Ballarat Pride Month 2024 program

17th May to 29th June 

Introducing Ballarat Queer Stories, a captivating art exhibition serving as a platform for those yearning to express themselves. Every stroke of a brush and every flick of a pen becomes a powerful voice, echoing the diverse experiences and stories of those who have longed to express themselves freely. 

All ages and everyone is welcome. 

Presented by the City of Ballarat and TBH Studios

1-30 June

Yarn bombing is a form of street art that uses crochet, knitting and other fibre arts to decorate spaces. Select trees all throughout Ballarat will be covered with yarn art during Pride Month in June to celebrate and share the beauty of our local LGBTQIA+ community. The Ballarat Pride Yarn Bombing Project is proudly supported by the City of Ballarat.
 

This has been a huge Ballarat wide event. We wish to say a big thank you to ACU Ballarat, Ballarat Social Sewing, Cozy Craft Dates Ballarat, CPAP Wendouree, Eureka Village Nursing Home, Mount Clear College, OPSM Central Square, Phoenix P-12 Community College, Rainbow Coffee, Winter Woollies for Ballarat, and the countless individual crocheters, knitters, and crafty volunteers who made this project thrive.

All ages and everyone is welcome. 

Presented by the City of Ballarat

1-30 June

On display all month in the middle of Sturt St, the City of Ballarat has planted a Progress Pride Flag, to show our support for our LGBTIQA+ community members. 

All ages and everyone is welcome. 

Presented by the City of Ballarat

1-30 June, 10am - 5pm

Each season the Art Gallery of Ballarat selects three diverse works from the Collection and asks the community to vote for which one you would like to see on display.

All ages and everyone is welcome. 

Presented by the Art Gallery of Ballarat

1-30 June

Due to circumstances beyond our control, 'Ballarat's Queer History' exhibition has been postponed until next Pride Month.

Presented by the City of Ballarat and the Australian Queer Archives

1 June - 4 October

Experiencing art allows endless possible perspectives and narratives to be uncovered. In recent years, museums and galleries across the world have undertaken ‘queering’ projects to challenge hetero-normative narratives found in institutional spaces and to explore the multitude of ways that artworks and objects can be approached. Almost any artwork can tell a queer story, not necessarily through its provenance or creation, but through its interpretation. 

Presented by the Art Gallery of Ballarat

7 June - 10 July

This collection of works showcase my perspective as a transgender woman, which is something often met with confusion and or controversy. In my art I believe creating works that have a “tongue in cheek” approach to topical issues such as living life as a transgender person, for me this takes the fear out of talking about such “touchy” subjects. Life is not that serious and I am just living my life, so enjoy a collection of me being silly.

All ages and everyone is welcome. 

Presented by Creative Cities Ballarat

16 - 30 June

Rynelle Walker is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community. As an Aboriginal artist, she paints how she sees life today. The struggles that are around us and those that are within. This exhibit ‘Life’, explores just that.

EXHIBITION OPENING NIGHT: 15th of June, 5pm til 8pm

All ages and everybody is welcome.

Presented by Life is Art

21 June - 6 July

Cheryl Szöllősi is a local photographer and the powerhouse behind both Rainbow Coffee and Uncoordinated Queers. Every week she takes stunning photos of the LGBTIQA+ folks and allies that come to Rainbow Coffee. This exhibition highlights some of those images and people.

EXHIBITION OPENING:  22 June from 10-11am with free coffee and donuts from Mumma Nonna's coffee van.

All ages and everyone is welcome. 

Presented by the City of Ballarat

1 - 30 June

Take a book, leave a book, this free little library is filled with LGBTIQA+ books for all ages. 

A Queer little Library is a free book-sharing box where anyone may take an LGBTIQA+ book or leave one to share. Little libraries share knowledge and joy freely. You do not need to donate a book in order to take one.  We encourage you to contribute any books you think belong because there is also joy in sharing knowledge as well as finding it.

Presented by the City of Ballarat and TBH Studio and assisted by the Ballarat LGBTIQA+ community and allies

1 June, 1 - 4pm

The Rainbow Community Angels is the community-led safety initiative based in Victoria, launched in May 2023. Your support enables us to train and support LGBTIQA+ people and allies to take part in peaceful actions to support community safety at inclusive events like Drag Storytime and rainbow formals for LGBTIQA+ young people , currently being targeted as part of a broader rise in transphobia and homophobia in Australia and beyond. 

