The Norwich Pride Art Exhibition 2026

21 to 25 July 2026

The Assembly House, Theatre St, Norwich, NR2 1RQ

An exhibition to celebrate Queer art as protest and as pride.

The exhibition will be held from 21 to 25 July 2026 at The Assembly House, Theatre St, Norwich NR2 1RQ
Pride began as a protest. Today, visibility is conditional.

Who passes? Who is protected? Who is policed?
Which forms of masculinity are rewarded, and which are erased?
Which forms of femininity are considered acceptable, and which are weaponised?

Across identities, we are pressured to conform to gender constructs in ways that make us legitimate, mainstream, and non-threatening. Passing can be survival. Passing can be a privilege. Passing can be camouflage. Passing can be a mask we don’t want to wear.

Passing Pride examines masculinity as armour, femininity as risk, and visibility as negotiation. It asks what we conceal to stay safe and what we reveal to feel validated.

Putting on a mask can be an act of protest.
Taking off a mask can be an act of truth.
Creating a mask can be an act of refusal.

The exhibition will host work across all artistic disciplines including painting, illustration, photography, sculpture, ceramics, costume, clothing, textiles, performance and film.

This exhibition is curated by Rachel Collier-Wilson (they/them), a fine artist/printmaker and co-director of QueerFest Norwich 

We are very grateful to our Art sponsors Norwich University of the Arts and The Assembly House for their invaluable support in delivering this exhibition.

The first Norwich Pride happened in reverse. That is to say, it started in Chapelfield Gardens and ended at The Forum. After a couple of years this was swapped around – there were too many people coming to the event for Millennium Plain to cope with. That was when we knew we were here to stay.

In 2008, when we were planning the first ever Norwich Pride to take place the following July, we hoped it would be a success, but we really didn’t know what would happen – would anyone come? What would the city make of it? Would we be accepted? Nothing like this had ever happened here before.

We were a small group of volunteers putting together a free event with absolutely no money. It was a big challenge, and that’s never really changed. The event has become more complex over the years, but at its heart it is the same – a community-led event funded by donations, fundraisers and sponsorship.

On the morning of the first Norwich Pride I was in Chapelfield Gardens, decorating the bandstand with rainbow flags, feeling quite anxious looking around and wondering which groups of people sitting on the grass enjoying the sunshine were there for our ‘Pride Picnic’, and which were just there because it was a sunny day. We had done our best to advertise the fact Norwich was about to have its first ever Pride, but with social media being still very new, and our poster printing budget being tiny, we had little idea how many people knew what was about to happen.

It wasn’t until Paul, the queer owner of a party shop on Bridewell Alley, arrived with a huge bunch of bright red helium balloons that things started to become clear – he gave a balloon to every group who said they were there for Pride, and quickly it became clear almost everyone was there to celebrate this moment with us. What a relief, and what a change in atmosphere seeing red balloons all across the park – everyone relaxed, rainbow flags and banners started to appear from people’s bags, and suddenly it was really happening – Pride had started to turn Norwich into a rainbow. 

Later, as we started to gather for the first ever march through the city centre, the numbers swelled. It quickly became clear what had been planned as a march along pavements would require the police to carry out emergency road closures. Around 1000 people had come together in peaceful, joyful solidarity and marched with their banners, partners, friends and families, from the park to The Forum.

As we arrived at The Forum we had another watershed moment. Michelle from the organising team had run over to Norwich Castle and had somehow blagged her way to the flagpole, and with the lesbian caretaker’s help, a rainbow flag was raised in the city for the first time in history. As people arrived at the Forum and saw that beautiful sight, many of us were moved to tears. The city had changed forever. 

Now, in 2026 as I walk around Norwich I see rainbow flags in lots of shop windows, I see queer people confidently holding hands, and queer expression valued and encouraged in venues and spaces all around the city. I am proud of our brilliant city and the wonderful people who live here with me. 

Norwich is a better place thanks to all the volunteers who have come and gone over the last 18 years – every one of them has helped Norwich Pride flourish and have helped to make this city a safer place for LGBTQIA+ people. Norwich Pride is now a cherished and celebrated part city life and long may it continue to be so.  

Happy Pride

Robert.      

(Head of Fundraising)