Cultural Education Award Winners
Stand Out Young Producers
Winners of the Young Arts Activism Award in 2024
Stand Out Young Producers are a group of young people breaking down barriers within the Burnley community and supported by youth arts charity, Blaze Arts. What began as a research project into LGBTQI+ local heritage culminated in the creation of the first Pride event in Burnley.
The project is fiercely youth-led, and continues to be driven by the interests of the young people in the group.
Sparked by their own curiosity about Burnley’s LGBTQI+ cultural heritage, the group was initial brought together in 2021/22. They visited archives, recorded oral histories, met historians and shared their learning and creative responses through zines, exhibitions and events across East Lancashire. This developed into a drive for something bigger, and after securing funding etc from council, they led Burnley’s first pride parade in July 2023.
The event created opportunities for collaboration and engagement across the community. There were creative workshops on badge-making, t-shirt customisation and face painting, as well sessions on poetry and local LGBTQI+ heritage. Working together with local police and the council, Stand Out Young Producers created a safe and inclusive space for the community celebration.
"The Young Producers had a vision and they’ve made it a reality."
Helen Thackray, Director of Blaze Arts
Researching local LGBTQI+ heritage
Heritage in action
In July 2023, after securing funding from Arts Council England and Lancashire County Council, the Stand Out Young Producers led over 100 people through the streets of Burnley in the town's first Pride parade.
The group also worked with a Creative Producer to deliver a Pride event at Burnley Mechanics which sold out. The event included information stalls, live music, workshops and creative activities.
Feedback showed the positive impact the event had on the LGBTQI+ community, with one attendee writing "…as a young queer many years ago hanging out in Burnley town centre, this has been beyond what I ever imagined happening in my town."
Did you know...
On July 30, 1971, Campaign for Homosexual Equality held a meeting at Burnley Library which became a milestone in the ongoing struggle for LGBT+ rights.
When planning the Pride event, the group decided that they wanted to promote local creativity and work with local artists to create an event that was celebratory and fun whilst communicating a serious message. They programmed local musicians and booked Burnley born drag Queen Elektra Fence to lead the parade and host the event.
The Young Producers ensured that Burnley's heritage was also at the heart of the event and attempted to bridge historic social divides by inviting founder of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, Mike Jackson, to the event who brought handmade 'Support the Miners' banners.
Through arts and creativity the Stand Out Young Producers were able to create a safe and celebratory space where a wide range of people could connect through shared positive experiences.
