Artworks

ASHLEY JOINER

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

THEY/THEM

Hey I'm Ashley, I'm curator and filmmaker whose practice of active listening and (un)learning centres around the lived experience of LGBTQ+ people. By promoting participation and collaboration, my work seeks to elevate the marginalised and all too often silenced voices in the LGBTQ+ community, create public forums for ongoing discussion, and build a stronger community.

My debut feature length documentary “Are You Proud?” was named “one of the most important LGBTQ+ films of the year” by The Independent, listed in The Guardian’s “Top Ten Documentaries of 2019,” and has since been entered into the British Film Institute’s permanent collection. In partnership with LGBTQ+ education charity, Educate & Celebrate, “Are You Proud?” has since been developed into learning resources for KS3, 4 & 5 and made available to schools across the U.K. 

I started Queercircle in 2016 as a way to champion LGBTQ+ artists and bring together the LGBTQ+ community. It was a simple idea that resonated with many, highlighting the desperate need for such a project. After an initial successful launch, it was important to take a step back, reflect and consult artists, curators and community organiser to understand what Queercircle needed to be. This time and process has allowed us to develop a sustainable programme that responds to the needs and aspirations of our community. 

I am grateful to everybody that has contributed to this process and supported us in getting to this point. It has been a collective effort of which I am proud to have been a part of and I look forward to continuing.