Over the last four years, Eden Court has been creating an online social space for young queer people from across the Highlands. Our Queer Youth Arts Collective (QYAC) offers a welcoming, relaxed and celebratory environment for young people to build their own community and make art together.
QYAC is a safe, accessible and fun space for young queer people to connect with each other through creativity. The group has tried many different art forms - including drawing and painting, textiles, filmmaking, poetry, zine making, collaging, storytelling… the list goes on! We love experimenting and finding ways for the group to express themselves while having a lot of fun and silliness together. Once a term we meet in person at Eden Court, and in 2023 we attended our first Pride together!
QYAC gives queer people a place to be themselves without worrying about homophobia or transphobia
Having the sessions online means we can include young people from remote areas that typically can't access queer or creative spaces. Being a young queer person in the Highlands is often isolating, and young queer and trans people globally are facing increased hostility and fear of living as their authentic selves. Finding spaces where you feel truly accepted can be hard, so it has been wonderful to see young people from all over the Highlands be themselves and make lovely friendships in the safe space QYAC has created.
The sessions are very accessible as an autistic queer person - I feel welcomed and it gives me structure and community
QYAC is open to young people aged 13 - 18 from anywhere in the Highlands, and it's completely free! We meet weekly on Zoom during term time, and you don’t need to attend every session. If any specific materials are required, we can send this to you in the post.
We also have a Discord server that our young people use to connect outside of the sessions. We aim to be as accessible as possible and create an atmosphere that is neurodivergent-friendly and super chilled.
It’s a very welcoming and chill environment! If you prefer. you don’t have to speak or have your camera on
We love having new people join us! If you would like to come along to a session or find out more, please email [email protected] and we will send you the registration form. We meet on Thursday evenings during term time on Zoom.
This blog was written by:
This project is supported with funding from Awards for All Scotland, a partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland, sportscotland and Creative Scotland.