News shared by Caroline on behalf of StoneCrabs. Ed
StoneCrabs’ Out On An Island project begins its seventh year of Isle of Wight LGBTQ+ projects with a new phase called ‘Building Bridges’.
Thanks to support from funders including the National Lottery Community Fund, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, the Queer Heritage and Collections Network, Isle of Wight National Landscape and IW Council there will be a range of exciting activities and support for our LGBTQ+ community and allies of all ages across the Island.
Pride In Self, Pride In Place exhibition
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Pride In Self, Pride In Place Exhibition.
LGBT History Month is in February and the theme for 2025 is ‘Activism and Social Change’. StoneCrabs launches its Pride In Self, Pride In Place exhibition in the West Gallery at Quay Arts on Saturday 15th February 2025 from 2pm.
The project explored the pioneering work of the NHS in LGBTQ+ culture during the 1980s and 1990s and you can see the magnificent LGBTQ+ Memorial Quilt curated by artists Dawn Fidler and Jenna Sabine with each square created by someone in our community.
The exhibition also features the Island’s LGBT Trail Map designed by local artist Spike Spondike, extracts of LGBTQ+ people connected to the Island who shared their life stories with us in the form of oral histories, plus a special and impactful installation about Clause 28 and its effects on a whole generation.
Badge Design Competition
There is an opportunity to take part in a badge design competition in which we explore the theme of activism and social change – read more about it on the website.
The exhibition runs from Saturday 15th February to 16th March 2025.
Performed Walks
Inspired by our LGBT Trail map, we will be devising, rehearsing and producing 4 performed walks exploring significant LGBTQIA+ historical locations on the Isle of Wight from July to October 2025.
Force of Nature
Over the next two seasons, StoneCrabs will deliver ten unique sessions led by artists Rebecca Tremain and Katy Suggitt held on selected Wednesdays, where you can creatively explore nature spots in West Wight and the Bay.
This is a chance to immerse yourself in nature using the senses. Sessions will be a mix of personal exploration and collaborative activities, allowing everyone to express their relationship with the biosphere in a creative and enjoyable way. Force of Nature is part of the Isle of Wight National Landscape’s ‘Discovering Landscapes’ project.
Exciting outdoor adventures
Join us at Boojum & Snark, 105 High St, Sandown PO36 8AF on Wednesday, 19th February 2025, from 11am until 1pm for our exciting outdoor adventure, and continue with us every Wednesday thereafter.
Be sure to wear comfortable footwear and dress for the outdoors as we will walk down to the beach. Visit the website to learn more.
Celebrating LGBTQ+ Working Class Histories
StoneCrabs embarks on a new journey of discovery and storytelling funded by Historic England. This new project aims to uncover the vibrant histories of venues frequented by LGBTQ+ people along Union Street in Ryde. If you have memories of this area and want to help spotlight the vital role these spaces play in fostering community connections, we would love to hear from you.
Share your experiences and collaborate with others through community workshops and panel discussions featuring voices from both past and present. Together, we’ll explore the stories that shape our collective heritage and celebrate the contributions of working-class LGBTQ+ individuals.
Help us bring attention to the often-overlooked narratives of our community. Join us in creating public events designed to uplift and share LGBTQ+ everyday stories. If you’re interested in sharing your story or participating, please contact us at [email protected].
Volunteering Opportunities
StoneCrabs is grateful to over 60 volunteers who have helped with events, administration, social media, research and more. There are opportunities for people of all ages to join us and enjoy meeting new LGBTQ+ people. Let us know if you have any particular skills you could share with us, email [email protected] to learn more.
Dates for your diaries
Saturday 25th January 2025, 10.30am – 12.30pm – LGBTQ+ Book Club at The Tool Shed, One Holyrood, Newport. A chance to explore books with LGBTQ+ authors and themes, or you can just come along to socialise. We read one book a month in our own time and get together for a delicious breakfast and chat.
Sunday 2nd February, 11.30am – 1.30pm – Our popular LGBTQ+ Pop Up Cafes continue to meet on the first Sunday of the month at Monkton Arts, East Street, Ryde with a chance to meet up for coffee and chat with other LGBTQ+ people in a safe space.
Thursday 6th February – There’s a Charity Quiz Night raising funds for StoneCrabs’ Out On An Island projects hosted by Paul Armfield at the Island Sailing Club, Cowes. Food is available from 5pm to 6.30pm and the quiz starts from 7pm. Tickets are £10 each with a maximum of 6 people per team.
Saturday 15th February, 2pm – 4pm – Join us for our Pride In Self, Pride In Place launch event, see the LGBTQ+ Memorial Quilt, meet the team from Out On An Island and learn about the exhibition. If you are involved with a school or youth group and want to visit, we are happy to organise a guided tour with workshops.
Sunday 2nd March, 11.30am – 1.30pm – Our Pop Up Cafe comes to Quay Arts in Newport, a chance to view the Pride In Self, Pride In Place exhibition and to enjoy refreshments from the cafe with other LGBTQ+ people.
Sunday, 16th March, 12pm – Closing of Quay Arts Pride In Self, Pride In Place exhibition.
