LGBT – The Stove Network

February 14 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Embark on the screen printing journey with Queer Town’s leading t-shirt factory! Discover the craft of screen printing with an array of handcrafted Doonhamer designs to select from. This t-shirt factory kicks off a series of workshops and events that celebrate queer culture, showcasing solidarity, and enhancing queer visibility in Dumfries and beyond! Sign up for free, and while donations are welcome for t-shirts, any profits will support Pride Dumfries 2024.

About Queer Town

Queer Town, previously known as ‘Queer Club,’ was established in 2021 by dedicated local community members with a fervour for preserving, expanding, and celebrating LGBTQ+ culture. Our commitment extends from the shared heritage within Dumfries & Galloway to fostering engagement for all individuals within the community. Since its inception, Queer Club successfully orchestrated the month-long Dumfries Pride celebrations in 2022 and 2023, collaborating with over 60 partners, including local organisations, businesses, individuals, and enterprises, all rallying behind the support of Queer culture in the community. With an annual Pride programme of over 30 events over the span of 4 weeks locally, the collective has firmly embedded itself as a stellar example of LGBTQ+ activism within rural communities in Scotland.

With the backing of the Stove’s Open Hoose project, Queer Club maintained a monthly community space, providing a hub for everyone to connect. Fast forward to 2024, and the project has undergone a refresh, emphasising its dedication to further supporting and engaging the LGBTQ+ community in Dumfries. This involves fostering creative activities, engaging in activism, and strategically planning to enhance inclusion within the town while championing the development of homegrown LGBTQ+ culture.

Who?

Queer Town is open to everyone over the age of 16. Whether you identify within LGBTQ+ community or not. We want to encourage everyone to learn, take part and grow their community together. It’s all about understanding and making bridges (and having fun).

If you’re under 16 and looking to get involved with LGBTQ+ activity, check out LGBT Youth Scotland here.

Why?

In the face of escalating hate crimes, particularly against LGB+ and transgender individuals in Scotland, the imperative for safe cultural spaces for the LGBTQ+ community becomes ever more crucial. Disturbingly, recent statistics reveal a doubling of hate crimes within the last year, with 1,884 charges related to sexual orientation and 55 tied to transgender identity in 2022/23. This alarming surge has not only intensified the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ individuals but has also led protected characteristic communities to withdraw from community activities, plagued by genuine safety concerns.

Safe cultural spaces serve as sanctuaries, offering respite from the escalating threats faced by the LGBTQ+ community. These spaces foster a sense of security and belonging, enabling individuals to express their authentic selves without fear of persecution. Beyond being a refuge, these spaces become vital hubs for community cohesion, empowerment, and activism. By providing havens that actively combat the adverse effects of hate crimes, safe cultural spaces play a pivotal role in rekindling trust, restoring engagement, and instigating positive change within the LGBTQ+ community.

Free

The Stove Cafe

100 High Street
Dumfries, DG1 2BJ United Kingdom

01387 252435
View Venue Website

From Dillon Colthart

As part of Nithraid 2016, The Stove commissioned emerging performance artists Dillon Colthart and Jordan Chisholm to lead the procession of the Salty Coo, a now annual event starting in the town centre and finishing in the river with the Nithraid’s mascot and icon, the Salty Coo raised to a great height overseeing the sailing race’s conclusion.

The annual Nithraid took place in Dumfries on Saturday 3rd of September and despite the rain hundreds of people turned out to watch they parade of the " Salty Coo" through the town and the sail race finishing on the Greensands. Pix Kirstin McEwan

‘It began with a blog post, advertising various commission opportunities for young artists in and around Dumfries & Galloway. It seemed fitting that Jordan and I would apply for both in hopes of our creative flare being challenged and displayed by the time Nithraid came around in September. We were excited, nervous and determined to bring something theatrically unique, as well as highly political, to the streets of Dumfries.

Jordan (with blue hair) performing in the Salty Coo performance she co-designed and produced with Dillon Colthard

Upon receiving Nithraid’s ‘Salty Coo Procession’ commission from the Stove Network in early July, we became overwhelmed with joy and immediately began to brainstorm ideas creatively over various different types of coffee within local coffee shops throughout Dumfries with some paper, a pen and a desire to spread awareness through theatre and performance.

We came up with an idea to base our performance on the theme of ‘acceptance’ through queer performance whilst maintaining the meaning of the Salty Coo, which was to give something back to the river. Creatively, we challenged ourselves to incorporate movements with a strong message and create something which was both visual and aurally stimulating.

Grasping the attention of an audience in Dumfries, a place which has so much potential in terms of heightening awareness of LGBT, queer performance (such as drag) and acceptance was challenging yet liberating. We thought of ways we could get performers involved from more than just a theatrical background and made our goal inclusiveness though performance.

The process was overall smooth. We worked together well, got to learn more about one another than we already knew, based our teamwork on compromise and began to find a balance between our personal relationship and working relationship. It was interesting, as we have so many of the same views on various issues, yet positively challenged each other constantly to bring out our best creatively.

When the performance eventually came around, after weeks and weeks of preparation, we were ready to present the Salty Coo in all it’s glory – with rainbow coloured costumes, a kilt wearing – all tartan – unicorn, comic costumes, flower heads, white capes and colour bombs within the river to conclude. Our connection with the river has never been so strong, and the Coo never looked so good.

This opportunity is something which was indeed challenging in terms of managing our own time and being given a complete creative freedom, as we wanted to do our Salty Coo justice, as well as making the team at Nirthraid proud. This was an excellent commission for anyone looking to further their practise in the arts, whatever you may specialise in. From our preview performance – confined within plastic bags and smothered in paint – to the ‘Salty Coo’ installation and multi coloured procession, our procession came full circle, and we couldn’t be more proud of what we achieved.’

All pictures: Kirstin McEwan

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