GFest 09, the London-wide arts festival, which gives queer artists a space to showcase their talents, has been dubbed “a success” by organisers after the final performances last weekend.
The events, which took place across London over a two-week period, included visual arts exhibitions, performance events and short film screenings. More than 100 artists took part, flying in from America and Europe.
There were also social and networking events, workshops, debates and seminars with leading LGBT artists, workshop facilitators and academics in the UK.
The festival was launched by David Lammy MP at the House of Commons at the end of October, who said: "G-Fest is about highlighting the often ignored issues of ethnicity and sexuality. I know from many of my gay Black and Asian friends that whatever their career or artistic focus, prejudice has sometimes led to a double discrimination from both their own community and the predominantly white arts and gay establishments."
GFest, organised by gay arts charity Wise thoughts, also received support from the Mayor of London and the launch was attended by MPs from across the three main parties.
Niranjan Kamatkar, artistic director of GFest commented: "I think all of the over 100 GFest 09 artists and practitioners worked very hard to make it a success and contributed to the festival with their best artistic abilities to send a common message – Stamp Out Homophobia. A big thank you to all".
Preparations are already under way for GFest 10 in November next year - www.gaywisefestival.org.uk.