As part of this year’s Poole Pride 2025 celebrations, Lighthouse Poole is showcasing the emerging talent among the LGBTQIA+ students at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), as well as hosting a button badge-making workshop to celebrate the spirit of Pride.
Students from the BA (Hons) Illustration degree at AUB are exhibiting work that builds upon existing projects and highlights the diverse range of interests and identities among the students who are actively encouraged to express their individuality.
The exhibition is curated by Sarah Cliff, a queer Welsh illustrator who teaches on MA Illustration (Online) degree at AUB and has guest lectured at universities across the UK.
“As a proud lesbian, participating in Poole Pride alongside these very talented students has been amazing," comments Sarah.
“We explore how LGBTQIA+ identities can be expressed within rural settings and the natural environment, as well as in urban environments beyond a London-centric perspective. I really value how queer students in 2025 are seeking greater freedom and openness in expressing their identities, especially considering that in living memory communities have been silenced by laws such as Section 28.
“While recognising that progress is not always linear, the aim was to create a show that provides space for this expression.”
The badge-making workshop is open to the public from 14.00 – 17.30 on Saturday 7 June. Historically, button badges have been used throughout Pride events as an affordable means for individuals to protest, demonstrate solidarity, or identify with various groups.
This year, students from the BA (Hons) Illustration degree have combined their creative skills with the vibrant and grainy qualities of the risograph printing process to present a selection of Pride badge designs for Poole Pride.
Sarah adds, “In a world that continues to become more polarised, this tradition serves as a reminder that Pride is a space where diverse voices come together – both in celebration and in protest.”
One of this year’s exhibiting students, Juno Frenzel, was also involved with last year’s Poole Pride, and comments: “It's great to see Poole Pride returning again this year and being asked to come back and exhibit some more personal illustrations.
“I was involved in last year's John Chesterman exhibition, where I illustrated a print and knot wrap in collaboration with LUSH based on queer joy. This year, I'll be more actively involved by providing badge designs and helping out with the arts and crafts community stalls. I'm excited to see everyone and show up for my community, especially with the recent developments in this country.”
Another student who’s returning for a second year is Beck O’Hara, who says, “I got involved this year through an open call from our course leader and was excited to get the opportunity to exhibit again.
“Queer history is very important to me, and it was great for Lighthouse Poole to display so many different interpretations of stories related to the UK origins of pride. And to reflect on our vibrant and recent history. “I think it's also a lovely idea this year to platform queer students work more generally as it reminds us that our interests and our art can exist in many realms other than the queer aspects of our identities without disregarding them.”
New to Poole Pride this year, Aster Sakalauskaite got involved after seeing that the exhibition was looking for LGBTQIA+ representation.
“I am a queer, non-binary illustrator and it is so wonderful to have an opportunity to have my work displayed in an important exhibition," Aster explains. “I created the artwork forget-me-not, inspired by themes of freedom. I love creating paper-cut collages as it allows me to slow down and think of the intentional compositions of my pieces. The artwork often grows naturally, much like a flower.
“I think it is so vital to be involved in events such as this as a queer person. I often stumbled upon documented pieces of LGBT+ history, seeing photography and artworks makes it all seem so real. We have always been here. And we will never be alone.”
The AUB exhibition will run at Lighthouse in Poole from Saturday 7 June throughout the month. The button badge-making workshop will be open to the public from 14.00 – 17.30 on Saturday 7 June.
For more information on Poole Pride, visit Lighthouse's website.
