Canal Street Online Manchester

Award-winning Dibby Theatre launch fundraising drive for LGBTQ+ people this pride month

Award-winning Dibby Theatre launch fundraising drive for LGBTQ+ people this pride month

The LGBTQ+ Community Arts Fund will support the company’s ambitions to make Manchester a thriving hub for LGBTQ+ audiences, participants, creatives, producers and backstage crew.

If successful, the £5k Crowdfunder will allow Dibby to kickstart the delivery of their community outreach activity and LGBTQ+ inclusive talent development programme for 2022-23 whilst allowing the company to fundraise the £55k total.

Co-Artistic Director Chris Hoyle says:

“Dibby is more than just a theatre company. The show certainly doesn’t end when the curtain comes down, in fact the party has just begun! 

“The LGBTQ+ Community Arts Fund supports our ambitions to put access and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. All donations, no matter how small, will not only directly contribute to our programmes, but also help us to continue fundraising, increasing the impact of our work.”

The LGBTQ+ Community Arts Fund supports sustainable careers for LGBTQ+ people and tackles intersectional and intergenerational isolation and exclusion by creating inclusive spaces away from clubs and bars.

Following on from successful pilot projects, Dibby Theatre have developed the programme in response to feedback and consultation with the LGBTQ+ community. Research shows:

·       1 in 3 LGBTQ+ people who live in urban areas never visit an LGBTQ+ specific venue or event*

·       1 in 3 LGBTQ+ people have faced discrimination or feel unwelcome at LGBTQ+ venues or events*

·       And over 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ people have hidden their sexuality or gender identity at work*

*(Stonewall LGBT in Britain, 2018)

The LGBTQ+ Community Arts Fund will support a range of community outreach and talent development activity including:

First Dibs: LGBTQ+ paid talent development for creatives, producers, and backstage crew

Free workshops and creative activities for LGBTQ+ people

Championing best practice for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the arts

Free tickets for LGBTQ+ people to see Dibby’s shows.

Set up by Artistic Director duo Nathaniel Hall (First Time, It’s A Sin) and Chris Hoyle, Dibby Theatre has quickly made its mark locally and nationally as a company that supports LGBTQ+ inclusivity.

Co-Artistic Director Nathaniel Hall says:

“Chris and I set Dibby up to tell our own stories, now we want to give back. The LGBTQ+ Community Arts Fund allows us to embed opportunities for LGBTQ+ people throughout all our work both on and off the stage.

“Despite advances, LGBTQ+ people still often feel unwelcome or unsafe to engage with public life, particularly trans people, people with disabilities and those from the global majority. At Dibby, we believe that arts and culture can offer a more inclusive and welcoming place for our community to heal, grow, learn, connect and develop resilience.

“And that's why we're passionate about creating industry leading LGBTQ+ talent development opportunities and top-quality community events for LGBTQ+ people through our Community Arts Fund.”

The link for the crowdfunding page is here:

Published: 9-Jun-2022: (6665)

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