LGBTQ+ arts and culture festival Homotopia to 'expand'

The UK’s longest-running LGBTQ+ arts and culture festival is being taken in a new direction.

Homotopia, the Liverpool-based arts and social justice organisation, has appointed Topher Campbell as its new director and CEO. The Afro-Queer artist and filmmaker, who lives in the city centre, said in a time when the community are facing "a more hostile environment", providing spaces that offer "community, dialogue, joy, and creativity for us and by us are essential".

The Londoner told the ECHO: “For many years Homotopia has been a leading force in Liverpool's art scene through its annual festival and the brilliant artistic development strands Queercore and Young Homotopia. My plan is to expand on that vision by focusing on LGBTQ+ arts and culture all year round. I want Homotopia to be a vanguard in work by LGBTQIA+ artists nationally and internationally.

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“I plan to attract big names as well as local talent. I want Homotopia to entertain, inspire and lead the conversation about what it is to be LGBTQIA + for all including people from the global majority and trans people.”

Homotopia was founded in 2003 and marked its 20th festival last year. Despite this, Topher explains how the need for organisations, such as Homotopia, is more important than ever.

He said: “We are living in an increasingly hostile world where some people are openly opposing LGBTQIA + and anti-gay laws are being passed and enforced globally. There are people online and in real life causing real harm including physical abuse towards queer people. Homotopia, through the art and performance it platforms, will speak to a better world, including the right for LGBTQIA+