INITIATIVE ARTS
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About Us

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Initiative Arts

Founded in 2012 in Manchester, Initiative Arts creates and presents new work across the
visual and performing arts made by artists who identify as Queer. We tell the stories of
LGBTQIA+ people to engage, welcome and entertain.
“It was fun, serious, tragic, joyful; and so rich in language, history, and culture.”
We have produced two substantial and highly acclaimed bodies of work in association with the Heritage Fund:  Polari Mission (2012-14) and Life’s a Drag (2016-17) and we are now embarking on our third project Double-Ender (2021-22).
“Life’s a Drag was fantastic; important queer history wrapped up in a sing-a-long glitter bomb package!”

“Fantabulosa!!! – brilliant work that is of incredible value to the LGBT community and also to the history of the UK … it will be alive for new generations to experience.”

Meet the Team

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Jez Dolan

Jez Dolan is a visual artist and performance maker based in Manchester. His practice underlines the intersections between queerness, sexuality, identity and memory.

Jez has recently shown work at: The British Museum, Birmingham City Art Gallery, Bury Art Gallery & Sculpture Centre, Gallery 78, Reykjavik Iceland, HOME, Manchester, The National Gallery of Iceland, The Victoria & Albert Museum, London amongst others.

He has undertaken a wide range of commissions and residencies including: the Houses of Parliament, The Royal Drawing School and The Schwules' Museum Berlin.

Jez has work in a number of public and private collections internationally including: The British Museum, The Government Art Collection, The Leslie Lohman Museum NYC, The Schwules' Museum Berlin and The Walker Gallery Liverpool.

jezdolan.com
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David Dolan Martin

David Dolan Martin has over 30 years' experience of working in performing arts. He now combines work as a producer with a consultancy that supports the work of both theatre companies and individual practitioners, concentrating on business development and fund raising.

David has a specific interest in supporting, promoting and producing the work of artists from the LGBTQI+ community and an interest in the presentation of Queer Theatre. He recently produced and toured work for Starving Artists UK, who work out of Los Angeles and London.

Prior to going freelance in 2017, David previously worked as Executive Director of Oldham Coliseum Theatre. His earlier work was in Production Management, working with English Touring Theatre, Contact Theatre, the New Vic, Welfare State International and Major Road.

​daviddolanmartin.com
Initiative Arts has worked with the following artists:

Andonis Anthony

Professor Paul Baker https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/linguistics/about/people/paul-baker

Lee Baxter http://www.baxterphoto.co.uk

Michael Betteridge https://soundcloud.com/michael-betteridge

Joel Chester-Fildes https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/Joel%20Chester%20Fildes/

Chris Hoyle https://twitter.com/dibbytheatre?lang=en

Loz Kaye https://lozkaye.com/index.html

Neil McKenna http://www.neilmckennawriter.com/meet-the-author/?LMCL=DDWXin

Naomi Parker https://www.flickr.com/photos/39417128@N04/albums/with/72157619680839506

Andrew Pollard

Joseph Richardson

The Sunday Boys http://www.thesundayboys.com

Dan Wallace https://www.instagram.com/annaphylactic1/

Organisations and Institutions including: Contact theatre Manchester, The John Rylands Library, Bury Art Museum, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester University, Manchester Central Library & Archives+

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  • Home
  • About
  • Double Ender
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