ACTIVITIES for young sleuths, health and wellbeing advice, free films and exhibitions and a fringe event are just some of the activities in the first week of Pride In Gateshead.
The event – a first for the town – is running throughout August, organised by LGBTQ+ charity Out North East and supported by a whole host of organisations including Gateshead College and Gateshead Council.
Starting today (Mon 5 August) would-be investigators can go on a special Pride Code Breakers mission across the town, with the opportunity to break 10 secret codes which are in hidden location.
As each one is discovered, there’s also the opportunity to learn about some of the world’s most famous code breakers, including Alan Turing, who’s skill in cracking the Enigma Code helped end WWII.
Gateshead Pride Code Breakers runs throughout the month, with the code breakers secret file – plus all of the information about the whole month – available at www.outnortheast.org.uk
A poignant internationally renowned exhibition can also be seen at the Upper Town Centre at the Metrocentre throughout the month, which highlights the impact the rainbow flag has made across the globe.
Flag In The Map showcases the flag in various locations across the world, with some of the participants risking their lives to take these moving photographs.
The NHS Melissa bus – which offers free health and wellbeing support – will be out and about throughout the month and today can be seen at the Baltic Quadrant until 3.30pm.
Further information and future locations are available at www.melissabus.co.uk
The first of a number of free screenings will take place on 6 August at Pride Media Centre, Pelaw with the showing of Before Stonewall.
The documentary explores LGBTQ+ life from the 1900s leading up to the Stonewall Riots.
Doors open at 7pm and the film starts at 7.30pm with a running time of 90 minutes. Spaces are free but limited so anyone wanting to attend needs to register for a ticket at outnortheast.org.uk/events
A celebration of all things Pride can be seen 7-10 August at the Vane Gallery, High Street, which will be exhibiting Latrine’s Haus of Art, by local artist Chris Fleming.
On 10 August Gateshead Town Centre will host its very own Pride Fringe event, at various locations.
Wellness stalls, workshops, street entertainers, guided tours and even a Pride food village will be popping up, with full details of all locations available at the Out North East website.
The following day The Grove at Saltwell Park will host a Pride Family Picnic between noon and 4pm, where Curious Arts will be staging a mini Pride with a range of family-friendly activities, stalls, children’s rides and food outlets.
Peter Darrant, Chair of Out North East, believes these activities will show that Pride In Gateshead has got off to an amazing start.
“We’ve got a really packed programme with something for everyone,”
“It’s going to be a very exciting month across Gateshead and we’re very grateful to all the amazing businesses and organisations which have given their support.”
Peter
