queer qandī fest is an arts and activism festival celebrating queers of colour, envisioning queer futures, highlighting creative forces and creating new narratives and representations.
50 years after the Stonewall riots, spearheaded by Black and POC trans activists, we wish to celebrate and acknowledge the work, importance and involvement of QTI of colour in the lgbtq+ movement. We will do this by organising queer qandī fest, a four-day festival with talks, workshops, film screenings, club event and art exhibition.
Events
Please note that all events are free of charge and open for members of the lgbtq+ community and allies unless otherwise stated.
Accessibility: venues are accessible for wheelchair users. Please let us know if there are any ways we can make it easier for you to attend the events.
Thursday 20 June
Panel Discussion : Queer and Trans Global Activism
17.30-19.00, Waterstones
Panellists: Dr. Nour Abu Assab, Dr. Senthorun Raj and artists Ornella Ospino and TextaQueen. Chaired by Dr. Joyce Man and Yu-Chen Lai. Organised in collaboration with lgbtQ+@cam.
Free but ticketed event. Get your ticket here.
Opening of art show – Drinks and nibble
19.00, Waterstones
Join us to socialise after the panel discussion for the opening of queer qandī art show. Artworks by photographer Myah Jeffers, artist April Lin, illustrator Ornella Ospino, artivists Elmira Zadissa and Ramona Zadissa.
Film screening
21.00-23.00, Arts Picturehouse
Screening of short films in collaboration with Queers in Shorts
REFUGE Part I and II: The World is Round so that nobody can hide in the corners,
The kiss, dir. Leandro Goddinho, Brazil, 2017
I am a woman, dir. Kai Fiáin, UK, 2016
Seeking Single White Male, dir. Vivek Shraya, Canada, 2011
Duo Impacto, dir. Molly Harding, Cuba, 2017
Happy Birthday Marsha!, dir. Tourmaline and Sasha Wortzel, US, 2017
Lucy Hicks Anderson, dir. Rhys Ernst, US, 2016
Friday 21 June
Race, Sexuality and Mental Health
18.00-19.00, Waterstones
A conversation between Alexander Leon, mental health awareness activist and Dr. Mónica Moreno Figueroa, a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Cambridge.
Free but ticketed event. Get your free ticket here.
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Saturday 22 June
Workshops
11.00-16.30, Cambridge Junction
To find out more about the workshops, click here
- Poetry workshop with Sonia Quintero
- Illustration workshop with Ornella Ospino
- Portrait photography workshop with Myah Jeffers
- Zine making workshop with daikon* zine
Participation in workshops is free of charge but you need to get a ticket in advance. For tickets click here.
queer qandī club night
21.00-02.00, Cambridge Junction
Celebrate queer talent and energy to music played by DJ LUSCiOUS and performances by The Kings of Colour Initiative! Get your tickets (£6) here!
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Sunday 23 June
Workshops
12.00-15.30, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
To find out more about the workshops, click here
- Writing queer stories with Aude Konan
- Self-care tips for the LGBTI community with Dr. Joyce Man
- Infectious Diseases and Marginalised People, talk and workshop with Dr. Morwan Osman
Participation in workshops is free of charge but you need to get a ticket in advance. For tickets click here!
Thursday 20 June – Tuesday 25 June
Art show at Waterstones
Artworks by photographer Myah Jeffers, artist April Lin, illustrator Ornella Ospino, artivists Elmira Zadissa and Ramona Zadissa.
qand + قندي qandī, sugared: Candy
So what’s the deal with qandī? Well, the English word Candy is derived from Arabic قَنْدِيّ (qandiyy, “candied”), in turn, derived from Medieval Persian قند (qand, meaning “cane sugar”), in turn, borrowed from Sanskrit खण्ड (khaṇḍa, “candied sugar”). Words we don’t know the roots of are a natural part of our vocabulary. We take them for granted and probably never bother to know where they come from. The sweet victories won by LGBTQ movement, come from the struggle of many. Yet not all of the members of the community can enjoy the fruits of these victories. It is often taken for granted that Queer history and Queer struggle is a White Western phenomena. The white/cis-washing of the historical events retold in books and films are some examples of QTIPOC being erased from Queer history. The prevalent LGBTQ+ phobia in many POC communities and countries of heritage for migrant queers, strengthen the assumption that fighting for LGBTQ+ rights are White Western issues. With queer qandī we wish to acknowledge the diverse experiences of QTIPOC and create a space where we can learn, share and explore our experiences, history and struggle.
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