Author: Homotopia

QueerCore 2026 cohort: welcome!

We’re so excited to introduce the artists joining our QueerCore 2026 cohort, a brilliant group of LGBTQIA+ creatives bringing bold ideas, fresh perspectives and seriously exciting work into the year ahead.

This year’s cohort spans painting, textiles, performance, animation and more, and we can’t wait to support and uplift their practices over the coming months.

Running from April to December 2026, QueerCore is Homotopia’s artist development programme designed to support LGBTQIA+ creatives to grow, experiment and take their ideas further.

We work closely alongside each artist to shape the programme around what they need, whether that’s developing a project, testing new ideas, or building confidence in their practice. Just as importantly, QueerCore is about community: connecting artists with each other, with past cohorts, and with the wider network of creatives, producers and spaces we work with across Liverpool and beyond.

QueerCore is more than a programme, it’s a springboard for ideas.

Meet the artists:

Harry Garner (He/Him)

A Liverpool-based painter originally from rural Leicestershire, Harry creates figurative works that sit somewhere between narrative and mystery. Drawing on historical references, his paintings invite viewers to step in and make their own meaning, never offering easy answers, but always sparking curiosity.

Kiya Major (She/They)

Kiya is a multidisciplinary artist working across rug-making, illustration, animation and events. Their bold, playful work explores humour, failure and the grotesque, often through large-scale textiles bursting with colour and character. Alongside their practice, they run workshops and create spaces for others to get involved, bringing a vibrant, community-driven energy to everything they do.

Stephanie Trujillo (She/Her)

Stephanie is a multi-media artist exploring identity, belonging and healing through her Peruvian-German heritage. Working across painting, collage, photography and performance, her practice is deeply rooted in community, spirituality and connection to nature. Her work is both personal and powerful, holding space for reflection and growth.

No Funny Business (She/Her & She/Her)

No Funny Business is a theatre and comedy collective by Rachel Barry and Cordelia Stevenson. Blending clowning, drag and character comedy, they create playful, subversive performances built around a live connection with their audience. With years of experience across fringe theatre, this new collaboration feels fresh, exciting and full of potential.

Some words from Ashleigh Owen, our Development Producer:

I’m genuinely buzzing to welcome our 2026 cohort to the programme. They are such an inspiring group of artists who are already bringing fresh energy, curiosity, and ambition to Homotopia HQ. It’s clear they’re going to do incredible things this year, and I’m so excited to support them as they grow, challenge themselves and produce meaningful work. Their art forms and projects are vastly different from one another, and I can’t wait to see the ideas, collaborations, and confidence that emerge over the course of the programme.

We’re so proud to support this cohort as they develop their work across 2026. and we can’t wait to share what comes next. Follow along as their journeys unfold.

Read more about our QueerCore 2026 cohort here: https://www.homotopia.net/queercore/

Pride is a Trans Led Protest! is  back and bolder than ever before

Homotopia are delighted to announce on International Trans Day of Visibility that Pride is a Trans Led Protest! is back and bolder than ever before, and it isn’t going anywhere. 

Pride is a Trans Led Protest! curates work from transgender rights activists, community groups, grassroots activism, and trans and queer artists based in Liverpool and beyond placing at the centre a commemoration of the city’s queerness and community. The exhibition is both a curation and a document, placing 2025 in a hyper-local and global context, including the weeks following the Supreme Court ruling, the different protests and moments of visibility, and the longer histories of trans activism that culminated in Liverpool Pride which, for the first time in its history, was a trans led march. 

As an organisation, we stand firm in our commitment to celebrate the full diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community, without compromise, exclusion, or erasure. Postponing the exhibition, and finding this new venue and duration to exhibit, allows us to ensure that it can be presented in its entirety, in the way it was originally envisioned by the artists, contributors and collaborators involved: authentically, unapologetically, and with respect for the voices and experiences of trans people. 

Some words from our Executive Director: 

“On International Trans Day of Visibility, we’re proud to showcase trans artists, activists and communities in bringing Pride is a Trans Led Protest! back, and ensuring it has the space it deserves to be seen in full. LGBTQIA+ rights have been hard won, and trans people have been leading that fight for our freedoms for decades. I’m delighted to see that story launched today and I’m excited for people to engage with trans work beyond TDOV.” 

