Pride Arts Cafe: Queer Symbols, Flowers and Community 🌈

Pride Arts Cafe: Queer Symbols, Flowers & a Community Pride Flag 🌈

This September, Arts Cafe is joining the celebrations for Shrewsbury Pride with an evening of queer history, symbolism and making together.

Shrewsbury Pride organisers Aaron and Robin will be taking over Arts Cafe for a creative evening exploring the imagery, symbols and stories that have become part of LGBTQIA+ history.

Aaron is a multimedia artist creating illustration, graphic design and jewellery inspired by queer identity, gay rights and history. He’ll begin the evening with a journey through LGBTQIA+ iconography and flower symbolism, looking at some of the fascinating ways communities have communicated identity, resistance and belonging through visual language.

Then it’s over to Robin, illustrator, drag king and fellow Shrewsbury Pride organiser, to get everyone making.

Inspired by Aaron’s talk, you’ll create your own small fabric artwork using painting, collage, sewing or whatever combination takes your fancy. Choose a colour from the Pride flag and work mainly within that colour, creating a piece that can become part of something much bigger.

The finished artworks will be brought together to form a community made Pride flag, which will be carried in the Shrewsbury Pride march on Saturday 26 September and displayed at English Bridge Studios over Pride weekend.

Of course, if you become particularly attached to yours, you’re very welcome to take it home and give it pride of place. Or make one for yourself and another for the community flag.

All materials will be provided, although you’re welcome to bring along fabrics, threads, embellishments or other bits you’d like to incorporate.

Whether you’re an artist, part of the LGBTQIA+ community, an enthusiastic maker, completely new to making things, or simply curious about queer history, you’re very welcome to join us.

Tuesday 15 September

7pm to 9pm

English Bridge Studios, Shrewsbury

No particular artistic experience needed. Just come along, learn something, make something and help create a little piece of Shrewsbury Pride history. 🌈

Parking and access

There is limited parking available at English Bridge Studios. We recommend using Abbey Foregate car park where possible, which is nearby and convenient for evening events.

If you need parking directly outside the building, or have any access needs, please contact us in advance and we’ll advise on what may be possible.