‘PROUD ALLIES’ , a global workplace training programme created by two North East charities has been updated and relaunched in a bid to combat the rise in anti LGBTQIA+ sentiment, eroding of rights and increased hate crimes across the UK. The ‘Proud Allies’ training programme, a collaboration between Curious Arts and Northern Pride, has been updated for 2025 and uses data and insights combined with an interactive, creative approach to learning. The team has already delivered courses to over 2000 people across seven countries and has recruited 5 new members of the training team to deliver the growing demand. The charities hope that the launch of this updated programme will drive noticeable change when it comes to creating warm and welcoming spaces and workplaces for LGBTQIA+ people in the UK and internationally. High-profile clients who have already invested in the ‘Proud Allies’ training include Twitch (Amazon), Sky, Nexus Tyne & Wear Metro, St Oswald’s Hospice, Crafts Council, Engage London and The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria. Bookings for 2025 are already filling up and the team behind the training are urging businesses to take a meaningful look at what inclusivity looks for their teams in 2025. The training provides a learning experience that increases confidence in supporting and advocating for LGBTQIA+ people and the community and is available for groups from 8 to 16 with bespoke packages offered for larger groups including conference-style presentations. Training can be delivered in person or via Zoom using interactive tools to bring the training to life. Morning, afternoon and evening sessions available throughout the year. Twitch (Amazon) took part in the training in 2024. Speaking about their experience, a representative said. “Curious Arts delivered their Proud Allies Training for our creative & production teams that acknowledged our sizeable LGBTQIA+ community. Opting for bespoke delivery that allowed for an open & positive learning experience which recognised our position as a Europe-wide team by providing us with custom-made materials for those outside of the UK.” Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride said, “This training is instrumental for organisations looking to empower and educate their teams when it comes to what it means to be an LGBTQIA+ ally.” “The training is shaped and presented by a representative team of professionals from the LGBTQIA+ community, including former education professionals and allies from the police force who have varied lived experiences, and has been designed to build confidence in creating safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments for LGBTQIA+ people.” Proud Allies is an accessible, informative, and interactive learning experience designed to increase awareness and understanding of intersectional communities, and culture, and is a practical way for organisations to invest in their employees and demonstrate their commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Ste continued, “The relaunch of the training comes at a challenging time for LGBTQIA+ communities. The training shares the social and political picture of life for LGBTQIA+ people, along with key learning and tools to support teams to be active in their allyship, covering a range of topics, from opening up the basics when it comes to acronyms and inclusive language, exploring how gender identity and expression can empower everyone, whilst also looking to historical milestones and how legislation and activism can impact the creation of safer, more welcoming spaces.” North East Mayor Kim McGuinness Speaking about the importance of investment in inclusivity training, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said, “In our North East we won’t accept hate and discrimination and the Proud Allies training is equipping organisations with positive and effective tools so they can create inclusive environments that make the region a safe and welcoming place to live, visit and do business. It is encouraging to see organisations from across the world looking to the North East to understand what it means to commit to equity, diversity and inclusion in a meaningful way. “We have a thriving tourism and hospitality sector here in the North East and the region has a fantastic reputation for being friendly and hospitable place to visit. With millions of people experiencing what the North East has to offer each year, we have a responsibility to make sure that every single one of them enjoys the same exceptional welcome, and this training empowers every organisation to do just that.” Whilst suitable for all organisations who are committed to championing LGBTQIA+ inclusion, there are added benefits for those working in public-facing roles, front of the house, customer service, marketing, HR, management teams, and board members or trustees. Sessions can be delivered in-person or online, for a small team or an entire company. Proud Allies training is available from £1100 +VAT for a course for 16 people, with discounts for block bookings and for qualifying organisations. For more information visit www.northern-pride.com/training or email training@npride.org.uk

