Dibby's LGBTQ+ Community Arts Fund

"Dibby were willing to listen, encourage and promote the raging voice of this black queer woman. They personify what an ally can look like; solid and willing to put their heart and soul into advancing change." 

Susan Kerr, First Dibs Participant.

Images: Jordan Roberts

At Dibby, we think LGBTQ+ people are pure magic.

But we also know that LGBTQ+ people often face more challenges in life: from discrimination in the workplace, to higher rates of mental ill health, from daily micro-aggressions, through to hate crimes and targeted harassment.

And even in the places built for the LGBTQ+ community, commercial spaces like clubs and bars, many often feel unwelcome and excluded, particularly older people, or those with intersectional identities.

Did you know that Stonewall’s LGBTQ+ 2018 National Report found that 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ people living in urban areas ‘never’ attend LGBTQ+ specific events or venues, and a further 1 in 3 have received discrimination or poor treatment in these spaces? Sadly, the same amount have hidden their sexuality or gender identity at work.

At Dibby, we believe that arts and culture can offer a more inclusive and welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people to heal, grow, learn, connect and develop resilience.

And that's why we're passionate about creating industry leading LGBTQ+ talent development opportunities and top quality community events for LGBTQ+ people through our LGBTQ+ Community Arts Fund.

To find out more about the talent development and community outreach projects your money will fund, scroll down to the 'About the Fund' section.

Our fundraising target is big, but every little helps!

Our ambition is to offer an extensive programme of talent development and community outreach events that run alongside our next two productions across 2022 and 2023. To achieve this we need to raise about £55k. 

You might feel like dropping a fiver in won't make a difference, but it really will. 

Reaching our target on this crowdfunder will not only directly contribute to the first wave of activity, but it will also allow us to pay a fundraiser to apply for grants and develop relationships with larger private donors. 

Think of it as a kickstart to our fundraising engine!

We've got some reward packages, but you don't have to choose these - if you can only afford a few quid, it still all adds to the total and will be gratefully received.

About the LGBTQ+ Community Arts Fund

At Dibby, the show doesn’t end when the curtain comes down, in fact the party has just begun!

Our flagship talent development programme, First Dibs, offers an array of professional development opportunities for LGBTQ+ creatives, producers and backstage crew.

And we empower LGBTQ+ people and communities locally (and nationally online) through our innovative creative outreach projects.

Our LGBTQ+ Community Fund allows us to:

• Offer professional development opportunities to LGBTQ+ creatives, producers and backstage crew
• Deliver free workshops and creative activities for LGBTQ+ people
• Work with our partners to improve LGBTQ+ creative networks and opportunities
• Champion best practice for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the arts
• And offer a portion of free and low-income tickets to all our shows.

The LGBTQ+ Community Fund supports our ambition to make Manchester a hive of excellence for LGBTQ+ creatives, audiences and the wider community and aims to:

• Support sustainable careers for LGBTQ+ people
• Tackle intersectional and intergenerational isolation and exclusion
• Create inclusive spaces away from clubs and bars
• And foster increased confidence and wellbeing.

Testimonials

'The Black Lives Matter movement has given voice to the deep seated rage created by years of legalised murder, brutality and inequality rained down on black people. Dibby are three cis white gay men willing to listen, encourage and promote the raging voice of this black queer woman. They personify for me what an ally can look like; solid and willing to put their heart and soul into advancing change.'

Susan, First Dibs 2021 Participant

‘I have wanted to write for decades, but this is the first time I’ve had access to practical support, expertise and encouragement. It’s enabled me to write for others, opening a new stream of work and income for me. Often, people speak on our behalf, but this project allowed our own voices to be heard directly.’

Paul, HIV+Me Participant 

Find out more about our previous talent development programme at www.dibbytheatre.org/get-involved

Find out more about our most recent community outreach project at www.nathanieljhall.co.uk/in-equal-parts