Help save Queer Screen

Queer Screen has put out another call for donations in the lead-up to the end of the financial year.

The cash-strapped organisation is hoping to raise $50,000 before June 30 to ensure the future of the coming QueerDoc and Mardi Gras Film Festivals. It has so far raised $8500.

Queer Screen president Monica Considine told the Star Observer that although ticket sales for Queer Screen events had been decreasing over the last five years, the biggest issue had been a reduction in funding and erratic corporate sponsorships.

“The environment which we work in has changed radically in the last two years,” Considine said.

“Government funding for film festivals has reduced, whether that’s Arts NSW or Events NSW or the City of Sydney, and with commercial sponsorship, sometimes you get it, sometimes you don’t.

“We’re changing the organisation so it can operate on two levels, so when the sponsorship is there we can do a big festival and when it’s not, we can downscale so we don’t run into debt.

“We’re going to become a more volunteer-based organisation with working groups, like New Mardi Gras.

“At the moment … we don’t have year-round volunteers involved in curatorial work or administration and that’s what we’re trying to do so we have a volunteer base we can fall back on in years where sponsorship doesn’t come in and we can’t afford to have staff do those things year round.”

You can make a donation in two ways:

1. Electronic Funds Transfer
Queer Screen Ltd Public Fund
BSB: 032 023
Account No: 219503

Please include your member number in the payment description if you are a member, or if you are not a member your name plus an email to [email protected] with your contact details, so the organisation can send you a tax receipt.

2. Cheque
Payable to Queer Screen Public Fund and sent to:
Queer Screen Public Fund
PO BOX 1081
DARLINGHURST, NSW
AUSTRALIA 1300

The organisation is also looking for expert volunteers to help build key working groups with skills in filmmaking, fundraising, finance, accounting, publicity, and online marketing. If you would like to volunteer for a working group email [email protected]

info: www.queerscreen.com.au