HE.SHE.THEY. Returns to Newcastle for a Night of Music, Inclusivity, and Celebration with DJ Folamour The internationally acclaimed, award-winning rave series, HE.SHE.THEY. , is set to make a spectacular return to Newcastle this November, bringing with it a night of unforgettable house and techno led by French DJ and producer Folamour . Known for its commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and boundary-pushing creativity, HE.SHE.THEY .has built a reputation across the globe as a safe space for everyone, regardless of gender, race, or sexuality, where people can be unapologetically themselves. The highly anticipated event will take place on26th October at NX, located on Westgate Road, and promises to be an all-night celebration of individuality, humanity, and the joy of coming together. With previous line-ups featuring artists like Honey Dijon, Ewan McVicar, and Hannah Laing, the night will see Folamour, known for his infectious blend of house, funk, disco, and soul, headline the decks. Folamour’s vibrant energy, groovy beats, and iconic bucket hat make him a must-see performer at some of the world’s biggest festivals, including Glastonbury, Coachella, and Tomorrowland. But this event is not just about the music. It’s a homecoming for Steven Braines, the co-founder of HE.SHE.THEY., who was born in the North East and is deeply proud to bring his world-renowned brand back to the place he still calls home. After Steven caught up with Northern Pride the beginnings of beautiful partnership was formed between HE.SHE.THEY, Northern Pride and the NX team. So much so, friends of Northern Pride get an exclusive discounted tickets! Northern Pride proudly presents a stellar line up of DJs taking over Room Two as HE.SHE.THEY. Present Folamour at NX this Saturday. EMpTy , a queer and non-binary multidisciplinary creative, designer and DJ will take to the decks after Abby Harris opens. Abby, a friendly face both here in Newcastle, with her regular bookings across the city & residency on Slack Radio, and in her home of Middlesborough, where she can be found organising her 'Spectrum' Open Decks workshops for Women & the Queer community. Kular returns to Newcastle to close Room Two for Northern Pride. Kular h as played up and down the country including Birmingham and London. Kular has his own event and with this has taken it around the world to the likes of Ibiza & Canada. Expect some catchy vocals mixed with Latin percussion and underground sounds. Steven Braines: The Visionary Behind HE.SHE.THEY. Steven Braines is no stranger to the world of electronic music and inclusivity. A proud son of the North East, Braines has made an indelible mark on the global music industry since relocating to London. With over a decade of experience, he has co-founded  HE.SHE.THEY. , an international movement that blends world-class house and techno events with a mission to promote diversity, inclusion, and equality in nightlife spaces. Beyond just throwing some of the most exciting parties on the planet, the  HE.SHE.THEY.  brand extends to a globally recognised record label and fashion line, with stage takeovers at iconic festivals like  Glastonbury  and  Coachella , and residencies in legendary venues like  Amnesia  in Ibiza. Braines’ influence goes far beyond events. As the founder of  The Weird & The Wonderful , a talent management company that has overseen the careers of some of electronic music’s biggest names, Steven has guided artists like  Maya Jane Coles ,  Tale of Us , and the Mercury-nominated  Nadine Shah  to critical and commercial success. He even managed his former flatmate  KDA  to a UK number one hit, demonstrating his knack for identifying and nurturing talent. In addition to his work in music, Steven has championed inclusivity and diversity, speaking on global stages from Miami to Amsterdam about creating safer and more representative spaces for all. Recognised as a leader in the LGBTQ+ community, Steven has been shortlisted for the LGBTQ Leader Award at the UK Diversity Awards 2024 . His work on multiple boards, including the N ight Time Industries Association(NTIA) and the Brit Awards EDI , has helped shape policies and conversations around equity, diversity, and inclusion in the music industry. His CV includes stints as a music journalist, qualified psychologist, and drag queen (performing as the infamous Sandra Spitz), making him a true polymath whose contributions to both culture and community are vast. “When I left the North East for London,” Steven recalls, “venues here weren’t exactly known for taking inclusivity seriously. It felt like there was so much work to be done to create spaces that welcomed everyone, no matter who they were or how they identified. But coming back now, I’m incredibly proud to see how much things have changed. Newcastle has embraced inclusivity in nightlife, and it’s amazing to bring  HE.SHE.THEY. home to a place that’s ready to celebrate that.” HE.SHE.THEY.  was born out of the desire to create a place where people could be free from judgment, and that ethos has resonated with audiences worldwide. From the bustling dance floors of London’s Fabric and Fold to stage takeovers at iconic festivals in New York City, Chicago, and Detroit, to Europe’s clubbing capitals of Berlin, Paris, and Ibiza,  HE.SHE.THEY. has flown the flag for diversity and inclusivity in electronic music. And now, it’s time for Newcastle to join the party. Steven adds, “This event is more than just a rave. It’s a celebration of humanity. I want everyone from Newcastle and the North East to come together for this night, buy their tickets, and let’s show the world what an incredible, inclusive party we can have. I want you all to make me proud and have the best night ever, where everyone is welcome, no matter who you are.” So, whether you come as you are or decide to bring out your boldest look,  HE.SHE.THEY.  is the place to experiment, be free, and celebrate who you are. The ethos is simple: as long as you’re kind and tolerant, you’re part of the family. Make sure you’re part of what’s set to be the ultimate party of the year, as  HE.SHE.THEY. returns to its co-founder’s roots in Newcastle for a night of music, unity, and unapologetic celebration.