Homotopia would like to thank those who have contributed to this exhibition during its past and present version. Special thanks to curators Connie Frankish and Gary Needham. 

Be sure to catch the exhibition from the 23rd of April to the 8th of May at Lost Art, the exhibition is free for all to access, please note the exhibition is operating different opening times, 9am-6pm weekdays, 10am-6pm Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday. Join us at the exhibition opening event on the 23rd of April and make sure to keep an eye out for further activity surrounding the exhibition due to be announced soon. 

For more information, visit: https://www.homotopia.net/events/pride-is-a-trans-led-protest/

Graphic with a pink-to-blue gradient background announcing: "New Executive Director at Homotopia: Welcome Isobel!" Subtext reads: "With a career spanning LGBTQIA+ arts, international advocacy and large-scale public events, Isobel brings a bold and collaborative approach to cultural leadership." The Homotopia logo with the words "Art Activism" appears in the bottom right.

New Executive Director at Homotopia: Welcome Isobel!

Homotopia Appoints Isobel Stainsbury as New Executive Director

Homotopia, the UK’s longest‑running LGBTQIA+ arts festival, is delighted to announce the appointment of Isobel Stainsbury as its new Executive Director.
Isobel is a cultural leader, activist and champion of queer arts, working at the intersection of culture, community and human rights. Rooted in grassroots organising, her practice centres the power of queer‑led culture to challenge injustice, build connection and imagine new futures.

With a career spanning LGBTQIA+ arts, international advocacy and large‑scale public events, Isobel brings a bold and collaborative approach to cultural leadership. In her current role as Human Rights Coordinator at the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA), she works with Pride movements and international institutions to resist attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights and strengthen global queer solidarity.

Isobel is widely recognised for bringing extraordinary people together to create vibrant, ambitious queer spaces. She has led bold teams and produced major events that prioritise accessibility, protect the most marginalised, and celebrate the full diversity of LGBTQIA+ communities.

As Executive Director of Homotopia, Isobel will champion daring queer artists and further grow the organisation’s reputation as a vital international platform for queer culture.

Isobel says:

“I’m thrilled to be joining Homotopia at such an important moment for queer culture. Art has always been a powerful space for our communities to imagine new futures, challenge injustice and celebrate who we are. I’m really excited to work with artists, audiences and partners to build on Homotopia’s incredible legacy and keep pushing queer culture forward from Liverpool.”

Laura Hall & John Shortell Co-Chairs of the Board of trustees says:

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Isobel to Homotopia. Her vision, her integrity and her deep commitment to queer communities make her an exceptional leader for this next chapter. The Board was inspired by her bold thinking and her belief in the transformative power of queer arts. We’re confident that under her leadership, Homotopia will continue to grow as a fearless, joyful and internationally significant force for cultural change.”

Open Call: Fact x Homotopia Digital Artist Residences

We’re proud to be partnering with FACT on their 2026 Digital Artist Residencies, supporting emerging digital artists across the North West of England and North Wales! Digital artist? This one’s for you.

Since 2020, FACT’s residencies have supported over 20 early-career artists to create ambitious new digital work, from podcasts and games to live streams, performances and interactive artworks. With the opening of Studio/Lab in 2024, artists now benefit from an experimental production space at the heart of FACT, offering access to mentorship, technical equipment and strong creative partnerships across Liverpool, including us. For 2026, FACT will host three residencies focused on world-building and creative experimentation using Unreal Engine. Artists will receive structured technical workshops led by Lucid Games, alongside curatorial and creative mentoring from FACT and their partner organisations.

No prior experience with Unreal Engine is required.

FACT is seeking artists working across disciplines who are interested in world-building and creating digital artworks that give audiences agency to shape or alter narratives. The works developed during the residency will be presented on FACT’s Studio/Lab Exhibition Wall in Autumn 2026 and hosted online.

Artists can apply with an existing project or idea in development, it doesn’t need to be brand new.

