+ charity.
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The Phoenix, Old Market Tavern, Society Cafe, SS Great Britain Cafe and Cass Art are taking part, joined by legal companies DAC Beachcroft and Hargreaves Lansdown, which are displaying work at the businesses’ office buildings.
No entry into the exhibiting venues is required; all artworks are in the windows of the buildings, with a QR code directing to the donation pages for the seven charities being supported.
Darren Pickersgill’s photography “lets everyday guys explore the essence of who they are”. Photo: Lowie Trevena
Three photographers are taking part: Mark Small, who takes photos of buildings, Keir Gravil, whose work spans landscape, urban photography, street photography and photojournalism, and Darren Pickersgill, who runs Rogue Photography and specialises in portraiture of men, using contemporary photography to celebrate their personality, their individuality and their bodies.
Graham Johnson, producer for Closer Each Day Company and assistant producer at Kid Carpet, will be exhibiting queer-themed illustrations.
Aliyah Owen is a mixed media mosaicist, Dave Hall is a printmaker working with lino and screen printing, and Matthew Price practises in photography, illustration, mixed-media painting.
Graham Johnson creates queer-themed images. Photo: Lowie Trevena
“Given that life has been put on pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, the LGBTQ+ Arts Trail was borne from a desire to do something to help keep Pride going in July ahead of the virtual festival in September,” says Keir.
“Bristol Pride is an important date for the calendar, and LGBTQ+ people from Bristol and from around the country come to Bristol to celebrate.
“We have such a variety of artwork from photos to mosaics and amazing support from venues. It’s been a great effort from everyone and I hope people enjoy the art trail as much as I’ve enjoyed organising it.”
Bristol Pride are finding new ways to bring the city’s queer community together in wake of the coronavirus. Photo: Jack Joseph
The seven charities involved include Bristol-based Off The Record, which runs the LGBTQ+ group Freedom Youth, Bristol HIV charity Brigstowe and akt, a queer youth homelessness charity which has recently set up a hub in Bristol.
Funds for national charities Terrence Higgins Trust, Mind Out, Stonewall and Mermaids are also being raised.
Main photo: Lowie Trevena
Read more: Bristol Pride goes virtual for 2020
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