KALEIDOSCOPE is a Colchester based project that promotes diversity, inclusion and creativity within LGBTQ+ and other minority communities.

Initially focused during LGBTQ+ History Month in February, for 2024 the project expanded to include community events during national Pride month in June.

Our 2024 plans are as follows:

• Thu 1st Feb - Creative Colchester First Thursdays Event at Curzon

• Sat 1st until Sun 30th June -  Pop-Up in Culver Square Shopping Centre

• Thu 4th July - Creative Colchester First Thursdays Event at Curzon

• Sat 17th Aug - Pop Up Stall at Colchester Pride

The KALEIDOSCOPE project began on 19th August 2022 when Tom Stock had a stall at Colchester Pride for his project S/ASH. Everyone who visited his stall could finger paint on a large canvas. When Looking for somewhere to display the finished canvas, Tom got in touch with colchester library. The library team were looking to do something special for lgbtq+ history month in February 2023. Together they created KALEIDOSCOPE.

Running from 1st-28th February 2023 KALEIDOSCOPE took over the first floor of Colchester Library. A month long free pop up exhibition and selection of literary based events led by local LGBTQ+ writers, poets, artists, performers and drag artists. Lots of positive feedback was recieved for the free queer poetry/writing workshops, art gallery, drag story-time, and for transforming the library into a rainbow wonderland. 

Unfortunately a handful of people belonging to a far right group decided to protest the drag storytime events.  In solidarity the local LGBT+ community peacefully came to counter protest. Over 250 LGBT+ people and their allies gathered outside Colchester Library to stand up to hate. For more information please click on the social media video and links to local and national news reports.

In 2024 KALEIDOSCOPE expanded to evening events and a pop up exhibition in Culver Square. This was made possible by our kind sponsors (see image). It's due to them all that KALEIDOSCOPE can raise funds for local organisations Colchester Pride, Open Road, The OutHouse and Colchester Engagement & Next Steps (CENS). Since launching in 2023 we have raised over £3000 thanks to peoples generousity.