Capturing Courage PRIDE project - Midsumma Festival project

As the state of Victoria, Australia, commemorated 40 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in that state, this series started as a celebration of some of Victoria’s iconic Queer performance venues that had been operating for more than 20 years and helped form the base from which contemporary Queer arts and culture had developed here in Australia. But set against a time of increasing right-wing activity, Nazi gatherings and salutes in the streets of Melbourne, organised targeted hate campaigns online and in person at queer events, and rising fear amongst LGBTQIA+ communities, Capturing Courage (later to become the name of my business) became a broader testament to the courage, vulnerability and PRIDE of queer performers and their audiences and the power and joy community gatherings bring, at a time when this has never been so crucial.

This project is now expanding from queer artists and audiences, to capturing a broader range of diverse LGBTQIA+ community members, and events - doing courageous and important things for and within our communities.. The resulting final collection will likely be either a photo exhibition or  a photo book in the future. Interested in being involved - contact Midsumma Festival Chief Executive & Creative Director Karen Bryant at karen@midsumma.org.au