City of Parramatta is joining local communities to celebrate WorldPride, with an exciting lineup of events and activities across the CBD throughout February and March.
In celebration of WorldPride’s first time in Australia, the pride flag will fly on the banks of Parramatta River, while Parramatta Square will be transformed with the installation of vibrant rainbow-coloured stairs.
City of Parramatta Mayor, Donna Davis, said, the City of Parramatta is excited to join the world’s largest celebration of pride and diversity.
“From our fabulous rainbow stairs in Parramatta Square, PHIVE’s sparkling roof and performances at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta will be a kaleidoscope of colour over the next few weeks,” Mayor Davis said.
“Parramatta is one of Australia’s most diverse and inclusive communities and I am so proud of who we are.
“World Pride is an opportunity for us to amplify the unique and valued voices of people from our wonderful LGBTQIA+ communities. Everyone’s story matters and this is a great time for us to share and celebrate them.”
The roof of PHIVE – Parramatta’s new community, cultural and civic hub, located in the heart of Parramatta’s CBD – will also be illuminated in the colours of the Pride Progress Flag.
PHIVE will be hosting special PRIDE workshops, including a creative studio with Jordan Gogos, the founder and designer of bold and eclectic Sydney fashion house Iordanes Spyridon Gogos, and incredible inflatable artworks created by the Beautiful and Useful studio.
Several art installations will also be dotted around Parramatta Square, including Parramatta Artists’ Studios Nadia Odlum’s work ‘Slippery Directions’.
The Western Sydney LGBTIQA+ writing group, WestWords, provides a safe place for queer writers to express their vulnerabilities and share stories of coming out, cultural heritage and being alive and proud, with its latest work to be showcased – alongside a third anthology being launched – at PHIVE on 26 February 2023.
Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres are also hosting five productions in conjunction with Sydney World Pride, with two from Riverside’s own production company, National Theatre of Parramatta, beginning with the Australian premiere of Choir Boy and a new work The Life Cycle of Blanco.
Award-winning box office hit Matador, Queerstories X Worldpride, and Hafla, an afternoon celebrating queer Western Sydney artists, are also part of the line up.
The City of Parramatta is a proud supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community and is one of four Councils in New South Wales to join the Welcome Here program, which supports businesses and services throughout Australia all-year round to create and promote safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community.
For details about World Pride events click here.
