Thu 10 Nov 2016 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
With the Auckland Pride Festival just over three months away, the Pride team are looking to make next year’s festival culturally diverse and more accessible to everyone. Registrations are now open and the Auckland Pride team are encouraging involvement from a range of communities this year, including youth. “We wish to work with Takatāpui Māori, Pacific and Asian artists and communities to make the cultural diversity that makes Tāmaki Makaurau such a great place to live more visible within Auckland Pride,” says Co-chair of the Board Kirsten Sibbit. “We’d like the 2017 Auckland Pride Festival to create safe spaces in which our LGBTIQ+ communities can discuss and progress the issues that are important to them today – whether that takes place in an art gallery or theatre, in a local park, on the street, on a dance floor, online, or all over Ponsonby Road! “We are especially keen to work with emerging artists and youth groups to encourage innovation, and to develop our local capacity to produce and promote events for younger LGBTIQ+ audiences.” She says with event registration now open, communities are only limited by their imagination. “The Auckland Pride Festival is inclusive by nature, so we’re looking to support pretty much every kind of event that our creative and diverse communities can dream up!” With concerns regarding the cost of the Pride Parade having been raised at past community forums, this year the Parade Producers have advised that the 2017 fee are set at the same level as 2016. “There are two minor changes to the conditions that will encourage more participation – no extra charge for large walking groups from the Rainbow communities, where no motorised vehicle is involved; and clarification ofthe registration fees applicable for small-to-medium enterprises,” says Sibbit. “If you want change, you have to make it happen – right? Whether you’re an artist or performer, event organiser or audience member, volunteer or participant, exhibition curator or exhibitionist! Get out and amongst it. Support your community, make new friends, and make a difference in your neighbourhood.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 10th November 2016 - 9:50am