Description

RISE in Pride (Rising Innovators, Storytellers, and Events in Pride) is a bold, future-facing initiative designed to nurture emerging LGBTIQA+ creative leaders across storytelling, production, and the arts.

It builds on the success of our 2024 Telling it with Pride Speakers (TiPS) Program—a powerful three-month mentorship model that equipped queer public speakers with skills, confidence, and a platform. RISE takes that momentum further, offering a year-round, multi-disciplinary framework where participants return as mentors, creating a self-sustaining cycle of leadership and community growth.

Every year, RISE in Pride expands to support six creative disciplines:

• Public Speaking: Confidence-building through live storytelling
• Emerging Producers: Industry mentoring and hands-on experience
• Young Writers: Creative development, workshops, and public readings
• Queer Composers: Original music and performance support
• Fashion Designers: Mentorship and showcase opportunities
• Artists in Residence: Studio space and exhibition pathways

Together, these programs foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and a thriving pipeline of LGBTIQA+ talent.