ILGCN World Rainbow Cultural Conference Stage IncludedST. PETERSBURG TO HOST RUSSIA's
BIGGEST QUEER CULTURAL EVENT
St. Petersburg -- The International Festival of Queer Culture 2009 -- September 17-27, 2009 -- will take place in this Russian city as the largest-scale event of this type in this country so far. Several public organisations and initiative groups of St. Petersburg, both LBGT and non-LBGT, have joined forces to create this 10-day multi-event festival which is supported by partners varying from the Swedish and Dutch consulates to the St. Petersburg guidebooks.
The program includes theatrical performances, photo and art exhibitions, poetry slams, seminars, workshops, discussions, and music. Rockfest, the closing festival event, presents several emerging as well as well-established bands from St. Petersburg and is head-lined by the American group, Betty.
The events also include the 3rd stage of this year´s ILGCN (International Lesbian & Gay Cultural Network) World Rainbow Cultural Conference (earlier stages in Bucharest and Budapest) on September 21 -- with a special focus on Nordic rainbow cultural co-operation with collegues in Eastern Europe. It will also include the ILGCN's and Tupilak's (Nordic rain bow cultural workers) travelling art and photo exhibition with works from 25 nations.
"Queer" is the chosen concept for the festival aiming to celebrate university and diversity and as a rebellion against stigmas and labels. The term "queer" aims to go beyond the LGBT-sphere and to include everyone, expanding the rigid frameworks surrounding social stereotypes and stereotypes of identity, sex and gender. The message the festival hopes to bring forward is that all are different but all are united by one language - the language of art, and by common values - values of love, tolerance and mutual respect. The ambition of the festival is also to unite different people around constructive creativity and positive emotions.
More information and questions: http://www.queerfest.ru/en/index.shtml queer.fest2009@gmail.com
Information concerning the ILGCN conference and activities: www.ilgcn.tupilak.org
