Frequently Asked Questiones

What is aLAF?
When does it take place?
How do I pronounce it?
Where will it happen?
Who can attend?
How do I submit work or ideas?
How can I help out?

What is aLAF?

aLAF is a Lesbian Arts Festival - celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer women's artistry and creativity, from poetry to music, theatre to film making and visual art to the art of our own bodies.
With a bombardment of queer women's music, visual art, theatre, comedy, drag, film, and more, aLAF has been running annually since 2002, with performers, artists and audiences travelling from as far as the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, Sweden, Argentina and of course from all over Ireland!
aLAF emerged from a group of like-minded women with a desire to launch an Arts Festival in Dublin similar to those that happen in other cities around the world.
The aLAF committee is interested in discovering, exploring and promoting the creative and artistic work of women in the LGBTQ community.

The mission of aLAF is: "To foster artistic and creative expression that promotes lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer women's visibility and identity."

We work towards this by:

Holding an annual lesbian arts festival incorporating visual art, performance, music, dance, theatre and the written word
Providing a forum for lesbian artists and for women interested in the arts to exhibit, perform, display and exchange information
Improving access to LGBTQ women's art to a lesbian audience and provide a focus for developing that audience
Encouraging the LGBTQ commercial sector and the community to support lesbian artists and cater to the growing demand for work by women, or of interest to women
Promoting or stimulating initiatives that support existing or potential LGBTQ women artists
Entertaining, stimulating, engaging, amusing and challenging the many lesbian, gay, bisexual transgendered and queer women around the world.
aLAF is still in the very early stages of development, but we are committed to the following values in our work....
Accountability - to members and the LGBTQ community
Promoting Diversity - aLAF recognises the diversity of LGBTQ women
Partnership - willing to work with others to forward aLAF's missions and aims
Accessibility - aLAF recognises that not all LGBTQ women have the same access to social or financial resources

A Voluntary Not for Profit Event

aLAF is a "not for profit" organisation and all funds raised from events are invested back into the festival and other aLAF activities.
aLAF is run and developed entirely by volunteers, some of whom are part of the co-ordinating committee and others who work on the various different aspects of the festival.
aLAF is currently seeking to register as limited company and are developing a membership scheme.
aLAF members will elect the co-ordinating committee and shape the future development of the festival.
Our priorities for the future include securing core funding for the festival and building the membership base.

When does it take place?

aLAF takes place in April or May in Dublin Ireland each year. Dates for aLAF 2007 are 25th, 26th and 27th May.

How do I pronounce it?

It's a flat ah for both a's in the name. Having a Laugh is the inspiration...

Where will it happen?

aLAF takes place in various DUBLIN city centre venues and aims to promote gay, lesbian, bi, queer and transgendered women's creativity. Work by women from all over Ireland, Europe and the world is showcased in a dizzying range of events, performances, exhibitions and workshops that just about manage to get across the scope and diversity of lesbian culture at the present time.