HAPPENING IN BRATTLEBORO, VT

APRIL 5 | APRIL 13 | MAY 11 - 12-4PM

There are currently spots available in the May 11 session only.

Learn how to carve a wooden spoon alongside other rural LGBTQ+ people using hand tools and enjoy the meditative nature of creating something slowly with your hands! Sign up for one session or all three. This series will culminate in a Spring art opening among the trees from whence our spoons came. No carving experience is necessary. These workshops will be taught by HB who has been carving spoons since 2018.

All carving materials & wood provided; please bring your own lunch & water.

May 1 | 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Penobscot territory/Belfast ME

Printmaking can be accessible to anyone willing to get their hands dirty! LGBTQ+ identified folks are invited to join Out in the Open and Waterfall Arts for an evening of demos and experimentation with a short-run DIY screen printing process and gelli plates. These mediums are accessible to do anywhere, and can be used to share messaging/ act as posters to express ourselves. 

What messages of resistance and vision for the future are you connecting with lately? Who’s words empower and encourage you, or what’s coming up that you need to get out into the world? How would you express your vision for a just and beautiful world through poster art? What ideas, concepts, or experiences do you want to put out into the world on a colorful, handcrafted poster?

We’ll start off with a short walk around the grounds to gather materials from nature to make texture on the gelli prints– and participants can bring objects from home or place outdoors that they love to spend time. There will be time devoted to writing and reflecting on the message for your poster, demonstration of the process, and to create posters together with provided materials. Expect to produce 10 – 15 posters to take home, or to post up with your messages on them.  

Participants will have the option to coordinate with instructors to meet up to walk together to post their prints around town and the places they live to amplify their message.  

Registration is $10, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Reach out if you want a $0 registration: info@weareoutintheopen.org

Accessibility notes: The studio is located on the first floor of Waterfall Arts, up one flight of stairs (9 steps).

May, June, July in Vermont and Maine

Stay tuned for more information, coming soon!

Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1, all day in eastern Wabanaki territory/ Maine

We have been running our Out in the Open Summits for Rural & Smalltown LGBTQ+ Folks since 2015.

Summits are places to gather in community, (re)connect with and actively queer rural traditions, build relationships and trust among other rural and small town LGBTQ+ people, celebrate & grieve together, and create a roadmap to move us closer to our collectively liberated and joyful futures.

We’ve offered sessions on goat care & cheesemaking, alternatives to policing, creating your own drag character, and everything in between. Stay tuned for more information about this iteration of the Summit!

Registration is required! Register via the button below.

June 14 | 12-3PM | @ Susu CommUNITY Farm, Newfane

PRIDE FAMILY POTLUCK, hosted by Out in the Open, is back again!

Join with other LGBTQ+ people, families, parents, and kids (of all ages!) and celebrate our rural LGBTQ+ community together!

We'll be at our friends Susu CommUNITY Farm in Newfane this year!

OITO will provide fruit, soft drinks, hot dogs (meat, turkey, and tofu), buns, chips, plates, napkins, cutlery, and condiments.

Please bring a dish to share, if you can, or just bring yourself!

This gathering will be outside.

Folks are welcome to wear masks (we'll also have some on-hand) anywhere and everywhere. If you have COVID or are not feeling well, please stay home.

June 15 | 12PM | Starts at High-Grove Parking Lot in Brattleboro, VT

A political promenade!

A Strolling of the Homos!

Queering Pride through rural revelry & revolution!

Join with other rural LGBTQ+ people and our families & friends to defend, celebrate, & honor our beautiful community’s history, present, & future! LGBTQ+ people have always been and will always be in rural places, let’s get together and to show up for and to show off our incredible community!

Start at High-Grove Parking Lot in front of the Concrete Quilt in downtown Brattleboro. Our snaking route will visit a number of additional local LGBTQ+ community landmarks.

Bring things like signs, puppets, instruments, costumes, bubbles, your fabulous LGBTQ+ self, your friends & family, funky socks , ribbons, signs, & your voice! People of all ages are welcome.

Please reach out with any questions and/or if you’d like to volunteer to support, email Diana (diana@weareoutintheopen.org) and Jake (Jake@WeAreOutintheOpen.org)