GET CURIOUS for an evening of live performance and entertainment celebrating LGBTQIA+ culture and creativity at Live Theatre this November. Live Theatre is Curious Cabaret  is a collaboration between the venue and Curious Arts , a North East arts charity and producers of the award-winning Curious Festival. Taking place on Friday 8th November  at  7:30 pm , the event offers a dynamic mix of cabaret, comedy, art, and drag, hosted by legendary avant-garde performer David Hoyle . David Hoyle , known for his sharp satire and fearless critiques of society, first rose to fame in the 1990s as the Divine David. His bold, captivating performances have graced venues such as the infamous Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Soho Theatre in London and Manchester’s flagship arts venue Factory International. Hoyle’s recent shows include Diamond and Ten Commandments, and he continues to tour internationally. The evening will be BSL interpreted, and feature a lineup of North East talent presenting new work. This includes Mama Rhi , a cabaret artist known for bold feminist lip sync and burlesque performances exploring body acceptance, female sexuality, and joyous celebrations of love. Mama Rhi is quickly building a name for herself through her satirical, sexy, and rebellious style. Also performing are WhatsApp Ross & Johnny the Biblical Rapper , played by Rosa Postlethwaite  and Tessa Parr . This hilarious duo brings subversive, norm-challenging energy with humour and socially engaged performance. Veggie Stripper , a high-energy black drag king from Newcastle, adds to the mix with his campy, dramatic performance style, bringing visibility for queer people of colour and AFAB drag artists to the North East. Sweet Boy , an eccentric, camp non-binary drag artist, will showcase new work full of clownery, blending drama, comedy, and playful chaos. Drag Artists Veggie Stripper & Sweet Boy Mimi , a self-described "lanky, witchy" poet, will deliver a spoken word piece, blending classical theatre with contemporary stories, reflecting today’s diverse world. Queer dance artists Jesse Salaman  and Toi Guy  will present a new durational movement piece, using sound and choreography to transform the theatre space. Live Theatre’s JD Stewart  said, “ Live Theatre is Curious  is a platform for diverse voices, shining a spotlight on extraordinary talent within the LGBTQIA+ community. Audiences can expect an unforgettable evening filled with joy, defiance, and artistic brilliance.” The event is supported by Arts Council England . Don’t miss out on this incredible night of experimental and entertaining performances, book your tickets now:   Live Theatre is Curious Cabaret Venue: Live Theatre, Newcastle Date: Friday 8 November, 7.30 pm Tickets start at £6. Age recommendation: 16+ (Under 18’s accompanied by an adult) British Sign Language Interpreted event.

In our first year taking over the city, we’ve been nominated in the category for best Metropolitan Festival, which looks to recognise a festival that most convincingly made a city its own!   Well, we think that the 82,000 people that joined us across our Pride in the City festival will agree, we most certainly transformed the city into the best, unapologetically visible, queer celebration the region has ever seen, in fact, 78% of attendees said it was our best festival EVER!… so please head to the UK Festival Awards nomination page and vote for Northern Pride!    Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1, welcomed record numbers to this year’s festival across Newcastle city centre, with over 82,000 people engaging with the joy of pride, supporting a positive economic impact of c £4m.   “From the satellite events which started earlier in the month, to the main events and through visitors to Newcastle during the weekend, including those who were able to enjoy from the sidelines, the positive impact on the city has been huge.” says Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride.   “After such a positive response from our community, supporters and partners, who have embraced the citywide takeover, to receiving our economic impact and satisfaction data this week, we’ve been overwhelmed at the success of this year’s event. We set out to create a more accessible, unapologetically visible pride celebration, but also a festival which would benefit the city, local people, local bars, restaurants and hotels and we’ve achieved that together and we are so grateful to everyone who made this possible.”  The economic impact and satisfaction survey confirmed that for a third of attendees, this was their first experience of pride. 75% of participants identified as LGBTQIA+, with 73% of attendees visiting from outside of Newcastle city centre postcodes. Of those in attendance who had experienced pride before, 70% said it was ‘better than previous years’, with 90% confirming they would return next year. Overall perception scores were positive, with most scoring 8+ out of 10.    We would like to take this opportunity to once again, thank everybody that made the festival happen ! From our team of volunteers and event teams, to every single creative, artist, performer that took part, and to all the amazing LGBTQIA+ friends families and allies that turned out in their thousands to join us in our mission to be unapologetic visible!   Stay tuned for more information about 2025… but for now get voting!

Positive economic impact c £4m 1 in 10 pride participants stayed overnight in Newcastle 90% of attendees would come again next year Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1, welcomed record numbers to this year’s festival across Newcastle city centre, with over 82,000 people engaging with the joy of pride, supporting a positive economic impact of c £4m.  “From the satellite events which started earlier in the month, to the main events and through visitors to Newcastle during the weekend, including those who were able to enjoy from the sidelines, the positive impact on the city has been huge.” says Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride. “After such a positive response from our community, supporters and partners, who have embraced the citywide takeover, to receiving our economic impact and satisfaction data this week, we’ve been overwhelmed at the success of this year’s event. We set out to create a more accessible, unapologetically visible pride celebration, but also a festival which would benefit the city, local people, local bars, restaurants and hotels and we’ve achieved that together and we are so grateful to everyone who made this possible.”  The economic impact and satisfaction survey confirmed that for a third of attendees, this was their first experience of pride. 75% of participants identified as LGBTQIA+, with 73% of attendees visiting from outside of Newcastle city centre postcodes. Of those in attendance who had experienced pride before, 70% said it was ‘better than previous years’, with 90% confirming they would return next year. Overall perception scores were positive, with most scoring 8+ out of 10.  Stephen Patterson, Chief Executive at Newcastle NE1, said: “In what is our 10th year supporting Northern Pride, it is amazing to see the continued success of the festival following the move from the Town Moor into the heart of the city. To see such crowds enjoying the live performers and Market Village near Grey Street, to the Family & Youth Zone, satellite events and the main stage, the city was quite literally brimming with pride. This year’s change in format created even more opportunities for local businesses and those in the city to support the festival and benefit from its positive impact and that should be celebrated. The impact is beyond expectation and we’re incredibly proud to have been able to support Northern Pride again this year.”   Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, added: “This year’s celebrations are a huge milestone for Newcastle, with more people than ever able to experience pride in their own way. Across all events, but in particular with the March taking place through the city centre, this year’s festival succeeded in bringing together even more of the LGBTQIA+ community, business partners, allies and supporters to stand in solidarity, in what will be a historic shift for the city centre celebrations.”

Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1 , is celebrating success after welcoming record numbers to this year’s Northern Pride festival in a citywide takeover.  Following its move from the Town Moor, this weekend’s main events ran from Friday to Sunday, with tens of thousands of people participating in the array of entertainment across the city, from the Curious Arts Stage and the Family and Youth zone to the Market Village, Lumo Platform and the main arena at Times Square.  From the satellite events which started earlier in the month, to the main events and through visitors to the city this weekend, over 82,000 people engaged with the joy of pride, including those who were able to enjoy the buzz and the on-street entertainment from the sidelines. This year the event succeeded in creating a more accessible pride celebration for all and a huge nod to this year’s theme of ‘unapologetically visible’. With the sun shining community members, allies, local people and businesses came together to fill the streets of Newcastle with a colourful message of hope for the annual March. Starting and ending at the Civic Centre this year’s March had over 16,500 participants. Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride, said: “We’re overwhelmed by the success of this year’s celebrations. It’s been a pleasure to see individuality in all forms celebrated in so many ways. With this year’s theme, unapologetically visible, we set out to encourage past, present and future generations of the LGBTQIA+ community to be their most authentic selves in whatever way that manifests itself to best reflect their journey." “As well as achieving our purpose to bring the LGBTQIA+ community together, we’re excited to review the data this week to show in more detail the economic impact the event has been able to drive, from the satellite events that led us to this weekend to the visitors to the city." "A huge thank you to our partners, supporters, the local businesses, our creatives, performers and volunteers, who embraced pride to show their solidarity and support throughout. We couldn’t have done any of this without them." “It was incredible to truly see Pride in all its manifestations across the city. From art and theatre to live performances, crafts and film screenings. With families, friends and strangers, able to experience Pride in the City in their own way across the packed programme of activities. All with one common call to action, to be “unapologetically visible”.

In line with our aim to highlight the vibrant and beautiful queer community, the valuable impact they have on society and the richness of their talents, it seemed fitting for Director of Northern Pride, Ste Dunn, to catch up with the North East’s very own L Devine ahead of this year’s celebrations.  Born in Whitley Bay, L Devine (Liv), released her debut album ‘Digital Heartifacts’ earlier this year, before embarking on a UK wide tour to share her art. With an upcoming headline gig at this year’s Generator Live, proud patrons of Northern Pride, we found out what being unapologetically visible means to her, how important it is to have queer representation at all levels across the music industry and gained some words of wisdom for emerging artists.  Visibility in the queer community can represent so many wonderful things, individual to each person based on their personal and lived experiences. “Being unapologetically visible means to live truly authentically. Which holds meaning in both my experience as an artist and as a queer person. I’ve found so much power and inspiration in my experiences as a queer person or as someone who was deemed an outsider growing up. I think people underestimate the strength it takes to constantly have to  show people who you are and what it is you stand for in the face of so much prejudice and queer people do this every day with so much spirit.” A common experience amongst the LGBTQIA+ community, and something that often acts as an obstruction to people living their truth, is a lack of representation, in your surroundings, in your special interests, and in the media.  Queer artists are consistently showing up for the community, and by curating music that expresses her truth and represents her individuality, Liv is amongst those paving the way, giving permission for others to live authentically.   Touching on the importance of queer representation across the music industry, Liv said: “I think the music industry has a responsibility to represent the people who are listening to the music. Whether that’s in the studio or in label roles, these are the people who are curating what we hear, and I think in order for them to truly understand our queer audiences there needs to be representation in every room.” When asked about where she looks to for inspiration, she added: “The next generation of queer young people and the shoulders we stand on, all the pioneers of the LGBTQIA+ movement.” Being unapologetically visible is a journey, and every individual’s trajectory to this is different.  