Charity launches LGBTQ+ Pride art project
Out North EastA charity has launched a drop-in art project to celebrate LGBTQ+ history month at its new support centre.
Members of the public can take part in the Spray It With Pride community art project, led by Out North East, at The One Centre in Gateshead on Saturday.
The project is supported by a local spray paint artist, who will be creating a brand-new artwork inspired by LGBTQ+ Pride in the region.
Out North East supports people living in Sunderland, Gateshead and Tyneside and opened its centre in Pelaw earlier in February.
Out North EastCharity CEO Peter Darrant said it was the first dedicated centre of its kind in the region, adding: "People told us they wanted a sober space, a space to create, to learn, to be signposted, to be educated, to simply chill out, play games and feel connected."
Darrant was approached by Gateshead Council and, with support from the Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the charity began work to establish their new centre in a "disused building".
The centre has a community kitchen, recreational area with opportunities for crafts, gaming and social activities, and offers peer support spaces, recording studios and meeting rooms for hire.
Out North EastOut North East's Spray It With Pride project is a community-based artwork which "celebrates LGBT icons through history, as well as celebrating local people and landmarks," Darrant said.
It features three panels created by Gateshead artist Chris Flemming, also known as IDa4, showing iconic people and places from history and culture.
A fourth panel will be left blank for the public to decorate, with the session running from 10:00 GMT to 14:00 on Saturday.
Once completed, the work will be displayed at different locations.
"We'll tour it round the region so people can see it and we'll invite schools and organisations to create their own Pride wall – what makes them proud about their community," Darrant said.
"Hopefully, it connects us all with the word Pride."
