An Evening of Art & Culture: Book Signing + Screening with ORLAN

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the radical and transformative world of ORLAN, the iconic contemporary French artist renowned for her groundbreaking approach to identity, body, and art.

An event by La Plaque Tournante (Frédéric Acquaviva & Loré Lixenberg.) Acontinuation from the series of works ‘OUTSIDER BODIES.’

Book Signing & Screening of STRIP TEASE: ALL ABOUT MY LIFE, ALL ABOUT MY ART – ORLAN’s provocative autobiography.

An exploration of ORLAN's revolutionary work across diverse mediums including sculpture, photography, performance, video, 3D art, AI, robotics, augmented reality, and even biotechnology.

Alongside a screening of her cutting-edge projects that span sculpture, photography, performance, 3D art, AI, robotics, augmented reality, and more.

There will be a pop up display of some ORLAN artworks (curated by F. Acquaviva) & other books available at this event:

ORLAN Striptease £30 (36 copies)

ORLAN Exogène, Editions AcquAvivA, 2017 £25 (5 copies only) 

ORLAN in CRU4 Magazine (with poste, DVD etc), L@B, 2018, £20 (10 copies only) + one of 30 deluxes with an original photograph or ORLAN £400 (1 copy only) 

ORLAN in Frédéric Acquaviva's Seminal, CD in DVD Box, L@B, 2022, £10 (10 copies only)
Don’t miss this chance to engage with one of the most daring and revolutionary figures in contemporary art.

We are BACK - as is Diana! Its 1997 and Girl Power is everywhere! The Spice Girls dominate the charts, Louise, Dannii Minogue and Gina G fly the flag for the pop girls. Katrina and The Waves won Eurovision, Janet Jackson returned and All Saints, Natalie Imbruglia and Shola Ama launched.

The boys were busy too though with Backstreet Boys, 911, Boyzone, Hanson, North & South, No Mercy and Five all making the top 10. Robbie Williams launched his solo career proper, Kavana adorned bedroom walls and Will Smith was the man in black. Not content with the charts being full of pure pop, Texas, Republica and No Doubt added some guitars to the mix. 1997 also saw HUGE dance anthems from Gala (and her trombelese), Ultra Nate and Dario G - not to mention the trio of hits from Sash! And just as the year was ending, we said hello to bright new things Steps and Aqua!

We’ll be playing the A list popstars from 1997 along with B listers like Michelle Gayle, Lisa Stansfield and Skunk Anansie along with loads of other pop and dance hits from 1997. Immerse yourself with memorabilia galore from 1997 adorning our walls including our much loved chart wall and don't forget to pay your respects to Diana, Princess of Wales in the memorial book… Arr Di might just make an appearance on the day!

Expect loads of forgotten gems you're unlikely to hear anywhere else (from Jimmy Ray to The Course and Clock). Our Bargain Bin first hour of 1997’s pop flops (from Mary Kiani to Newton and **whisper ** Kylie Minogue - yes it was that year) kicks the night off as usual from 9pm.

VENUS MOUND UNBOUND 

A CRITICAL COMMENTARY ON SHEMANIC ACTIVITIES.

VAGINAL MUSINGS IN THE AGE OF SEX REFORMATION AND HERSTORY 

ZOE BEDEAUX  AKA T.I.P ARTIST, ALCHEMIST,SHAKTIVIST, TEXTUAL HEALER,  

FOUNDER OF COSMOTICS WITCHCRAFTED BY VIDA

TAKES YOU ON AN EXPLORATIVE ODYSSEY INTO THE HEART OF CUNTSCIOUNESS.

COME JOURNEY INTO THE CENTRE OF THE YONIVERSE!

THE IMMORTAL PORTAL INVITES YOU 

TO ENTER THE CAVE,

TAKE HER IN HAND,

TO UNDERSTAND,

TO GET HER, 

TOGETHER

FOREVER!

SHE MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.

IN THE END  

IT IS SHE WHO SHALL SAVE THE DAY!

LET IT BE DONE! 

Everyone will be invited to anoint themselves with Love Dust and Snap Dragon Love bombs Cosmotics Witchcrafted by Vida before entering the space.

Presented as part of MANAKI - queer creative health and social justice project funded by ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND

A safer, low-pressure therapeutic space for trans & non-binary people to come together, talk, and support one another.