For emerging artists looking to be more visible, Liv advises: “I think every proper trailblazer, or really iconic artist you look up to is truly individual and when it comes to art, we view that kind of uniqueness as a superpower. A lot of parts of myself that felt so different to everyone else when I was growing up, and often I felt shame about, are the parts of me that have really thrived in my career as an artist. So, hold onto those unique parts of yourself, nurture your individuality, that’s your superpower!” Last year, over 15,000 people braved the heavy rain to join the pride march, which then lead on to the first day of the celebration at the Town Moor where many more flocked to the festival.  “I love the true sense of community in the North East, especially where I’m from, its always felt like everyone really has each other’s backs.” By bringing events such as Pride in the City to the North East year on year, we aim to bring consistent visibility to the region. “I think it’s so important to bring visibility to the North East, and showcase the diversity and local culture that flourishes in our region. I think growing up I felt the town I lived in was too small to truly be myself, events like this create a safe but also vibrant, celebratory space that combat those feelings of isolation queer people may feel in smaller towns.” The queer community, past, present and future is full of some of the most iconic, unique and rich talent, and so it’s no surprise that when we asked who Liv who her all-time favourite queer icon was, it was too difficult to pin down one name.  “Of all time is way too tough sorry! But right now, I love Chappell Roan.”  For those on Chappell Roan TikTok - it turns out she really is our  favourite artist’s, favourite artist. This year’s main event will take place over the weekend of 19-21 July, has moved from the Town Moor to various locations across Newcastle. The Pride Arena, at Central Park in Times Square, will host Drag icons, 90s favourites, top DJs, leading tribute acts and local stars for this year’s new-look Northern Pride . Across the city, the Curious Arts Stage will take over Northern Stage, and the Family and Youth activities will consume the newly renovated Assembly Rooms, and the vibrant market stalls will take over the streets surrounding Greys Monument and Old Eldon Square, truly encompassing a city-wide take over. To catch L Devine headlining Generator Live, get your tickets here:

NEWCASTLE-based train operator Lumo is pulling up at this year’s Northern Pride with its very own Lumo Platform in the new Market Village zone. Centred around Grey's Monument and Old Eldon Square, the Northern Pride Market Village, sponsored by Lumo, will introduce a new zone to Pride in the City for 2024. The Market Village will bring together different organisations and community groups celebrating and demonstrating their commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community. The Lumo Platform, a live performance stage hosted by performer PlastiQ, will also bring the queer community together in the city centre like never before. Taking to the stage on Saturday 20 th July will be an array of talent, including the Ladies of Midnight Blue, an Afro-Latin percussion & brass duet, Ryan Petitjean, a North East singer-songwriter and host and performer Carmen Silk, who will bring show tunes with vaudeville silliness – to name just a few. To add to the celebrations, Newcastle Mela is bringing Punjabi Roots to the platform, who is also performing at the arena with Shin DCS later in the day. The ongoing partnership between Pride and the Mela, two of the biggest city-wide celebrations of arts and culture, cements the power of collaboration to celebrate the vast talent here in the region and the queer community.  Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director at Lumo, said: “We are proud to once again support Northern Pride, which is one of the city’s most exciting events for our communities, customers and colleagues. Diversity and inclusion is at the heart of everything we do at Lumo, both internally with our fantastic teams and through our ‘one-class’ all-inclusive and sustainable electric train service connecting Newcastle with Edinburgh and London.  We’re delighted to be able to support what is set to be a fantastic event right in the heart of the city, with the Market Village Zone and Lumo Platform stage creating even more opportunities for everyone to join in the fun.” Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride, said, “We’re delighted to be supported by Lumo again this year. Lumo operates from London to Edinburgh and we are proud to not only provide the Lumo Platform for new artists this year, but also transport for our many visitors who come to Northern Pride from all across the UK. We hope everyone heads to our new Market Village zone to enjoy some of these very talented performers live in action.” The main event which will take place over the weekend of 19-21 July, has moved from the Town Moor to various locations across Newcastle. The Pride Arena, at Central Park in Times Square, will host Drag icons, 90s favourites, top DJs, leading tribute acts and local stars for this year’s new-look Northern Pride . Across the city, the Curious Arts Stage will take over Northern Stage, and the Family and Youth activities will consume the newly renovated Assembly Rooms, and the vibrant market stalls will take over the streets surrounding Greys Monument and Old Eldon Square, truly encompassing a city-wide take over.

