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Initiative Arts
A voice for queer storiesFounded 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 across multi-disciplinary arts to engage, welcome and entertain.
We have produced substantial and highly acclaimed bodies of work funded by the Heritage Fund: Polari Mission (2012-14) and Life’s a Drag (2016-17). We have recently also completed a research and development project with Arts Council England Double-Ender (2021) .
"A glitter bomb package!” “Fantabulosa!!! Hugely informative and bitingly funny." "These works have an ability to transcend the queer spectrum being sourced in the universality of human nature." |
Meet the Team
Jez DolanJez 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 |
David Dolan MartinDavid 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+
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+
