Queer Up North 1992–2002: Celebrating Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Heritage
Explore bold and beautiful material from Queer Up North 1992–2002, Europe’s first cross-arts LGBTQIA+ festival. Established in 1992 by Tanja Farman and Gavin Barlow as part of the original Manchester Festival, Queer Up North quickly became a beacon for queer culture, drawing artists and audiences from across the globe. Over its first decade, the festival showcased groundbreaking performances and played a pivotal role in shaping Manchester’s identity as an inclusive and vibrant LGBTQIA+ city.
In late 2024, Queer Up North 1992–2002: Celebrating Manchester’s LGBTQIA+ Heritage was awarded funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with additional support from The Granada Foundation. This funding marked a significant milestone in preserving Manchester’s rich LGBTQIA+ heritage, focusing on the Queer Up North festivals held between 1992 and 2002.
All items on display, unless otherwise stated, are drawn from the Queer Up North collection held at Manchester Central Library. You can also listen to a fascinating series of oral histories about the festival in our Sound & Vision pods.
Special thanks to Archives+.
Photo credit: Pamela Sneed
Free – drop in