Northern Pride is creating a space for everybody at this year’s Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1. The festival weekend will see the largest Family and Youth Zone to date, located at the Assembly Rooms, Westgate Road. Supported by civil engineering organisation, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, the Family and Youth zone is a free space which caters for LGBTQIA+ families and queer young people, with hands-on activities, arts and crafts, and live performances, the zone will be open Saturday 20 July from 12 pm-5 pm. In line with its mission to showcase local talent, the space will feature a range of performances, workshops and readings, and aims to bring families and young people with shared experiences together, where they feel safe and can see and relate to wonderful families like theirs. Director of Northern Pride, Ste Dunn, said: “The Family and Youth zone is one of our most popular areas, and so we wanted to go even bigger and better this year, to create an exciting and unique area where families and young people can go to feel inspired and understood. With this year’s theme Unapologetically Visible’, it’s important for young people to see others like them, and to be able to relate to and share experiences with like-minded people and families. After its substantial investment, we’re looking forward to bringing people together at one of Newcastle’s oldest and grandest Georgian buildings.” Chris Dransfield, Social Value Manager from Morgan Sindall Infrastructure added: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Family and Youth zone again at this year’s Pride in the City. It’s an incredibly important part of the festival and the Pride story and a real opportunity to involve as many people as possible, of all ages and families in the celebrations. Its new location will bring joy to a huge audience this year and with so much going on it’s something we can all be really proud of. As the main contractor on the six new stations which will be created as part of the reintroduced Northumberland line, connecting communities is at the heart of what we do – which is why working with Northern Pride is so important to us.” Northern Pride has curated a special programme of events to keep everyone entertained in the Family and Youth Zone this year. Featuring a range of exclusive performances, workshops and readings for everyone to enjoy. The Programme:   ATOMS Education - The Sound of Science: Countdown to Chaos! ATOMS Education CIC, is an LGBTQIA+-led organisation that provides workshops to children around science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. They are joining us on the Family and Youth stage for a fantastic new interactive show: The Sound ofScience: Countdown to Chaos! Time : 1:00PM BookWyrm – Durham Bookshop BookWyrm is an indie queer bookshop owned by a husband/husband duo, who will be bringing their amazing Durham bookshop to Newcastle this year to provide a pop-up children’s bookshop in the Family and Youth Zone open from 12-5 pm. With a focus on LGBTQIA+ books as well as those by local authors, Miles Nelson, will be providing a reading of his own works from 12:30-1 pm. Time: 12:-5 pm Drag Castle A dazzling family show featuring the fabulous Frida Sapphic, the charismatic Baron LaVey, and the enchanting Ivy! A vibrant afternoon of inspirational drag performances and heartwarming entertainment for all ages. Experience the joy, creativity, and inclusivity of Pride in a show that promises to be unforgettable. Time: 3:00 pm Lucy Phurr The fabulous and fierce queen Lucy Phurr is back by popular demand this year to round off the Family and Youth Zone with a Family Disco! Get your dancing feet on and prepare to boogie and celebrate. Time :4:00pm Sarah Fae – Rainbow Brain Local children’s author Sarah Fae will be joining us in the Family and Youth Zone this year. She will be debuting her latest creation ‘Rainbow Brain,’ with us, bringing a love of art, literacy, colour & magic. Time: 12-5:00 pm Recyke y’bike Recyke y'bike is a charity passionate about recycling bikes and giving them back to the community. The team offer multiple services including bike maintenance lessons, bike servicing, young volunteering opportunities, women's workshops and LGBTQ+ workshops. You can find them outside the Family and Youth Zone for pride this year offering advice on how to look after your bikes! Time: 12-5:00 pm True Colours True Colours are back, after a whirlwind year featuring on DIY SOS with Strictly Come Dancing Stars they are back for a celebration showcase of music, dance, drama and singing! Time: 2 pm Unfolding Theatre The Family and Youth Zone wouldn’t be complete without the Unfolding Theatre’s amazing upcycled stage and we are delighted to say that it is coming with us to the Assembly Rooms this year!! Check out the App or watch out for posts on the lineup this year, expect book reading, science chaos, Family Drag and Disco! The Unfolding Theatre will also be providing a wonderful drop-in workshop throughout the day based on adventures, dragons and more! Time: 12-5pm These events feature as part of a wider programme of exciting events which will celebrate the wonderfully vibrant queer community, the valuable impact they have on society and the richness of their talents. Events are running from July 5th to 21st, in the lead-up to Pride in the City. The main event, which will take place over the weekend of 19th -21st July, has moved from the Town Moor to various locations across Newcastle. The Pride Arena, at Central Park in Times Square, will host Drag icons, 90s favourites, top DJs, leading tribute acts and local stars for this year’s new-look Northern Pride. Across the city, the Curious Arts Stage will take over Northern Stage, the Family and Youth activities will consume the newly renovated Assembly Rooms, and the vibrant market stalls will take over the streets surrounding Greys Monument and Old Eldon Square, truly encompassing a city-wide take over.