Jen, who is welcoming you into this weekly space has 7 years experience working as a therapist, 3 years experience working with a gender specialist in gender-affirming healthcare. She also has a BA from the University of Michigan, A PGDip in Psychology from London South Bank University, 

More information about our resident therapist here: https://www.bacp.co.uk/therapists/394970/jennifer-todd/

Mondays

13 October

20 October

27 October

3 November

10 November

17 November

24 November

1 December

Doors 6:30PM | Sessions 7:00-8:30PM
The Outsider’s Gallery at VFDalston (Accessible Venue)
18+ Only | FREE | Reserve A Spot | Max 10 people  per session

Each week we hold space to:

Share lived experiences
Talk about gender and identity
Navigate day-to-day realities
Offer practical advice + peer support
Connect with others in a supportive, facilitated environment

There’s no set agenda, no pressure to speak, and no expectation to commit every week, just an open door for honest conversation, care, and communi

Pre-booking is required - registration closes the Sunday before each session Sessions are FREE but limited to 10 participants per week

By the end of the 8 weeks, we will provide a one-page resource of collective learnings, signposting, and support networks.

Venue Info:
The Outsider’s Gallery at VFDalston is a fully accessible space. For any additional access needs, feel free to get in touch.

Open hearts, open minds, no expectations. Just a space to be.

Presented as part of MANAKI - queer creative health and social justice project funded by ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND

join Liv Ello and their patchwork pack of writers, performers, dreamers and screamers for an informal evening of scratching our bits in front of each other in the infamous basement of VFDalston 

this is a space of embracing mess and mutual encouragement – where the ‘what if’ and the ‘what the fuck was that’ sooth like savlon and sting like knees on concrete as we fuck up, feedback our thoughts and figure it all out together in a this safe space of sharing new ideas and creative discussion 

join from 6:30pm for a group writing exercise to get those fingers throbbing before we slip into an evening of scratch performances, group natters, weird sparks, and all the unexpected collisions that happen when artists share space 

bar open. breaks happen. ideas leak. 

come to scratch and leave with new itches. 

Thursday 9th October 6:30pm-10pm @ VFDalston 

PWYC tickets (recommended: £5) 

The Lineup

DOORS – 6:15pm 

6:30pm – 7:00pm –  group writing exercise + opening from Liv Ello 

7:00pm – 7:15pm – pre-sharing mingle 

7:15pm – 7:30pm– 3x sharings + feedback 

7:30pm – 7:45pm– break/mingle 

7:45pm – 8:15pm– 3x sharings + feedback 

8:15pm – 8:30pm – break/mingle 

8:30pm – 9:00pm– group discussion 

9:00pm – 9:45pm– x4 sharings + feedback 

QFC is a friendly workshop that brings families together through costume, character and play. Led by creators and facilitators with many years of experience, the session gently builds, using games that guide participants to create a simple costumed character and to share these creations with each other through more games and performance (if desired!). 

VFD is collaborating with QFC apart of MANAKI our new queer-led, community-based project that brings together a range of arts and cultural practices under one framework. 
 

Cabaret is the most fun and fundamental of the theatre arts and it provides an in-the-moment and accessible means to share spontaneous creativity and to celebrate each other. 

Expect laughter and connection as we build community through silliness and celebration. 

Led by Sally & Arkem - here's a little about them: 

Sally trained as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist and worked for 20 years in the NHS, leaving in 2017 to pursue clowning and poetry and the therapeutic potential of play. 
She created Queer Family Cabaret with Arkem Mark Walton, after she found that clowning and performing with her daughter helped them to have fun together and (looking back) to weather the dreary skies of UK’s retrograde gender policies. 

Arkem Mark Walton is a performer, maker and creative enabler. They work in cabaret, story-telling and craft. Arkem has performed on the hallowed stage of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, in the galleries of the V&A, down The Rabbithole at Glastonbury and in a hot air balloon over Cappadocia. They enjoy taking the audience on a giddy journey through songs and poems with D.I.Y. drag stylings and a clowny edge. Arkem also enjoys helping curious folk to find new sides of themselves through costume, make-up and accessory making.

The workshop will run between 2pm and 5pm:

2pm-3pm: We will meet each other in the space and create a character.

3pm:There will be a break with snacks.

3:15pm-4pm: We find a costume and play more theatrical games.

4pm-5pm: Continued silliness, a group sharing and we will end our time together. 

This workshop is about empowerment through play and feedback is enthusiastically encouraged! 

Join us in t'ARTopia for a queer-curated night of drag, comedy, poetry, cabaret and music from some of our most delicious t'ARTs.

We have invited some of our favourite performers to entertain you all, at a night that will be nothing short of t'ARTopian. 

