Not fancying the party in Preston Park? There are plenty of alternative ways to celebrate Brighton and Hove’s wonderful diversity and LGBTQAI+ community this weekend. Pride brings a number of cultural events to Brighton, from performances to art exhibitions, film showings and parties. Our top arts and culture picks celebrate LGBT stories, both past and present. Check them out.
Riot! @ BMECP Centre, 2nd – 31st August
The exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, presented by SEAS (Socially Engaged Art Salon). It includes a fantasy queer fairyland, outrageous performances, explicit artwork, queer propaganda and short films, as well as engaging workshops. Riot! puts an emphasis on the representation of LGBTQI colour, trans and non-binary people.
Riot! By SEAS @ BMECP Centre, 2nd – 31st August. 11am – 4pm daily. Free. 10/A Fleet St. Brighton BN1 4ZE
neXus @ Jubilee Library, 29th July – 11th August
A series of exhibitions are currently on display in Jubilee Library as a part of a cultural and creative exchange between Brighton and Bloefontain, South Africa. The work on display explores both intersectionality and the crossing of cultures. NeXus features Elliss Lewin-Turner, Estabrak Al-Ansari, Dr Gil Mualem-Doron, Heather Glazzard, Lloyd van Schalkwyk, Lyrene Kühn-Botma and Teboho Mokhothu. Guest artists have been invited to give sonic responses to the artwork on display. This includes Mrisi, a musician and spoken word artist who will be popping up over the course of the exhibition.
neXus @ Jubilee Library, 29th July – 11th August. 10am – 5pm. Free. Jubilee St, Brighton BN1 1GE
RIOTS MiXTAPE: SONGS AND STORIES OF PRIDE @ The Spire, Friday 2nd August
Traumfrau and Queer Songbook present ‘Riots MiXTAPE’, a live creative party that celebrates Brighton’s diversity, and the meaning of Pride itself. The collaborators have invited six people from Brighton to perform “their queerest and dearest song” live, as well as share a story of what Pride means to them. The party promises laughter, tears and goosebumps. If you are searching for an alternative party with an intimate twist, RIOTS MiXTAPE is the one for you.
RIOTS MiXTAPE: SONGS AND STORIES OF PRIDE @ The Spire, Friday 2nd August. 6:30pm. Tickets £10 (+BF), St Mark’s Chapel, Eastern Rd, Brighton BN2 5JN
Film Pride @ The Latest Music Bar, Sunday 4th August
The Brighton and Hove Pride Film festival, FilmPride, has been running since the 28th July, showcasing unmissable films. Fear not, it is still running over the course of the weekend, with three showings this Sunday 4th August.
12pm. ‘Banned’, £5. A feature film festival showcasing the work of international filmmakers who have been imprisoned as a result of their films.
4pm. ‘Peter Tatchell: Activist’, Free event. Film premiere of a documentary about “the human rights campaigner of our time”. The screening will be followed by a Q&A.
7:30pm. ‘Lesbian Legends – The Story of Siren’, £8. Premiering a documentary about the local 80s punk group. The screening will be followed by a live performance by the band at 9pm.
Film Pride @ The Latest Music Bar, Sunday 28th July – Sunday 4th August. Tickets, 14-17 Manchester St, Brighton BN2 1TF.