Please register so we know who to expect on the day. 

If you are under the age of 16 we recommend that you undertake the Rainbow Community Angels training with a parent or adult friend to ensure you are also able to attend RCA activities.  

2 June, 10 am - 12 noon

Join us for a special Pride month collaboration between The Hidden Orchard and Uncoordinated Queers!

We will be harvesting a group of around 50 bountiful olive trees together.

It is a brilliant way to get out and get active whilst having a chat and building community. The area has nice flat ground but is in and around a car park, so kids are welcome but must be under supervision by a guardian at all times. Dogs are welcome if kept on leash.
The Hidden Orchard divide the harvested fruit into thirds; for the tree owner, food relief charities, and the volunteers who help harvest. You will receive a share of the olives to take home.

Presented by the The Hidden Orchard and Uncoordinated Queers

2 June, 10 am - 3pm

Come help us celebrate the opening weekend of Pride Month with the Pride Month Market at the Ballaarat Mechanic's Institute. With art and craft stalls, trash and treasure and second hand goods stalls as well as the awesome Trans And Gender Diverse Clothing Swap and A Queer Little Library you're bound to find a gem or two! We'll also have young musicians playing live throughout the day and face painting for everyone!

All ages and everyone is welcome. 

Presented by the City of Ballarat and Tiny Pride

3 June, 8 - 9pm

Celebrate pride at a special NO LIGHTS NO LYCRA (NLNL) BALLARAT!

No Lights No Lycra Ballarat is an endorphin-pumping dance party in the dark that brings people together for the pure joy of dancing. We turn the lights off and the music on for one hour so you can move to the beat without judgement.

All ages and everyone is welcome. 

Presented by NLNL Ballarat

4 June, 3 - 5:30pm

Lets get creative in the kitchen.

QHub location emailed upon registration.  

Accessibility: QHub has accessible features (ramp to front door, wide passage way, gender neutral bathroom, quiet spaces, noise cancelling headphones, sensory toys, mindful activities), but if you have particular requirements please let us know when you register.

Free to attend but booking is essential

Ages 12-17

Presented by QHub

5 and 19 June, 12 - 2pm

BYO t-shirt, hat, shoes or chosen textile. QHub will provide fabric paints and equipment.  Queerstralia Doco will also be screening in TV room. 

QHub location emailed upon registration 

Accessibility: QHub has accessible features (ramp to front door, wide passage way, gender neutral bathroom, quiet spaces, noise cancelling headphones, sensory toys, mindful activities), but if you have particular requirements please let us know when you register.

Free to attend but booking is essential

Ages 18-25

Presented by QHub

6 June, 10am

Come and join the Ageing Well Services Team at the Sebastopol Library as we celebrate Pride Month with a special screening of Pride (M) 

Free event with morning tea provided. 

Ages: 15+

Free to attend but bookings essential: https://events.humanitix.com/pride-month-community-movie-pride

Presented by City of Ballarat

6 June, 3 - 6pm

Sadly, due to Covid, this QHub event has been postponed until spring.

Presented by QHub

7 June, 1 - 4pm

School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is an early intervention approach for those in their final year of school.

It's basically designed to support your transition from school to employment. The Are-Able SLES program helps young people prepare, look for and gain meaningful employment.

The SLES Pride Picnic: Snacks & Crafts Edition will be a relaxed afternoon of snacks, craft and connection.

Please note, this event is for SLES only participants and allies

Presented by Are-Able and Tiny Pride

7 June, 6 - 8pm 

It's that time again folks, it's Pool Time with the Uncoordinated Queers!

All ages and everyone is welcome.

Presented by Uncoordinated Queers 

8 June, 10am – 2pm

Join us on Saturday June 8 for a social hiking event for local gay, bi and queer men* up Mount Buninyong

*note: this is a trans inclusive event. Anyone that identifies as a man is welcome.

Ages: 18+

19 June, 6-7pm

Keen to dip a toe into the vast pool of queer online dating but worry that you might be in over your head?  Not to worry, Vanessa from Fairy Wren Counselling has got your back!  

Age 18+  

Presented by Fairy Wren Counselling and supported by the City of Ballarat

20 June, 4 - 6pm

Games, snacks, craft and Nail Art fun! 

