Our Vision
Queer Connect looks to celebrate the richness of our local queer community here in Naarm (Melbourne) and aims to provide a hub for people to see themselves represented proudly and fiercely across communities and industries.
Concept
Queer Connect believes in connecting LGBTQIA+ people and supporting the community to forge unique and different pathways through autonomy and connection by providing an inclusive platform for a diverse group of people - diverse in their identities, their experiences and their craft.
Our first campaign “CHOOSING LOVE” showcased 13 local queer creatives from a variety of backgrounds and industries and explored what love and chosen family means to them. The idea was to foster a stronger sense of community across the arts in Naarm by bridging the gap between sectors and featuring artists from the comedy, theater, drag, ballroom, fashion and music industries!
Our follow-up project was the runway event “QUEER BY DESIGN” which platformed 8 local queer designers as well as an all-queer cast of models, makeup artists and creatives, as well as an installation curated by Drag Race Down Under Winner Isis Avis Loren.
Current Objective
Our vision extends beyond just showcasing talent; it's about connecting with the younger queer audience and ensuring they understand that there is a vibrant and proud queer talent pool right in their backyard.
Queer Connect strives to highlight that a career for queer people in the arts is possible - and not just in Hollywood or on Broadway but here in Naarm, too. We encourage queer people to take up space in our local communities, and through Queer Connect we hope to offer insights into some of the many different beautiful career pathways in the arts that incredible queer creatives are already forging around Naarm, as well as promote the events in these sectors.
The hope is by following the talented artists showcased in Queer Connect, and by engaging with our associated acts and events that younger queer creatives and those of our LGBTQIA+ community who are searching for a deeper sense of community can find the spaces and forge those paths for yourselves!
Future Aim
The aim for the future of Queer Connect is to continue with a plethora of on-going campaigns, events and projects, shining a spotlight on as many of the talented queer artists here in Naarm and our greater home of Australia as possible!
We believe that Queer Connect can serve at the very least as a time capsule of the beautifully diverse and talented creatives who were and are striving to create space and community in Naarms creative scene during this time.
It is confirmed that in early 2026 we will be bringing the sophomore iteration of Queer By Design back to the Abbotsford Convent, and we have many other events and campaigns planned for before and after then.
We’re looking forward to collaborate with new and emerging creatives across Naarm, as well as working with other organisations working in tandem to foster a stronger sense of community and to build more robust community infrastructure to assist with facilitating a pathway to success for local queer people.