The Burton’s collaborative Pride banner took centre stage at Bideford Pride last weekend – and will form part of a new exhibition at The Plough Arts Centre.
The banner consists of over 200 colour-coded fabric squares, submitted by members of the community following an open call led by The Burton at Bideford. Together, the squares create the Progress Pride flag: a symbol of love and inclusivity. The Progress Pride flag is a modified version of the traditional rainbow pride flag, incorporating additional stripes to represent marginalised communities within the LGBTQ+ spectrum. It includes stripes for transgender individuals, people of colour, and those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The final piece is a collaboration between The Burton’s community outreach groups, individuals and other local groups.
Groups: The Burton Youth Collective; The Burton Sewing Bee; Brave Spaces; Learn Devon (at Bideford Library); Out in the Country LGBT+ Social Group; Bideford Pride Youth Workshop.
Individuals: Liz Wilde, Hazel, Ally, Alison, Sue, Helen Cooper, Toni Rance, Brett Richmond, Craig Moule, Sally, Rosie, Matt Davies, Aaron Bennett, Judith Swindell, David Harries.
The Pride banner will be on display at The Plough Arts Centre from 4-14 June as part of the exhibition ‘Pride Painted’
There is a deep history between LGBTQIA+ rights and patchwork, most importantly perhaps in the AIDS Memorial Quilt. This quilt was started in 1985 by human rights activist Cleve Jones, with each block of the quilt dedicated to someone who has died of AIDS. It includes nearly 50,000 panels dedicated to more than 110,000 individuals; an epic memorial which would cover the area of the National Mall in Washington DC if it was laid out.
The UK version of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed in the Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern, London, from 12–16 June 2025.
