About this Event
BACKLASH: A Queer Cultural State of the Nation
Weds 18th March 2026 | Cambridge Junction
Curious Arts, Marlborough Productions & Fatt Projects present a day of research, panels, workshops, training and conversation for the UK cultural sector launching the findings of the ’s current research into experiences of anti-lgbtq+ backlash.
This day will be an essential opportunity to hear the findings from our research with over 100 participant individuals and/or organisations working in the cultural sector on their experiences of backlash, with speakers from a range of organisations and individual practices. The programme will also include tips and best practice on how to manage and mitigate potential backlash, and invite us consider the ways that we might start to counter this as a sector.
The event will run from 10:30am until 4pm, lunch will be provided.
More information about the day's programme will be announced soon.
WHO IS THIS DAY FOR?
This day is aimed a creative decision-makers working; artistic directors, policy makers, board members, funders, programmers, producers, artists, researchers, and academics. It's for people who make decisions about what to fund, what to programme, and what to make, and people who are working out the strategy for what happens next, be that locally, organisationally, individually, or nationally.
Prices are tiered based on scale and size of the organisation, a limited number of bursaries will be available for freelancers to attend the event. If paying to attend is a barrier to your participation please email [email protected] and we'll see how we can support you to be there.
WHAT IS THE LGBTQIA+ CULTURAL BAROMETER?
The LGBTQIA+ Cultural Barometer is a research project aiming to measure, understand and articulate the current climate surrounding LGBTQIA+ cultural programming and creatives in the UK.
The project has consulted with independent LGBTQIA+ cultural practitioners, LGBTQIA+ led cultural organisations, and policy/decision-makers (eg. programmers, producers, curators, directors, board-members) from cultural organisations who programme/develop/curate/present/research LGBTQIA+ creative/cultural events to measure and articulate the current atmosphere surrounding LGBTQIA+ cultural programming and creatives in the UK (including, but not limited to, cultural backlash targeting trans-focused cultural activity & creatives, and targeting LGBTQIA+ cultural activity aimed at families and/or young audiences).
The LGBTQIA+ Cultural Barometer aims to understand the pressures and impact of this across a range of factors, and bring the wider cultural sector together to consider ways to respond to and counter the findings.
PROJECT CREDITS:
We have been hearing from an increasing number of artists, organisations, and venues who are experiencing anti-LGBTQIA+ backlash ranging from hateful comments on social media to in person protests, event cancellation, and even threats against the safety of artists, staff, and audiences. It is our belief that these experiences pose a genuine risk to LGBTQIA+ culture in the UK, impacting us emotionally, physically, financially, and professionally.
The project is being led by Curious Arts in partnership with Marlborough Productions and Fatt Projects. Our intention is to understand the experiences, pressures and impact of backlash, publish a report sharing the findings of this research, and to bring together the wider cultural sector together to consider ways to respond to the findings of the report in 2026.
PROJECT CREDITS:
Project Leads: Curious Arts, Marlborough Production & Fatt Projects.
Project Researcher: Chloe Turner.
National Partners: Homotopia, Story House, Cambridge Junction
Curious support Partners BALTIC, Northern Stage & North East Museums
Supported by Arts Council England
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Cambridge Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, United Kingdom
GBP 10.00 to GBP 75.00
