T4CB to host Pride event!
Together for Colwyn Bay has shown through their project focuses that Colwyn Bay is one of the Invest Local areas with a strong and vibrant arts and culture background.
Many of their projects have focused on bringing the community together by showcasing the work of local community organizations and community groups that address the community’s needs through an arts and entertainment lens.
As well as highlighting the rich arts and entertainment heritage that Colwyn Bay has through projects such as #MadeinColwynBay, other initiatives for the group have included introducing a monthly Repair Café to the Bay and hosting the annual summer family fun day and information event The Big Picnic.
This year though the group isn’t slowing down and is determined to bring even more inspiring and positive community inclusion to Colwyn Bay by hosting Colwyn Bay Pride on Sunday the 14th of May 2023. The event will create a memorable first in history for Colwyn Bay as it hosts its first-ever Pride event.
BCT’s Kiana Boyes recently spoke to T4CB’s Director of Events and Event Manager for Colwyn Bay Pride 2023 Kai, to learn more about plans for the event and what made T4CB decide to bring Pride to Colwyn Bay.
When asked why Kai decided to present the idea of a Pride event to T4CB he said “ I had wanted to do one for a number of years, it had been mentioned to me by many people in the Colwyn Bay community, I then proposed the event within the steering group and got their approval in mid-Feb. T4CB’s agreement to support the event was crucial for it to go ahead as funding is mainly coming from T4CB, although, we do have several confirmed sponsors as well. In addition, we have had further discussions with Bangor University, the Welsh Government, National Lottery - Awards for All, and a number of 3rd Sector organisations and private businesses about sponsoring the event” The event has already gained significant attraction from sponsors including Conwy Council, Bay of Colwyn Town Council, Bayside Radio, Adferaid Cymru, Route Media and The Musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie.
The T4CB steering group has been pivotal in getting plans for the project off the ground as Kai explains “T4CB are the host organisation of the event, with myself as Director of Events I am the Event Manager with Georgia our Community Development Officer as the Deputy Event Manager. Most of the directors are also involved with the organising and running of the event, and we have also got many others from the local LGBTQ+ community involved.”
The group has been inventive in their approach to timing for the event as well, by now to many local residents it will have become clear that Colwyn Bay Pride is to go ahead the day after Prom Xtra, which will in a very clever move, allow the group to make further use of the large scale events resources from the day before “ We’re using this year as a soft launch, so we are running the day after Prom Xtra, this will allow us to share infrastructure and therefore will save us a large amount of money.”
It has to be said that this move on the part of T4CB, in light of the financial struggles that many small community groups and organizations face, can only install a sense of admiration in the eyes of onlookers as they ponder the potential cost of such a large scale event to community funds and resources. In building this bridge between the two events it not only will create a landmark weekend in the calendar for Colwyn Bay, but it will also be done in such a way that local funds and resources are not overstretched, and energy can instead be focused on making the event one to remember.
Kai explains “We are hoping around 5000-10,000 people will attend the event, but as it’s the first year it is very difficult to figure out. However, with an event of this size, we are keen to communicate that Local economic support is a key focus here, bringing people into the area from outside, who will spend money with local businesses and hopefully stay overnight in local hotels and B&Bs. In addition, we are running Fringe Events and hoping that local businesses will work with us to put on their own events in the lead-up to Pride and decorate their businesses. So hopefully, although our event takes place on the promenade, the positive economic effects will spill over into the town.”
With practical considerations and planning clearly well in hand for the event the only element left to discuss is what Kai hopes bringing Pride to Colwyn Bay will do for the wider community and how it will work to deliver a sense of belonging to the local LGBTQ + community.
“The event will be a free fun-family day on the Promenade for anyone to come to, we want the community involved by attending the event, having stalls, or event performing. We will have a large space for Charity and Information stalls and our overall goal is to give the local LGBTQ+ community something to be part of and proud of. Giving our wider community a chance to show them that the local community celebrates inclusion and diversity.”
If you, or anyone you know is interested in getting involved in the event either as a sponsor, stall holder, performer or just by helping out, you can find out more about Colwyn Bay Pride and how to get involved by following the links below.
Link to Stall Applications - Application Form Click Here
Link to T4CB website page https://www.togetherforcolwynbay.org/colwyn-bay-pride