Additional dates have been added to this year’s Pride in the City events programme running from 5th - 21st July . Northern Pride continues to champion local talent, with a host of events announced, providing six commissioned artists with the platform to showcase their creativity during this year’s Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1. Azula Bandit and Chris Fleming (IDa4) were announced as the two artists selected to receive full creative commissions last month, following a commissions call out in partnership with Creative Central NCL and Curious Arts. A further four local artists were also awarded a ‘Get Ready Grant’, spanning dance, writing, physical art, and music. Jenny Chrisp, Emory Southwick, Alison Carr, and The Girls, Theys and Slays Choir led by Maya Torres and Rosie Bowden have received £750 of funding to enhance their art and explore new ideas. The call-out challenged artists to respond to the theme Unapologetically Visible, highlighting what this means to them and how it is expressed and explored through their creativity. The call-out challenged artists to respond to the theme Unapologetically Visible, highlighting what this means to them and how it is expressed and explored through their creativity. Director of Northern Pride, Ste Dunn, said: “It’s important that we continue to recognise the huge pool of talent that exists in the North East. As big and as bold as our plans are for Pride in the City, there is still a grass-roots element that we’re keen to preserve. Our events programme this year works to amplify queer voices and talent in the region, giving all of our performers and artists a platform where they can comfortably showcase their artistry.” To launch their new or elevated concepts, each artist will exhibit at a Newcastle venue in the lead-up to pride weekend, starting from this Saturday, 6th July. What's coming up?   GIRLS THEYS AND SLAYS POP UP CHOIR Date: Saturday 6th July - 12:00 Location: Discovery Museum, Blanford Square  Tickets: Free Event Maya Torres, Rhian Jade, Rosie Bowden and the Girls, Theys and Slays Choir are thrilled to be sharing their first original song thanks to the ‘Get Ready Grant​’ they received as part of this year’s commissions. The aim is to create a larger sense of identity as a group and promote growth by creating a community that encourages local people to get involved.     QUEER BODIES ARE HOLY Date: Saturday 6th July - Thursday 11th - Sat 6th 19:00-21:00 - Sun 7th 10:00-15:00 - Mon 8th - Thur 11th 13:00 -18:00 Location: Grainger Market, 11 Clayton Street Tickets: Free Exhibition An exhibition that features over 20 new works by artist and life model Emory Southwick (they/them), including digital art, gouache and acrylic paintings, and oil pastel drawings. These works capture the diversity of the queer population of the North East and celebrate how beautiful these bodies are in bright and colourful art. QUEER LIFE DRAWING Date: Sunday 7th July - 16:00 Location: Grainger Market, 11 Clayton Street Tickets : Free Event - Registration Required A life drawing class working exclusively with models on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, led by artist Emory Southwick, this event is open to everybody but space is limited and registration is required. MISS SANDY BEACH Date: Monday 8th July - 18:30 Location: Prohibition Cabaret Bar 25-27 Pink Lane Tickets: Free Showcase – Registration Required When Nicola was ten she was crowned Miss Sandy Beach. It was the best moment of her life and now she’s going to recreate it and you’re all invited! A new concept from the talented Alison Carr, creating a space to work collaboratively with other local artists to explore a new idea. MURAL OF QUEER EXCELLENCE Date: from Wednesday 10th July Location: Cross Street, Charlotte Square Tickets: Free Public Exhibition A collection of queer icons by IDa4 made from hand-cut stencils and spray paint. Celebrating the diversity and the contribution of the queer community. IPHATHI KUBANTU Date: Friday 12 th July 19:30pm (club night from 21:00pm) Location: The Lubber Fiend, 81 Blanford Street Tickets: Get tickets - £0-£7.50 Iphathi (party) Kubantu (to the people) brings musical flavours from South Africa from Amapiano, Gqom, Tech-House & more. Brought to life by multi-talented dancer and DJ Azula Bandit, who aims to encourage and inspire through cultural representation and self-expression. The event opens with a showcase from Azula and friends with tickets pay as you feel. And then later into the evening, Iphathi Kubantu will transform The Lubber Fiend into a new club night fusing culture and experiences together with musical flavours from South Africa from Amapiano, Gqom, Tech-House and more Sorry, Are You Lost? Date: Wednesday 17th July 17:00 (relaxed performance) 19:00 Location: Dance City, Temple Street Tickets: Free Showcase – Registration Required A dance theatre work that will take you on a personal rollercoaster ride exploring the ups and downs of motherhood, queer identity, loss and visibility from the incredibly talent mind of Jenny Chrisp. A sharing of Sorry, Are You Lost? in its early stages of development followed by a Q&A with audience members. These events feature as part of a wider programme of exciting satellite events, designed to celebrate the wonderfully vibrant queer community, the valuable impact they have on society and the richness of their talents. Events are running across July from 5th -21st, in the lead up to Pride in the City. The main event, which will take place over the weekend of 19th -21 21st July, has moved from the Town Moor to various locations across Newcastle. The Pride Arena, at Central Park in Times Square, will host Drag icons, 90s favourites, top DJs, leading tribute acts and local stars for this year’s new-look Northern Pride. Across the city, the Curious Arts Stage will take over Northern Stage, and the Family and Youth activities will consume the newly renovated Assembly Rooms, and the vibrant market stalls will take over the streets surrounding Greys Monument and Old Eldon Square, truly encompassing a city-wide take over.

