The Bi+ Arts Festival, a community-based queer arts festival celebrating the voices of bisexual, pansexual, fluid and 2S artists, performers and writers, returns to Toronto September 18 to 21.
Events for this 8th edition of the festival include a magazine launch, an authors’ showcase, solo and group art exhibition receptions, multidisciplinary workshops and a closing cabaret featuring drag, music and stand-up comedy.
The festival will take place at some of Toronto’s most iconic queer locales and arts venues, including Three Dollar Bill in Parkdale, Glad Day Lit’s new home off West Queen West, Church Street (via a pop-up space) and more.
Timing for the event makes it a vital local lead-up to the international Bi+ Visibility Day, which happens annually worldwide on September 23.
Events for and associated with the 8th annual Bi+ Arts Festival include:
Queer Toronto Literary Magazine Launch at Three Dollar Bill
Toronto Poetry Slam winner and performance artist Anto Chan emcees a launch and bi+ author readings for Queer Toronto Literary Magazine’s latest issue, which is themed on “Flirting With Fire.” Doors at 6:30 p.m. on September 18.
Bi+ Authors Showcase at Glad Day Lit
The newest location of the world’s oldest 2SLGBTQ+ bookstore hosts a special showcase featuring poetry, fiction and speculative fiction by authors including Lambda Literary Fellowship recipient Sanchari Sur, New York Times–noted novelist J.M. Frey, Trillium Book Award shortlister Kathy Friedman, poet/educator on sexuality, gender, and disability Kamila Rina and poet/jazz musician Jacqueline Chia, starting at 6:30 p.m. on September 19.
Creative Workshops at 560 Church Street Pop-Up Space
Bi+ instructors and facilitators offer workshops on postcard making and exchange, collage art, speed friending and painting. Workshops run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 20 and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 21.
Solo Art Exhibition Reception at WGP & Moon Art + Books
Alana Boltwood’s exhibition “Fibroihex” involves weaving and stitching hexagons — a resilient structure — to de-feminize fibre arts and explore stages in the artist’s queer passage from maidenhood to cronehood. Attendees are welcome to contribute to a hexagonal weaving in bi+ flag colours at reception running from 2 to 5 p.m. on September 20.
Afterparty with BI BI BABY at Tallulah’s Cabaret/Buddies in Bad Times
Celebrate at BI BI BABY: Greedy, the latest edition of festival friend BI BI BABY’s bimonthly immersive art, dance, and costume party celebrating bisexuality, from 9 p.m. till late on September 20.
Group Art Exhibition Reception at the Rivoli
The group show “Journeys in the forests of love” brings together works by bi+ artists Litian Wang, Kitlyn S.Y. Varnam, Natalia Tcherniak, Rojhin Taebi, Carrie Stalder, Finn Simard, Kristine Maitland, Holly Granken, Yara El Safi, Shane Christi, Jasper Bryan and Alana Boltwood, expressing emotional and spiritual voyages through nature and community. Reception runs 3 to 5 p.m. on September 21.
Cabaret at the Rivoli
Closing Bi+ Arts Festival cabaret features musicians Holly Clausius and Wild Black Music; drag artists Jester Jives, Manny Dingo, Archie Called, Clarke Kunt, Gay Jesusand Regina DeVil; and comedians Rachel Manson and James O’Hara. Runs from 5 to 8 p.m. on September 21(sliding-scale ticket required).
The Bi+ Arts Festival gratefully acknowledges funding support from the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario.
More information on events and ticketing available now at linktr.ee/biartsfestival
