Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2020 wil take place from Saturday 1 until Sunday 9 August. As usual it wil coincide with Antwerp Pride, from 5 until 9 August.

Antwerp Queer Arts Festival or AQAF has launched an open call for contributions. “Open for business kids! We are happy to receive all proposals for contributions to the next edition of AQAF. Lecture, performance, dance, film, spoken word…You can find all info and submission for on www.queerarts.be.”

Financial setback

Alderwoman for Culture Nabilla Ait Daoud (N-VA) recently outlined Het Roze Huis – çavaria Antwerpen a.k.a. The Pink House will loose 10,000 euros subsidy in 2020. This substantial amount was used in previous years and was to be used in 2020 for organizing AQAF.

The Pink House keeps its subsidy from alderman of Equal Opportunities Karim Bachar (sp.a).

But AQAF 2020 will go ahead, Marcia Poelman assured Antwerp‘s LGBTQIs. She is chairwoman of The Pink House.

You can help as well

We can dwell on the politics of subsidies. We can accuse political party N-VA of homophobia. Although I wonder if one can only be one’s friend if one gives you money.

10,000 euros is a large amount but not insurmountable. If 200 LGBTQIs and allies donate 50 euros, or 400 25 euros or 500 20 euros or 1,000 10 euros, you also collect 10,000 euros.

You won’t tell me The Pink House can’t find those 200 to 1,000 sympathizers to contribute once or yearly such an amount.

If that’s not possible, one must ask the question if The Pink House has enough followers to warrant all these subsidies. I realize this is blasphemy to some.

It’s time to appeal to those demonized cis white middle class gay men to contribute. So, donate here. 

Image: Antwerp Queer Arts Festival