Businesses came together for the Partners Breakfast hosted at Blackfriars, as a thank you and to celebrate their involvement and support for Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1. As well as an opportunity to thank supporters, the breakfast saw the launch of some great new additions to this year’s festival. Pride in the City will kick off with satellite events from 5th July, leading up to the main festival, which will take place over the weekend of 19th-21st July, with multiple celebrations and events, including the main stage at Central Park, with impressive live performances. Nexus, which runs the Tyne and Wear Metro, return as travel and accessibility partner, and together with Northern Pride announce a limited edition ‘Pride Pop Pays As You Go Card’ and free ‘Pride Shuttle Bus’, to support with travel around the city during pride weekend and to ensure that the celebrations remain accessible for those with mobility needs, as well as young and tired legs.   The Pride Pop Card was designed by local multidisciplinary creative designer and visual communicator, Em T Sharp, who was inspired by LGBTQIA+ icons.     Sarah McCourt, Head of Communications, Marketing and Customer Information at Nexus said: “We are extremely proud to be a partner for Northern Pride and to support what promises to be an incredible city take over for the festival this year. Inclusivity is the cornerstone of our brand, and we want everyone to feel welcome, safe, and free from discrimination whenever they choose to travel with us. We’re delighted to be launching a ‘Pride Pop Card’ and free ‘Pride Shuttle Bus’ to ensure people can get to the city, and around the event with ease.” Attending the breakfast event were representatives from companies which have had supported Northern Pride for a number of years, including partners Newcastle NE1, Curious Arts, Newcastle International Airport, Newcastle City Council, NewcastleGateshead Initiative and BT Group, Morgan Sindall to name just a few.   Train operator Lumo were also in attendance to help launch a new feature for 2024. The Lumo Platform, a performance stage which will be in place at Greys Monument and will feature live entertainment during Saturday’s main day.    Also announced were the two free film screenings that will be on NE1’s Screen on the Green. ‘Strange Worlds’ up first, which is the first Disney movie featuring an out-gay character named Ethan Clade, played by gay comedian Jaboukie Young-White. Later in the day, filmgoers can relax in the famous blue deck chairs at Old Eldon Square to watch teen favourite, ‘Love, Simon’.   Alongside the returning sponsors, the event also welcomed a number of supporters who’ve recently taken the opportunity to become Pride Patrons, including Eldon Square, Sky, Sage, IKEA, Ward Hadaway, Generator NE, Geordie Witch and The Theatre Royal. The Pride Patron campaign is an accessible, all year-round opportunity for business and people to help raise the vital funds needed for Northern Pride to deliver free to access content that fills the festival every year and to support paid work and commissioning opportunities for LGBTQIA+ artists, performers and creatives. Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride, expressed his appreciation for the continued support that has enabled plans for this year’s Pride in the City.     Ste said: “We couldn’t do any of this without the wonderful partners we have here in the North East and further afield, who not only help us to put on a fantastic event for our vibrant and beautiful queer community, but for their insight, time and guidance into what will make an exciting, accessible and safe event in the city.”

We've announced that registrations are now open for its annual March, which will take place on Saturday 20th July 2024, to celebrate Pride in the City, presented in partnership with Newcastle NE1. The March will begin at 12:00PM, starting from the Civic centre, those taking part will pass through the iconic Northumberland Street and historic Greys Monument, which is also playing host to this year’s Market Village. The March will continue through the city before ending back at the civic centre to continue the celebrations across the city centre for the rest of the weekend. Despite the downpour, last year’s march saw 15,000 people take to the streets of Newcastle in good spirits, led by young people and educators to mark 20 years since the repeal of Section 28, highlighting the continued challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community. In line with the theme unapologetically visible, this year’s March will again see thousands of community members, allies, local people and businesses come together to fill the streets of Newcastle with a colourful message of hope. We're keen to showcase how ‘unapologetically visible’ means different things to each individual and is based on their personal and lived experiences. The march offers the opportunity for people to come together to celebrate all of the ways in which people can be unapologetically visible, with one clear and collective goal in mind, to be seen and to be heard. The march is kindly sponsored by The BT Group, as it continues its work to become the world's most trusted connector of people, devices and machines, accelerated through responsible, inclusive and sustainable technology. Mark Amario, BT Group Pride Network Lead Chair shared their commitment to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, and Northern Pride. “We’re excited to be joining Northern Pride for a second year supporting their vision for the city and the community. This year’s theme is one that BT Group advocates for all year with our colleagues and our customers encouraged to celebrate their identity.” Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride, said: “We’re celebrating individuality in all forms with this year’s theme, unapologetically visible, encouraging past, present and future generations of the LGBTQIA+ community to be their most authentic selves in whatever way that manifests itself to best reflect their journey. We’re proudly honouring the obstacles overcome, the milestones reached, and everything in between.” The weekend will give attendees the opportunity to show their solidarity and support, as well as joining in the celebrations with a packed programme of events and entertainment. The Northern Pride March remains the focal point for the event and continues to be free for all to take part. For groups of 10 or more, organisers encourage online registration to help with the safe planning and delivery of the event, with registration open now at www.northern-pride.com/march This year’s Pride in the City festival will take place across the city centre, with multiple celebrations and events, including a main stage at Central Park, with impressive live performances, highlighting the vibrant and beautiful queer community, the valuable impact they have on society and the richness of their talents.