Nottingham Queer Arts collective was first established in October 2021 by LGBTQA+ members of the Nottingham Playhouse youth board who saw a lack of safe spaces for likeminded peers.
Since their debut the collective has successfully conducted monthly meetings on the last Wednesday of every month.Each month brings a new disciple, new individuals and a new opportunity for existing members to develop individually in a space that allows them to express themselves freely.
Within this review I would like to focus on the most recent event; thus giving you an idea of the atmosphere the facilitators have been able to create.
The last week of may bought a theatre making workshop to (back) stage where members were able to step behind the curtain and uncover the realities and beauty of design. This was explored through a mock up gallery display and presentation of costume, props and everyday life as a designer.
The designer in question was Ivy Richards, a new found graduate of Nottingham Trent University who has worked on a variety of shows including the management of 2 major shows: Macbeth and Jingah.
The collaboration of a successful designer and chilled atmosphere that let members wander around freely to explore her work, before a structured Q&A was majorly successful as members were able to retrospectively learn and relax.
Overall, I believe the set up of the group was quintessential to the progression of Nottingham's creative corner that does not only have a place in pride month but within Nottingham as a whole.
This sounds like a amazing collective, and it's great how young people identified a need for a space and then made it happen!