Following a call from members of the local LGBT community, a group of volunteers and organisers have come together to pilot the first ever Stockton Pop-Up Pride!
Taking place across the town centre on Saturday 29 July, the event will see three venues come together to celebrate Pride with an array of rainbow fun for all ages.
Presented by LGBTQIA+ arts charity Curious Arts, in partnership with ARC Stockton, Wellington Square Shopping Centre and Stockton Globe, Stockton Pop-Up Pride will celebrate the Tees Valley’s LGBTQIA+ community through a variety of free and low cost activities.
ARC Stockton will host Curious Arts’ Creative Youth Challenge, inviting LGBTQIA+ teens to take part in free creative workshops led by theatre and creative learning charity, Mortal Fools. Bang your drum for Pride at Family Drumming Workshops led by Stockton Globe’s Creative Learning team and experience local theatremaker Audrey Cook’s debut show, Ricky The Itch.
Wellington Square will spring to life with Mini Pride, a pop-up celebration for ages 3-7 and their families with colourful arts, crafts and storytimes. Visitors will also be able to enjoy performances by Stockton’s Systemic Choir, the participants of the drumming workshops, and a Pop-Up Pride Market with stalls run by local LGBTQIA+ owned businesses and Pride supporters including Hart Gables and Sparkle Scene.
Whilst Stockton Globe hosts free Choir and DJ workshops for anyone wanting to sing-along or take to the decks. Take part in a calming Queer Yoga session with Mookaite, suitable for all bodies, and check out the Pride Live Stage at The Link! This will feature live DJ sets and performances from local musicians and drag talent from across the North East, including the iconic Miss Ophelia and a takeover by Free 2 B U.
“Stockton has often led the way with the values of inclusion in the region and having a Stockton Pride is well overdue and very much welcomed, Stay PROUD!” – Ellie Lowther, Stockton Pride planning committee
“We’re really excited to see a Pride event being developed and staged in Stockton. We’ve had a brilliant time working with Curious Arts to bring a range of LGBTQIA+ focused events to ARC in the past, and we can’t wait to be part of a Stockton-wide event” – Annabel Turpin, Chief Executive, ARC Stockton
“We’re thrilled to be working with the local community and much-loved venues to bring Pop-Up Pride to my hometown. It’s going to be a true celebration and we hope just the start of Pride in Stockton” – Phil Douglas, Curious Arts
With arts and crafts, creative workshops, live music and pop-up performances, there’s plenty to get involved in at Stockton Pop-Up Pride this July!
Stockton Pop-Up Pride is supported by Tees Valley Community Foundation, Arts Council England, Community Foundation for Tyne, Wear & Northumberland, Catalyst and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
Find out more at www.curiousarts.org.uk