Superbia spotlight series

Visual art, dance, mental health, music and drag form a series of original pieces created by Manchester based artists in the midst of the 2020 global pandemic.

Superbia, the year-round programme of arts and culture from Manchester Pride, continues to provide support to diverse creative LGBTQ+ projects across Greater Manchester, including Superbia Spotlight which has commissioned original work from 11 Manchester LGBTQ+ artists. 

The charity received emergency funding from Arts Council England earlier this year so that it could continue its vital work to support the many artistic communities within the region. 

Part of the Arts Council England funded output is the Superbia Spotlights programme which has commissioned original work from 11 Manchester LGBTQ+ artists as part of the LGBTQ+ charity’s aim to continue to support artists and the LGBTQ+ community throughout the year, even during the challenging times due to the pandemic. 

Work from the local artists is currently already live with new pieces forthcoming, the full programme can be found here: https://superbia.org.uk/superbia-spotlights

Mark Fletcher, chief executive for Manchester Pride, said; “It is important that during a time of huge stress and worry for LGBTQ+ people everywhere we are able to continue to support the communities that need us. After postponing the Manchester Pride Festival until 2021, the charity is going to face greater pressures financially, so grants such as this one from Arts Council England are absolutely vital.

“Arts and culture has already, and will continue to be, hugely damaged by the pandemic and we know that new LGBTQ+ talent will suffer disproportionately.  It is hugely important to us that Superbia continues to offer support to LGBTQ+ artists and to provide a platform to ensure that their work is seen.  The Superbia Spotlights initiative is a diverse and interesting volume of work bringing forward many conversations that must continue even in lockdown.”

The full line-up of commissioned artists includes: 

Finley Letchford-Dobbs, ‘Seize & Hold’, a young trans dancer explores the early days and emotions of lockdown through dance in this self-filmed and choreographed work: https://youtu.be/G0IBNFCZ_WQ. 

Hanaa Car, visual artist Hanaa discusses history, health and heritage and how it informs her creative work in this insightful artist film: https://youtu.be/whFbK31LU88

Ethan Foxon, ‘Queering mental healthcare’, Ethan’s article explores the roots and complex relationship of the LGBTQ+ community to mental health and treatment:

https://superbia.org.uk/blog/2020/9/22/queering-mental-healthcare-by-ethan-foxon

David Hon Ma Chu, ‘Flag Race’, David’s drag alter-ego Eva Serration reflects on racism in the LGBTQ community and the changing Pride flag in this educational and moving short: https://youtu.be/lCdA5UCJYU8.

Forthcoming artists include, Musician, Jova and the Wave, solo musician Jova presents an original song and music video produced especially for Spotlights, Live artist and poet, Maya Chowdhury, Maya records a selection of poems to be recited a t random through a special phone number, bringing people offline and into intimate performance via the simple telephone and Paul Fairweather, a short film by Manchester community legend Paul will focus on his incredible archive of materials relating to early gay liberation activism in the city.

Other artists includes, Roma Havers, Roma’s radio play re-imagines the Mad hatter’s Tea party as a scene of queer community togetherness, Samuel Whitehouse, A short documentary looks at the ways that social media can create queer community online and even increase access and diversity, Sophie Broadgate, Accomplished filmmaker Sophie explores the often complex experience of being a bisexal-identified woman in a different-sex relationship and Juliet Davis, Artist Juliet invites people to experience nature together in a new socially-distanced way in an outdoor participatory work.

Superbia is Manchester Pride’s year long calendar of arts and culture.  This programme has established the charity as the leading organisation in Great Manchester with a focus on LGBTQ+ artistic and creative development, promoting, supporting, producing and commissioning arts activity.  It has recently been included in Greater Manchester’s Combined Authority Culture Fund Portfolio.

Manchester Pride has developed and commissioned a number of high-profile and pioneering arts events and projects as part of Superbia, for example working with Trans Creative to deliver the UK’s only transgender arts festival and initiating the UK’s first Day With(out) Arts with Visual AIDS New York for World AIDS Day.

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Published: 9-Dec-2020: (6075)