About Queer Bath

Queer Bath is a bold and inclusive celebration of LGBTQ+ arts, culture, heritage, and history, brought to life across Bath’s museums, galleries, and cultural spaces.

It’s not a standalone organisation — it’s a collaborative initiative. Queer Bath is co-created by a growing network of local museums, heritage sites, arts organisations, and community partners working together to explore, honour, and amplify LGBTQ+ stories across the city.

Rooted in authenticity, co-creation and deep research, Queer Bath exists to uncover and share the hidden queer histories embedded in Bath’s historic buildings and collections. It’s a movement towards meaningful representation, historical accuracy, and cultural equity — powered by joint effort, not individual ownership.

Our Origin

In 2024, The Holburne Museum supported its young adult volunteers — the Holburne Future Collective — to produce a brand new, inclusive two-day PRIDE event in collaboration with Bath Arts Collective.

The Holburne FutureCollective, made up of young people aged 15–25, wanted to devise an inclusive, safe celebration for its community of LGBTQIA+ members and allies — one that championed creativity, culture, and connection. Recognising the importance of working together, they invited Bath Arts Collective to help shape Holburne PRIDE into a truly collaborative event. With their support, the event grew into a city-wide initiative involving cultural partners from across Bath, ensuring a diverse and meaningful programme with mass appeal.

The Holburne Future Collective is a project for young people, by young people. It provides opportunities to engage with art, artists, and museums, while also creating space for the future perspective to be heard. Members gain valuable experience that builds confidence, strengthens CVs, and opens pathways into the arts and heritage sectors.

Queer Bath was born from this spirit of collaboration — growing from one bold idea into a city-wide celebration that brings together institutions, communities, and creatives to spotlight LGBTQ+ lives and legacies.

Our Vision

We envision a Bath where every museum and venue not only celebrates LGBTQ+ lives and legacies but actively investigates their collections and archives to reveal the queer stories within. By reinterpreting history through an LGBTQ+ lens, Queer Bath helps institutions move beyond surface-level inclusion to foster spaces of joy, reflection and transformation.

Our Mission

  • Spotlight overlooked and misrepresented LGBTQ+ narratives across Bath’s historic and cultural venues.

  • Empower organisations to reinterpret their histories and collections through authentic, inclusive storytelling.

  • Celebrate the rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ identities through creative programming, community-led curation, and collaboration.

What We Stand For

  • Depth, Not Decoration: No rainbow-washing. We prioritise rigorous research, lived experiences, and community collaboration over token gestures.

  • Comprehensive Representation: We celebrate the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, intersex, asexual, aromantic, and queer — with an explicitly trans-affirming stance and a strong commitment to intersectionality.

  • Openness & Accessibility: Queer Bath is for everyone. Events are designed to be accessible and inclusive, with active awareness of disability access and a commitment to anti-racism and equity.

  • Collaboration & Co-Creation: We work with and for the LGBTQ+ community, developing events and exhibitions in consultation with a diverse focus group to ensure authenticity and relevance.

  • Education & Reflection: Through art, performance, archives, and dialogue, Queer Bath fosters learning, empathy and allyship.

Our Promise

Queer Bath is more than a series of events. It’s a city-wide commitment to visibility, inclusion, and cultural enrichment. Together with museums, venues, and community partners, we honour the past, celebrate the present, and shape a more inclusive future for Bath and beyond.