Queer Bath 2025

A Citywide Celebration of LGBTQ+ Arts, Culture & Heritage

The rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ lives, stories and creativity in Bath will be celebrated during five weeks of activity in a citywide campaign — the first of its kind — as iconic venues and cultural institutions join forces for Queer Bath 2025.

Running from 26 May to 30 June, Queer Bath is supported by a growing coalition of Bath’s leading heritage sites, museums and creative organisations. The initiative brings together events and fresh interpretations of collections — all rooted in authenticity, research and co-creation with LGBTQ+ communities.

The campaign emerged from the success of Holburne Pride in 2024, devised by the Holburne Future Collective, 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! (Bath’s queer cabaret), working together to shape the programme and partnerships that underpin Queer Bath.

Programme highlights include:

• Rainbow Family Community Da
• y at the American Museum & Gardens on 26 May, celebrating it’s LGBTQ+ heritage, with pay-what-you-can entry
• ‘Queer Georgians’ talk by Dr Tim Moore from National Trust’s Bath Assembly Rooms at BRLSI on 2 June, exploring LGBTQ+ narratives from the Georgian era
• Andrew Foyle’s talk on the Stonewall Uprising at the American Museum & Gardens on 3 June, reflecting on the American origins of Pride and the museum’s queer heritage
• The Pride NOT Prejudice Ball by WIG!, a spectacular drag cabaret celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, taking over the historic Roman Baths & Pump Room on 6 June
• Queer Bath Comedy Night at The Roman Baths on 11 June, featuring Catherine Bohart and Andrew White
• Eileen Gray and the House b
• y the Sea at the Museum of Bath Architecture on 18 June, a film screening and discussion exploring the legacy of queer modernist a
• rchitect Eileen Gray
• Sebastiane at the Holburne Museum on 19 June, a powerful screening of Derek Jarman’s queer reimagining of St Sebastian, introduced by Holburne curator Hannah Mills
• Holburne Pride Up Late and Pride Party on 27 June, featuring live drag performances, creative workshops, a queer artist panel, and access to exhibitions

In addition to events, venue

• s 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:

• The Holburne Museum will present a Queer Holburne Trail and Bloomberg App experience, linking objects on display and in storage through queer thBath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) will showcase hidden queer stories in science, literature and thought through a digital campaign
• The American Museum & Gardens will highlight its LGBTQ+ heritage exploring the story of the museum’s founding and wider queer histories in American art and culture
• Beckford’s Tower will investigate William Beckford’s role in LGBTQIA+ heritage, while also examining the complexities of his personal life and relationship with William Courtenay
• The Museum of Bath Architecture is beginning research into queer-coded architectural design and spaces in Bath, aiming to uncover contributions from LGBTQ+ designers and makers
• The Roman Baths will have a temporary co-curation display in the Kings Lounge of the Pump Room, showcasing objects that have been chosen by members of staff exploring their personal LGBTQ+ identities through the museum collection.

“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.”
— Spencer Hancock, Head of Operations, The Holburne Museum

“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.”
— Nik Jovčić-Sas, Direc

tor and Host, WIG!

“At Bath Arts Collective, we’re thrilled to be coordinating and 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.”
— Jasmine Barker, Co-director, Bath Arts Collective

Participating organisations include:
The Holburne Museum, Th

e American Museum & Gardens, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI), Bath Assembly Rooms, The Roman Baths & Pump Room (Bath & North East Somerset Council), Bath Preservation Trust (Beckford’s Tower and the Museum of Bath Architecture).

Thank you to partners Bath Arts Collective,WIG!, Clearly PR, FilmBath and Fez Comedy Club.

Information and tickets for Queer Bath events will be available via Bath Arts Collective: www.queerbath.co.uk