For more information about eligibility, project timelines and how to apply, please visit: https://www.fact.co.uk/news/2026/03/open-call-2026-digital-artist-residencies

We’re excited to support this opportunity alongside FACT, Lucid Games, DaDa and others, and we can’t wait to see the bold, experimental worlds that emerge!

Homotopia x Open Door: T-Shirt Competition!

We’re delighted to announce that we’re teaming up with local Merseyside charity Open Door to present a special Pride Month t-shirt campaign, the competition will raise funds for both charities, providing the opportunity for a LGBTQIA+ creative aged 16 – 25 to submit a t-shirt design for print!

The theme for submissions is ‘Queer Joy’, and finding ways through peer support and positive action to protect the mental health and wellbeing of queer people. The design doesn’t need to include the Homotopia or Open Door logos – if you’d like to incorporate our names into the design, that is completely up to you.

Here are some general ideas to get you started, however we’d love you to do this in your style and with your own personal approach to the theme:

•What does queer joy mean to you in the current political climate?
•What spaces in Liverpool make you feel queer joy and acceptance?
•What people do you find your joy with?
•How finding queer joy can positively influence your mental health and wellbeing

We are offering a £250 prize to the winning design, and the deadline for submissions is 5pm on Monday 30th March. You will be notified of the outcome via email.

The winning t-shirt design will be promoted during pride month by Homotopia and Open Door Charity, and sold via Everpress, with all profits being split equally between charities to be used in the facilitation of their projects and programmes. We will aim to launch the campaign on Monday 18th May.

The requirements for the design are as follows:

– The maximum print area is 396mm width x 490mm height.
– Any colour included in your design (such as white backgrounds, for example) will be printed onto the garments. If you need help adding a transparent background, follow the step-by-step guide on the Everpress Creator Toolkit.
– Your artwork should be in PNG format, 300 DPI resolution, and max 10MB.
Please note that anything lower than 300 DPI will not be detailed enough. You can check the DPI on Photoshop by selecting ‘image’, then ‘image size’. Bear in mind that when a file is exported as a PNG (instead of being re-saved as a PNG) it automatically saves at 72 DPI, so be sure to ‘save as’ (not ‘export as’) when saving from Photoshop.

For more information about the competition, or to submit your design, please visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSca0ROdAyoWwYtM1JVh8Y77HkTOygUkU7tLAnZBATRA6kMz9w/viewform

Good luck – we can’t wait to see your designs!

The Pansy Project – call out for submissions!

In March, in association with Open Eye Gallery and Homotopia, Paul Harfleet will be returning to Liverpool to plant pansies at sites of homophobia and transphobia. Before he presents a talk and takes part in a Q&A session at Open Eye Gallery, he will host a ‘Planting Tour’. This gives a chance for participants to witness the artist planting and documenting the pansies at sites where a hate crime has occurred. On the day, a small selection of locations will be made within walking distance of the gallery; the participants will then return to the gallery for conversation. This unique experience is a community-affirming action of resistance and gentle protest that always generates a strange sense of joy, as those that attend share their stories and experiences. If you would like to attend the planting tour, visit the event page on our website to book your free place!

For this event, Harfleet is seeking further locations to mark with pansies that come directly from the local LGBTQIA+ community. If you have a location that you would like to be marked with one unmarked pansy planted at the location where an LGBTQIA+ hate crime has occurred, please get in touch.

Here’s the information you need to know:

– Supply the nature of the experience; this can be a quote from the assailant or a short description of what happened.
– Supply the exact location (postcode is useful); the artist will find the nearest source of soil to plant the pansy.

The subsequent photograph will be entitled after the quote or after what happened; this title should be as brief as possible. Locations can be supplied anonymously or on someone’s behalf.

To submit a location for Pansy planting, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebsG9OM9zLVKgZ_sM0r335gnev06O6ZWpN59u-oc_wBS4CBw/viewform

This event is in partnership with Open Eye Gallery.

This event is part of LOOK Climate Lab 2026, a biennial programme by Open Eye Gallery.

LGBTQIA+ dance artist or collective – this is for you!