QHub location emailed upon registration 

Accessibility: QHub has accessible features (ramp to front door, wide passage way, gender neutral bathroom, quiet spaces, noise cancelling headphones, sensory toys, mindful activities), but if you have particular requirements please let us know when you register.

Free to attend but booking is essential

Ages 12 and under

Presented by QHub

21 June, 10 - 11:30am

Bring your questions, queries and concerns about aged services in Ballarat and join Tiny Pride and Community Connectors from Ageing Well Services, City of Ballarat for a cuppa, cakes and conversation.

For older LGBTI people to ask questions and connect to services and for Tiny Pride and Ageing Well to listen to community concerns about ageing and services for the aged and build knowledge of older LGBTI needs for improved advocacy and service improvement

All ages and everyone is welcome. 

Presented by the City of Ballarat and Tiny Pride

21 June (was 14 June),  5.30-7.30pm 

Is there an issue that you are passionate about this Pride Month? Is there something making you mad? Would stabbing something thousands of times help? If yes, maybe craftivist embroidery, where craft and activism come together, is for you! Step into the world of embroidered craftivism with local queer craftivist Lauren Matthews and be inspired to create art for change.

15+, those under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult. 

Presented by the City of Ballarat

23 June, 1 - 3pm
 

Drawing is for everyone! 

This drop-in drawing session is open to people of all abilities regardless of your sexuality and gender. 

In this session we will do some drawing exercises which I will demonstrate to you, and we can do a collaborative drawing based on an old parlour game called Exquisite Corpse! You are also very welcome to bring in your own drawings and do your own thing in the company of others who also like drawing. 

 
All ages and everyone is welcome. 

Photo credit Tara C. Moore.

Presented by the City of Ballarat and the Art Gallery of Ballarat 

26 June, from 6pm
 

Join us for an empowering evening of creativity, at "Paint and Sip with a twist", where art meets empowerment. This is not like your typical paint and sip. Rather than painting a beach landscape or a flower pot, you'll be painting your very own spicy self. 🔥

No experience needed as Sab will pre-draw your figure on canvas before the event and guide you on how to make your own masterpiece through the night.

Connect with like-minded people, share stories, and celebrate the beauty of self-expression.

Ages 18+

27 June, 4:30 - 6:30pm

Vintage Arcade Games

QHub location emailed upon registration 

Accessibility: QHub has accessible features (ramp to front door, wide passage way, gender neutral bathroom, quiet spaces, noise cancelling headphones, sensory toys, mindful activities), but if you have particular requirements please let us know when you register.

Free to attend but booking is essential - limited places available 

Ages 18-25

Presented by QHub

27 June, 5 - 6pm

Are you interested in LGBTIQA+ inclusion in local government? Hear from a panel of experts about how to engage with - and run for - local councils to achieve outcomes for LGBTIQA+ inclusion.

Featuring Daniel Moloney (Councillor at Ballarat City Council) and Jan Farrell (former Councillor at Greater Geelong City Council), with further speakers to be announced. 

All ages and everyone is welcome

Presented by Rainbow Local Government and Tiny Pride

27 June, 10am - 12 noon

Coffee with a LLO is a casual opportunity for you to meet and share a cuppa with some local police officers who are part of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex Queer and Asexual Liaison Officer program.

Please note: officers in attendance will be in their uniform. 

Presented by Rainbow Coffee Ballarat, Tiny Pride and Victoria Police 

30 June, 11am - 2pm

This is a pop-up "crafternoon" session, for any queers and allies who like art and crafts. Bring whatever project you've got going, and work together in a group of people who like doing the same.
 

If you've got too many WIP's (works in progress) to choose from but want to start another project, we have community craft boxes filled with supplies for you to choose from. Feel free to try something new, give an old craft a fresh start, or learn a new skill and maybe make a friend in the process.
 

This is a drop in session, so feel free to come and go as you please.

19 July

Come and explore your unique creative style with Ballarat based artist Caitlin Hope Brown. Whether you are an absolute beginner, or an artist looking to loosen up, you are invited to come and create some experimental art. 

You will learn about:

· Expressive linework

· Conveying emotion through colour

· Mixed media techniques 

With a focus on enjoying the process, this is a welcoming environment for all.

Presented by the City of Ballarat