QueerCore Residency 2025 at Bidston Observatory

This year’s QueerCore Residency took us back to the magical surroundings of Bidston Observatory, where a group of early-career LGBTQIA+ artists came together for a weekend of learning, exchange, and creative exploration.
The residency was filled with workshops led by QueerCore mentors and alumni, who guided us through themes of uprising, self-care, play, and experimentation. Together, we explored how creativity can be both a tool for personal resilience and a catalyst for bold, new ideas.
From poetry to puppetry, character work to creative writing, artists experimented with different forms of expression, testing out new ways to take risks, nurture imagination, and strengthen their practices.

Reflections from the weekend:

“For our 2025 QueerCore residency, we returned to the beautifully unique Bidston Observatory for a weekend of learning, exchange and creative exploration. A series of workshops facilitated by QueerCore mentors and alumni delved into themes of uprising, self-care, experimentation and play, offering our artists practical and imaginative tools to strengthen their practice. We explored how poetry, creative writing, character development and puppetry as artistic forms can help us structure ideas, take creative risks and nurture resilience. The weekend not only deepened our artistic practices but also strengthened our bonds as a group, creating a supportive community that will continue beyond the residency.”

Ashleigh Owen, Development Producer, reflects on the experience.

About QueerCore

QueerCore is Homotopia’s talent development programme for early-career LGBTQIA artists. Running for six months, it offers tailored support, mentoring, and creative opportunities for artists based in the Liverpool City Region.
The residency weekend is a highlight of the programme — a chance to come together, share practices, and build connections that extend far beyond the residency itself.