Homotopia is proud to announce that we are co-commissioning the LGBTQIA+ strand of new dance commissions as part of the return of Leap Dance Festival later this year! Working in partnership with Culture Liverpool and Leap Dance Festival, this opportunity will support the creation of bold, exciting new dance work across Liverpool, with individual commissions ranging from £1,000 to £2,000.

The commissions will be awarded across three categories:

•Work by LGBTQIA+ artists (co-commissioned by Homotopia)
•Dance film commissions
•Community commissions working with global majority women

We are inviting dancers, dance artists and organisations based in, or working within, the Liverpool City Council area to apply. This programme offers an opportunity to develop new work that responds to communities, place and creative innovation, and we are particularly excited to support LGBTQIA+ artists through our co-commissioned strand. This opportunity is made possible thanks to support from UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF), Culture Liverpool, Liverpool City Council, in partnership with Leap Dance Festival, with Homotopia proudly co-commissioning the LGBTQIA+ element of the programme.

Key information:

•2-4 commissions are expected to be awarded
•Applicants must reside within the Liverpool City Council area, or demonstrate that the work will be created in or have a clear impact within the area

Timeline:

•Thursday 22 January: Applications open
•Thursday 26 February, 12 noon: Application deadline (late submissions will not be accepted)
•10-13 March: Applicants notified
•March-April: Making of work

To apply, please complete the application form and ensure you read the guidance carefully before submitting. The guidance is embedded within the application form.

Application form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_kzsGf-f-BUT1lW8jQtOpAWOjtdVmxUq6xVNi5eZ3XOtJxw/viewform

We can’t wait to see proposals from LGBTQIA+ artists and the wider dance community as Leap Dance Festival returns, and to supporting work that reflects the creativity, diversity and ambition of Liverpool’s dance scene – get your dancing shoes on!

QueerCore 2026 – Apply now!

We are delighted to announce that the applications for Homotopia’s 2026 QueerCore programme are now open!

Whether you’re a writer, performer, filmmaker, designer, musician or someone working across disciplines, QueerCore is here to help you connect, create and grow. QueerCore is Homotopia’s creative development programme for early-career artists and producers based in the Liverpool City Region, supporting artists since 2020.

Following their time with us, QueerCore alumni have gone on to work with the BBC; direct a play on the Everyman main stage, receive Arts Council England funding; win commercial commissions, and even star in a major Netflix show. Whilst part of the programme, many QueerCore alumni also received additional press coverage and an increase in their social media followers. We’re sure you’ll agree that the potential impact QueerCore can have on your career is really exciting!

Our 2026 programme will run from April – December and offers tailored support for LGBTQIA+ creatives in the region to grow, build connections, and develop new ideas. We will work with you to build a QueerCore programme that aims to meet your needs, and supports your developing project or idea. QueerCore is also about  building community: you’ll meet members of QueerCore  past and present, get to know the Homotopia team, and some of the artists, producers, and venues we work with in Liverpool and beyond.

Four artists/producers will be selected as our 2026 cohort and will receive:

· A £2000 grant to spend on developing a new project, idea or strand of work
· Mentorship sessions with an experienced artist relevant to your interests
· Access to creative workshops that aim to inspire and support your development
· Opportunities to connect with other local artists, creatives and producers
· A learning and development retreat with your mentor and our team
· A chance to present your work as part of Homotopia’s year-round programme

QueerCore is more than a programme: it’s a springboard for your creative future. Fancy joining our growing network of bold, queer artists making an impact? Applications are open now. The application deadline is due on Monday the 16th of February 2026 at 5pm, don’t miss out – we can’t wait to hear from you!

To learn more about eligibility and how to apply, please visit the QueerCore section on our website.

Good luck!

Homotopia 2025: Wrapped!

A Year of Courageous Queer Art, Community and Impact

As the UK’s longest-running Queer arts and culture festival, we have spent more than two decades commissioning, creating and championing courageous LGBTQIA+ art. This year was no different, and we’re proud to share the impact of what we achieved together across our vibrant year-round programme and Homotopia Festival 2025.

Rooted in the Liverpool City Region and reaching beyond borders, our work continues to centre Queer stories, heritage and activism. From supporting artists and young people to collaborating with grass-roots organisations and venues, everything we do is driven by the belief that art transforms lives, and that Queer culture deserves to remain visible, accessible and fiercely celebrated with open arms!

