Bath is set to celebrate the diverse stories and creativity of its LGBTQ+ community through a groundbreaking initiative, the Queer Bath campaign. This unprecedented collaboration, featuring the city's most famous venues and various partners, aims to illuminate the vibrant tapestry of LGBTQ+ lives, narratives and artistry within Bath.

Scheduled to run from 26 May to 30 June 2025, Queer Bath is set to be quite the party, paying homage to the local LGBTQ+ community by showcasing the art, culture and history of significant buildings across the city.

The campaign is a joint effort involving local museums, institutions, and partners, including the renowned Bath Arts Collective and the celebrated queer cabaret WIG! A highlight of the event will be the Pride NOT Prejudice Ball, which is set to take place in the historic Pump Room - famous from Jane Austen - on 6 June.

During the five-week initiative, participating institutions will delve into their collections, archives, and histories to uncover hidden queer narratives, alongside hosting a range of events designed to reveal stories that may have previously been overshadowed or neglected.

With a focus on authenticity, the project is dedicated to representing the contributions and experiences of Bath's LGBTQ+ communities throughout history while fostering spaces for reflection, celebration, and interpersonal connection.

The inspiration for the Queer Bath campaign arose from the successful Holburne Pride event in 2024, developed by the Holburne Future Collective and the museum’s young volunteers with the backing of Bath Arts Collective. The vision has since been refined collaboratively by the Holburne Museum, Bath Arts Collective, and WIG! team members Nik Jovčić-Sas and Remy Melee, who have combined efforts to establish a robust programme and partnerships for Queer Bath.

Spencer Hancock, Head of Operations at The Holburne Museum, commented: “We take pride in the roots of Queer Bath, which emerged from our dynamic young adult volunteers, The Holburne Future Collective. Our commitment to creating a safe, inclusive environment is central to the mission of the Holburne. The uncovering of new narratives that engage with diverse audiences is integral to our purpose. It is truly exciting to support our young volunteers as they drive positive change not only in our museum but across the city.”

The celebration kicked off with WIG! hosting a regency-styled photoshoot featuring local drag kings and queens at the picturesque Roman Baths, artistically merging contemporary and historic cultural elements synonymous with Queer Bath.

Nik Jovčić-Sas, Director and Host at WIG!, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, stating: “Queer Bath is undoubtedly one of the most thrilling and ambitious cultural undertakings I have ever encountered in this city! It celebrates the captivating Georgian grandeur we admire while revealing hidden histories and infusing a vibrant, queer perspective — presenting Bath as you have never experienced it before.”

Jasmine Barker, Co-director at Bath Arts Collective, remarked: “We are elated to be at the helm of coordinating, producing, and promoting Queer Bath. This initiative transcends mere events; it aims to revolutionise the engagement between Bath’s museums and heritage spaces and LGBTQ+ arts, culture, and history. Through Queer Bath, we are working to uncover and share hidden queer narratives, making these spaces increasingly welcoming and demonstrating that Bath is a living, diverse, and pulsating city.”

Many iconic venues are set to participate and will conduct their own campaigns, including The Holburne Museum, The American Museum & Gardens, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI), Bath Assembly Rooms, The Roman Baths & Pump Room (Bath & North East Somerset Council), and Bath Preservation Trust (comprising Beckford’s Tower and the Museum of Bath Architecture).

The Queer Bath campaign promises an eclectic mix of creative events over the course of the five-week programme. Highlights will include community days, discussions and film screenings that delve into queer heritage, as well as comedy nights, live performances and cabarets that celebrate Bath's flourishing LGBTQ+ community.

Additionally, participating venues will investigate their own archives and collections to unveil hidden queer stories, spotlighting artists, historians, writers, and intellectuals with LGBTQ+ connections or queer-coded histories. These discoveries will be shared through trails, talks, exhibitions, and digital content, further enriching the campaign.

queerbath.co.uk