The “rich tapestry” of LGBTQ+ lives, stories and creativity in Bath will be celebrated in a collaboration between the city’s venues and other partners, in the first Queer Bath campaign of its kind.
Queer Bath 2025 – WIG!. Photoshoot at the Roman Baths – credit Caitlin Damsell
The “rich tapestry” of LGBTQ+ lives, stories and creativity in Bath will be celebrated in a collaboration between the city’s venues and other partners, in the first Queer Bath campaign of its kind.
Taking place from 26 May to 30 June 2025, Queer Bath is a “bold and inclusive celebration” that honours the local LGBTQ+ community through the art, culture and heritage of key Bath buildings.
The event is a collaboration between local museums and institutions and partners such as Bath Arts Collective and legendary local queer cabaret WIG!. Events include a Pride NOT Prejudice Ball, which will be held in the Pump Room on 6 June.
During the five-week campaign, local institutions will be actively investigating their own collections, archives, and histories to uncover hidden queer stories, as well as holding a series of events. By engaging deeply with their resources, participants can bring to light narratives that have been overlooked, misrepresented, or erased.
Rooted in authenticity, the project aims to spotlight the contributions and stories of the LGBTQ+ communities in Bath throughout history, whilst fostering spaces of reflection, joy, and connection.
The campaign emerged from the success of Holburne Pride in 2024, devised by the Holburne Future Collective and the museum’s young adult volunteers with support from Bath Arts Collective. Since then, the vision has been developed collaboratively by the Holburne, Bath Arts Collective and Nik Jovčić-Sas and Remy Melee from WIG!, working together to shape the programme and partnerships that underpin Queer Bath.
Jasmine Barker, co-director of Bath Arts Collective, said: “At Bath Arts Collective, we’re thrilled to be helping to produce and market Queer Bath. This initiative is about more than just events — it’s about transforming how Bath’s museums and heritage spaces engage with LGBTQ+ arts, culture, and history. Through Queer Bath, we’re helping to uncover hidden queer narratives, making these spaces more welcoming, and proving that Bath can be a living, diverse, and vibrant city.”
To launch the celebration, the city’s premier queer cabaret WIG! held a regency-style photoshoot with local drag kings and queens, against the striking backdrop of the iconic Roman Baths, perfectly capturing the fusion of modern and historic culture that forms the essence of Queer Bath.
Nik Jovčić-Sas, Director and Host at WIG!, commented: “Queer Bath is one of the most exciting and ambitious cultural projects I’ve ever seen in this city! It celebrates the gorgeous Georgian splendour we know and love while uncovering hidden histories and weaving in a fierce, fabulous queer twist — Bath as you’ve never seen it before.”
Numerous iconic venues will be taking part and running their own campaigns including the Holburne Museum, the American Museum & Gardens, Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution, Bath Assembly Rooms, the Roman Baths & Pump Room and Bath Preservation Trust.
Spencer Hancock, Head of Operations at the Holburne Museum said: “We are proud that Queer Bath originated from our young adult volunteers, the Holburne Future Collective. Creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space when we open our doors is central to Holburne’s mission.
“Uncovering new narratives to enhance our stories and engage with diverse audiences is essential to our work. Supporting our young volunteers as they make such positive changes — not just in our museum but throughout our city — is truly exciting.”
The Queer Bath campaign will offer a diverse range of creative events during the five-week programme from community days, talks and film screenings exploring queer heritage, to comedy nights, live performances and cabarets celebrating the thriving LGBTQ+ community in the city today.
In addition to events, venues are also exploring their own collections, archives and histories to uncover hidden queer stories – identifying artists, historians, writers and intellectuals who may have been LGBTQ+ or had queer-coded histories, and sharing these findings through trails, talks, exhibitions, and digital content.
Information about events and tickets will be available HERE
