$6.8 million invested to make Pride festival a staple in Victoria’s events calendar

A landmark festival of pride events will be held throughout Victoria this summer to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) Victorians, with the State Government investing $6.8 million to make Victoria’s Pride a staple in Victoria’s events calendar for years to come.

Victorian Minister for Equality Harriet Shing launched Victoria’s Pride - an annual celebration across the state for the next four years to support and celebrate the state’s LGBTIQ+ communities.

The Victorian Government has partnered with leading LGBTIQ+ arts and cultural organisation Midsumma to deliver Victoria’s Pride with Midsumma Chief Executive Karen Bryant noting “this is an exciting opportunity for all diverse LGBTQIA+ Victorians and our wider communities to come together and celebrate our journey, our voices and our Pride."

Victoria’s Pride will commence in December with a series of events across regional Victoria and will close with a one-day street party in Melbourne’s Gertrude and Smith Street precinct on Sunday 12th February 2023.

Grants of up to $15,000 will support arts and culture projects which showcase regionally based LGBTIQ+ artists and highlight regional communities’ voices and stories, from community parties and art exhibitions to theatre shows and festivals.

The events will provide an opportunity for LGBTIQ+ people to connect with one another and feel represented, and for people across the state to demonstrate their pride in and support for LGBTIQ+ communities.

The State Government’s investment will help build on the success of Melbourne Pride, a statewide event held across the 2021/22 summer to mark more than 40 years since the decriminalisation of sex between men in Victoria.

More than 67,500 people are estimated to have attended last years’ events, with almost 30,000 people participating in 22 regional activities last summer, with events including a pop-up festival in Bendigo, art exhibitions, theatre shows and a movie screening.

To apply for a Victoria’s Pride regional grant or to find out more, please visit midsumma.org.au/regional-activation. Applications are open from now until Monday 26th September at 5pm. 

Image courtesy Victoria Pride Society