Experience

Queer Arts Festival Leuven with pride parade from 3 to 25 November 2023

Posted by Timothy on

From the 3rd until the 25th of November 2023, Queer Leuven and municipal cultural centre 30CC collaborate to organise the first Queer Arts Festival Leuven, in university city Leuven. For three weeks you will be able to enjoy queer art with a wide array of cultural events.

Little is know at this point, besides the dates. QAFL runs simultaneously with Holebifilmfestival. Both work together. 

“From the 3rd until the 25th of November, Queer Leuven turns Leuven into a hub of queerness,
through the Queer Arts Festival”, the website says. “You can expect music, theatre, performances, exhibitions, films, talks, and workshops.”

“Together with more than twenty partners within the cultural field of Leuven, every day is a new day of exploring this uncharted territory. In every corner of Leuven, you will be able to find something to do, from the big city theatre to the underground venues. While exploring our offer of events, you will explore the diverse cultural landscape of Leuven.”

Uncharted territory

“An unfamiliar area or situation, especially one that has or seems to have no maps or guidelines. As queers, a lot of our lives, culture, and joy need to be explored, taught, and discovered.  We don’t always have access, or possibility, to envelop ourselves in queerness, and queer culture.”

“With Queer Arts Festival Leuven, we want to create a moment for queers of all ages to rejoice, celebrate, and come together through culture, in the city of Leuven. There hasn’t been an absolute absence of queerness in Leuven, we have certainly had our share of events, organizations, and happenings, but never on a bigger scale or platform. With Queer Art Festival Leuven, we want to turn the city’s attention to the queers in Leuven for three full weeks.”

Mission

“Queer Arts Festival believes in the power of queerness. Queerness, for us, is everything and/or anyone who falls under the umbrella of LGBTQUIA+. Our events are not exclusive, but we demand attention to a safe space and respect between attendees.”

The U in LGBTQUIA+ represents the undecided.

“We highlight queer artists during these three weeks, in mainstream venues, and underground ones. Together, we want to build a new community, of queers and allies, to queerify Leuven.”

Every two years

In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, organiser Georgy Chtchevaev (24) says he started QAFL because he misses queer initiatives in Leuven (for his age). Nowadays there are no gay or queer bars in Leuven and the last bar standing, Café Rocco, didn’t really attract young crowds. Rocco is also closed nowadays and the new rainbow house in Leuven is run by Unique.

QAFL is to feature a pride parade. The festival is to be held every two years. Some twenty actors in the cultural world of Leuven are committed to the project.

Queer Belgium