Wollongong celebrates LGBTQIA+ with Queer Arts Festival at Project Contemporary Artspace

The festival is the brainchild of Millicent Wheeler, 22, who wanted to create opportunities for everyone in the community – queer or straight – to come together and celebrate with music, art and performance.

Ms Wheeler, who’s studying a master of curation at UNSW, said the Illawarra lacked specific opportunities in the visual arts sector so took it upon herself to make one.

“I hope to connect to other queer artists and let other people know that we’re here, people with common interests, because I had no idea until I got to uni,” she said.

An art exhibition of various mediums – including painting, sculpture and interactive installations – was first to kick off the three week event on Wednesday, running until the second last weekend of July.

Illawarra singer-songwriter Leo will perform and talk about her experiences as a queer musician at the official festival opening on Saturday evening at PCA. 

Corrimal drag queen Roxee Horror, 27, has already signed up for the open mic evening on July 15 and said there was a dire need or more events like this in the region.

“It’s very important to have events like this to bring the gay community together, because as a young gay woman in the Illawarra it’s really hard to meet people,” she said.

Exhibiting artist Desiree Tahiri, 26, said events like these were important to increase the visibility of queer identities in the Illawarra.

Anyone who’s game can participate in the open mic if they’re a musician, poet, comedian, circus act and drag queen. While anyone from the community is welcome to attend any of the festival events.

Queer Arts comes to an end July 23 with a Queer Tea, something Ms Wheeler said is a high tea for the “quiet gays” – an opportunity for artists, LGBTQIA+ people and their supporters to chat over tea and snacks.

For more information visit www.projectgallery.com.au 

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