In 2025, 70% of festival events were free and open to everyone, ensuring that Queer art and culture could be experienced by as many people as possible. During the festival, we reached 48,000 creatives online, extending our reach and audience significantly.

Supporting Artists

Over the past year, 100 artists worked with us across commissions, performances, exhibitions and development opportunities. As a Queer-led organisation, we remain committed to embracing artists locally, creating space for bold storytelling, bringing queer stories into the heart of the city, and creative risk-taking that challenges injustice and amplifies untold stories.

Our work with our incredible Young People

Our year-round programme continues to prioritise young people and emerging creatives. This year, we worked with 19 young people across four projects, supporting creative development, confidence and self-expression through Queer-affirming performance opportunities and mentorship.

Building Stronger Communities

Standing with communities is fundamental to Homotopia’s mission. Over the year, we supported four grass-roots organisations, including Asylum Link, Protect Scouse Dolls, Visual AIDS, Liverpool Trans Pride, recognising the vital role they play in caring for communities pushed to the margins. We also collaborated with 25 venues and organisations across Homotopia Festival, reinforcing the collective power of partnership in shaping the future of Queer arts and culture. One big highlight was collaborating with the incredible Sophie Green on a campaign to encourage arts spaces, venues and businesses to display inclusive signage, “Trans Women Welcome”, in their buildings to provide visibility for safe spaces for trans women in the city. Thanks to FACT for helping us distribute them!

2026 and beyond…

Homotopia has always used art as a tool for visibility, resistance and care. As a registered charity and National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England and Culture Liverpool, we remain committed to creating a future where LGBTQIA+ art and culture are celebrated, beyond borders, and placed at the forefront of meaningful activism.

Thank you to every artist, partner, organisation and audience member who stood with us this year. Together, we continue to build bold, inclusive and unapologetically Queer spaces, and we’ll be iconic whilst we do it…

If you haven’t already, we’d love to hear how your experience of Homotopia Festival 2025, please share your thoughts with us here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=MVElUymxEECG4UdL_X6AdpgT3p37lU1JpFpBD8h0AE1URUpWRUdDQVdRRktLS1pTVEdXVEU2UDdRUC4u&route=shorturl

Be sure to stay connected to us as we announce exciting opportunities in the New Year – we want you beside us!

And that’s a wrap!

Homotopia Festival 2025: Uprising has come to an end, what a month it has been uprising beside you this November!

This year’s festival burst with explorative art: from murals to drag, poetry to protest. As Liverpool hosted an unapologetically queer, defiant, grassroots arts festival, audiences experienced theatre, live art, visual art, film, photography, heritage, workshops, screenings and more. Together, we celebrated creativity that was grassroots, intersectional, and gloriously unruly.

We wanted to take this opportunity to thank all the people who collaborated with us, be this artists, audiences, organisations, funders, our incredible team – you all played such a huge part in helping to make this festival as special as it was.

A note from our Festival Producer, Natalie Lloyd:

Thank you for being part of Homotopia Festival: UPRISING. Whether you were creating work, producing, running a venue, teching a show, supporting audiences, volunteering, or holding everything together behind the scenes – I genuinely appreciate the time, energy, and care you brought to this year’s festival. It was a true honour and privilege to work closely with so many of you.

Festival Feedback
Homotopia is committed to being an organisation that is for the community and by the community and we value your feedback. We’re really keen to hear how your experience of Homotopia Festival 2025 went so that we can continue our great work with and for LGBTQIA+ people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. It’s really important to us that we listen to our growing community, we are committed to making Homotopia Festival as good as it can be for many years to come.
Future Projects & 2026 Open Call
Watch this space! Make sure to keep an eye out for the open call for 2026, which will be announced early next year. We can’t wait to see your proposals…
Please share your thoughts with us regarding any of the events you featured in or attended by visiting: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=MVElUymxEECG4UdL_X6AdpgT3p37lU1JpFpBD8h0AE1URUpWRUdDQVdRRktLS1pTVEdXVEU2UDdRUC4u&route=shorturl