We will be raising money for gender affirming surgery funds with this evening's raffle, so come with a couple of quid, win art and raise money for good causes!

Let's get mouth-watering

Time: Doors - 7:15pm, Show starts - 7:30pm

Plus, you can be the first to buy a copy of volume 3 of our sell out, limited edition mini-journal ‘Trans Tongues’ with your ticket to pick up at the event!

Diarisms is a night of creative, critical, and personal engagements with diary writing. 

Featuring:

Tom Bland 

Lian Bi @bilian1221 

Natalia Syzmańska 

Kelly Wu @kellywustudio 

Jan @condensedsoymilk 

Izaac Elliot @izaac_elliot 

Oona Evergreen @oona.web 

M. Griso Dryer @mgd___mgd 

+ more TBA

When: Thursday 11th September (slight change from date mentioned in the open call!). 

Doors at 6:30 and readings begin at 7pm. 

In partnership with Doc'n Roll Films, VFD present a screening of the acclaimed new documentary on former Hackney resident Genesis P-Orridge. 

Genesis P-Orridge lived their art to the extreme. A pioneering musician, avant-garde artist, spiritual explorer, and gender revolutionary, Genesis has appeared in many works — but never this intimately. In this authorised, raw documentary, award-winning director David Charles Rodrigues (Gay Chorus Deep South) captures the final year of P-Orridge’s life.

Featuring William Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Timothy Leary, Alice Genese (Psychic TV), David J (Bauhaus/Love and Rockets), Nepalese monks, African witch doctors, and a surprise cameo from Queen Elizabeth, the film offers never-before-seen archives and performance footage from Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A (host TBC)

The screening takes place at VFDalston No64 in the basement space, this is a relaxed environment, there is a set of stairs to reach the basement.

A relaxed screening of Pariah — a powerful film about identity, queerness, and self-expression.

Join us for a relaxed screening of Pariah – a powerful, tender film exploring identity, queerness, and self-expression through the eyes of a Black lesbian teen.

We don’t see enough stories like this – and we want more space to watch, feel, and reflect together.🎬 Watch the trailer here: Pariah Trailer

🧃 Snacks provided🧸 Fidget toys available🫶🏾 Low-pressure, low-stimulus vibes

This space is by and for Black & POC neurodivergents – whether you're out, questioning, masked, or just curious, you're welcome here and you're the prioty.

Let us know if you have specific access needs — we’ll do our best to support you. 💜

https://www.instagram.com/blackandneurodiverse

Hidden Bodies is a life drawing class that celebrates the beauty & diversity of Queer/Trans+ people; challenging norms of mainstream art spaces. In a world where traditional life drawing often perpetuates narrow & heteronormative beauty standards, Hidden Bodies provides a platform & opportunity to immortalise marginalised bodies in art.

This class invites artists of all levels to explore and appreciate the human form; destigmatising & normalising Queer/Trans+ bodies.
 Whether you are a seasoned artist or picking up a pencil for the first time, Hidden Bodies offers a supportive, inclusive, and affirming environment. Come draw with us as we embrace the complexity of human form and elevate the bodies and experiences that so often go unseen.

Hosted by Sam Sun, and our life model is Zee.

Zee (they/them) is a writer and speaker exploring the intersections of Blackness, Queerness and Trans identities. Find their work on https://substack.com/@souldeep

The class will be lead, but not tutored.
Class structure will include a warm up of 10 short poses (1-3 mins), some 2 min drawing exercises that include movement, animation, stylised drawing, art swapping, technical exercises & audience participation. Longer, more traditional life drawing poses include 5 min, 10 min, 15 min & 20 min poses.

Artists are invited to bring their own materials; if you don't have your own, not to worry!

Drawing materials, boards & paper will be provided for a small cash donation of £2.
All are welcome—bring your curiosity, creativity, and openness. Let’s redraw the lines of life drawing, together.

The event is in the basement space of No64 The Outsiders Gallery, it has a set of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.

Funded by Arts Council England

ARIANA TIKAO

SOUND BATH / KAURANGA ORO

Taonga Puoro (Singing Treasures) are Traditional Maori Instruments deeply connected to spirituality and storytelling within Maori Culture. They often mimic the sounds of the natural world such as the wind and the sea. 

Join taonga puoro practitioner Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) for a transformative experience that merges the ancient restorative power of taonga puoro with the resonance of karakia and waiata (sung incantation). 

In this special event, environmental voices, elemental gods (atua) and ancestors come alive through the sacred sounds of taonga puoro, guided by the gentle yet powerful energy of Ariana's practice of Hine Wai Ora. This feminine energy of the atua wahine, symbolises connection and release, and will create a profound sense of relaxation. 

As the soothing tones wash over you, you’ll enter a state of deep calm, allowing tension to dissolve and mental clarity to emerge. The therapeutic sounds foster a powerful healing space where wai (water), waiata and karakia (sung incantation) coalesce, offering not only an immediate sense of peace but also lasting benefits such as improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and wellbeing.

There will be cups of tea and food afterwards for grounding.
 

This event will take place downstairs at the Outsiders Gallery - a cool, calming and tranquil space to keep you sheltered from the heat. 

Join us in t'ARTopia for a queer-curated night of drag, comedy, poetry, cabaret and music from some of our most delicious t'ARTs.

We have invited some of our favourite performers to entertain you all, at a night that will be nothing short of t'ARTopian. 

We will be raising money for gender affirming surgery funds with this evening's raffle, so come with a couple of quid, win art and raise money for good causes!

Let's get mouth-watering

Schedule:

7:15pm -  Doors Open

7:30pm - Start

10:00pm - End

t’ART is a queer-led arts and lit collective, that creates space (on the page and in real life) for marginalised voices. Lineup

Nyongbella - Drag

Nyongbella is a life sized Bratz doll and fashion editorial come alive. She is truly a rarity, and with supermodel poise and showgirl glamour, she's ready to leave everyone wanting more. 

Teresa Rendell - Poetry

Writing has proved an invaluable vehicle for expressing the instability of grief following the loss of my dad, David, to MND last year. Finding humour as well as darkness has proved to be, granted, a foreseeable challenge, but one which has developed and grounded my creative practice. I’ve performed at Up the Creek, and VFD, and in my work invite you into this deeply personal and vulnerable journey of bitterness, recovery, and the absurdity of living with what’s left.

Christopher Lieberman - Comedy

Christopher Lieberman (he/him) is a queer writer, actor, and comedian from South London. He has self-produced two solo shows, including the award-winning "Bunny Man", and he has performed at venues across London, Brighton, and Edinburgh. 

Solstice Corn Dolly Workshop

Summer Solstice Corn Dolly Workshop….

Daddystreetfox returns to VFD for another Corn Dolly workshop on the Summer solstice, Sunday 22nd June 12-3pm Tickets £25

Using soaked layers of corn husks you will guided through the process of creating a traditional corn dolly. These dolls were often made to keep the spirit of the harvest alive. There will be time to decorate your doll with a selection of wheat, rye, lavender, dried flowers, ribbons and seed pods.

Feel free to bring along anything you would like to use for decoration.

VFD is a fully accessible space.

Queer Square - a free day party on Solstice. 

Come and help VFD celebrate a new phase in our 18-year history . This year we are becoming a charity which will allow us to continue serving the needs of our Queer community and intersectional allies. 

This is a period of change and challenges for us as we move from profit-making to offering more free services and events. 

This is a party, an activation, a call to our community to come and share the LOVE. 

Love Art Magic 

VFD 

The VIBES

It's an honour to have two members of our VFD family Gin and Alex, Djing the party and bringing the good vibes.

GIN - Founder of Faggamuffin Bloc Party and celebrating QTBIPOC carnival culture. Playing the best Dancehall, Soca, Bashment, Reggae and Calypso. 

Gin is also a founding member of other community support groups to include Black Obsidian Sound System, Sex and Rage and Goldsnap. 

Alex Loveless - Founder of the trans and non binary- led dance party Body2Body. Playing Disco, RnB, Pop, Rock and everything in between, with tunes and anthems that everyone knows and loves. 

Alex is a founder of ‘La Camionera’ a lesbian bar and community space on Well Street, a welcome addition to Hackney nightlife culture. 

We will be announcing our final set times next week. 

This event is free and you do need to reserve a space for free or you can support us by - 

• Purchasing a ‘Pay It Forward’ drinks ticket on Cocktails and Doubles with Mixer.

• Donating to us.

‘Pay It Forward’ tickets will be given when you check -in. 

A few things to note. 

Priority entry will be given to ‘Pay It Forward’ ticket holders.

To avoid queuing, we advise those who purchase a ‘Pay It Forward’ ticket to arrive before 6pm. 

We advise all free ticket holders to arrive before 6pm to guarantee entry. 

The gates will close at 7.30, half an hour before the party ends at 8pm. 

No liquids will be allowed into the square. Free water will be available at the bar. 

Please check our Social Media for updates on the day. 

Gillett Square is a fully accessible outdoor space, and there are accessible toilets on site. 

NO BYO and NO RE ENTRY

Join us in Gillett Square to learn about Matariki/Pacific New Year - which celebrates the rising of the Matariki star cluster - with a free Whētu/star making workshop. 

VFD invites everyone, including friends, family, children, dogs and imaginary friends to learn about Matariki while creating beautiful handmade Whētu (all sustainable materials provided). Come along from 12pm-2pm, stay as long or as short as you like and connect with our pasifika culture. After the workshop all the Whetū will be hung within Gillett Square to share your creations with the public throughout the day or you are welcome to take them home with you. 

In Aotearoa, Matariki is a time to come together to remember all those that have passed into the realm of the star Pōhutukawa in the previous year and to celebrate the coming of the New Year by giving thanks for the gifts of our Taiao (natural world) to Waitī, star of freshwater bodies and all foods they contain; Waitā, star of the Moana (ocean) and the food it provides; Waipuna-ā-rangi, star of rainfall; Tupu-ā-nuku,star of all that grows in the earth and is harvested; Tupu-ā-Rangi, star of fruits, berries birds and all that grows on trees; Ururangi, star of the winds; Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, the wishing star and Matariki, star of people’s health and well being. 

Please note : Whētu making takes around 20 mins but please feel free to come and go as you please. 

Gillett Square is a fully accessible space.

SH*T ON IT  is an event showcasing Trans voices on the recent UK Supreme Court Ruling where they determined that the legal definition of a woman is based on their biological sex. 

As one may assume this has huge implications of how trans people (especially trans women) are treated in day to day life as well as a cis women who doesn't look like a femme woman. This act has been enforced by outdated thoughts that don't seem to be completely thought out. 

If you are looking for an evening where you get to hear trans voices on the matter come along. This is a free event yet if you have the capability to pay for a ticket please do as this means we can throw more events like this. 

This event takes place on the 19th at 6:30pm with readings and performances by some iconic trans people TBA, at 7:30pm at the gallery of VFD. It will also be showcasing images of Fleur Bloemsma from across 5 years on a toilet around the gallery. You can also be apart of a movement and have your picture taken on the toilet and posted all around London (completely optional).

I will also have made a zine with trans voices and pictures inside that will be for sale on the day. 

More suprises along the way. if you can reserve your place that would be great as there is limited space. 

Address 64-66 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 7XB, UK./ This venue is fully accessible   

The meaning of this show is to make people feel less alone and more together. 

See you soon 

Fleur 

Mealofa - Fundraiser for Palestine

Talofa Koutou

Join us for a day of workshops that celebrate creativity, movement and
connection at VFD, 14th June. We will be hosting workshops for; hula,
printmaking, creative writing and zine making to raise money for
families in Palestine. Each workshop will explore creative ways to
sustain ourselves and act in solidarity.

All our artists have donated their time and resources to benefit
families who are suffering under aid blockades, accelerated and
indiscriminate bombing and the destruction of vital infrastructure. As
Bloody Samoan says “Palestine’s struggle today was our struggle
yesterday”. Mealofa translates to "something of love" but is used to
mean "to give". We give the people of Palestine our unwavering
solidarity, our time, our resources and our resistance until Palestine
is free.

All workshops have been created to include everyone from absolute
beginners to confident artists and performers.

Workshop schedule:

Pasifika Dance and Connection with Nicola (1.5 hrs)
Solidarity Printmaking with Momoe (1.5 hrs)
Creative Writing for Communities with Yogi and Lau (1.5 hrs)
Zinemaking for Collective Liberation with Sina (1.5 hrs)

Workshops start from midday. No island time. More details to follow.

Tickets begin at £12 for a workshop or £35 for the full day. Limited
low income tickets available and please email laubatty@gmail.com if
you have access issues or are struggling financially but would like to
come and connect with community.

VFD Tarot

A co-created, experimental and cosy night of tarot inspired cabaret. 

Gender Queer Tarot – if it’s been done before, we still clamour for more!

 With the added twist of history and so expanding gender queer community through space and time. The VFD tarot is a willful whoop to our ingenious ancestors for inspiration and insight.

The event is divided into three - for our shenanigans are sacred:

Intentions can be set and cards will be conferred on the door,

We will come together in the spellbinding space of The Outsider’s Gallery VFD, hosted by The Irrepressible Andrea Boswell who will represent The Fool. The howling horn of Sarah Woolfenden will create a clarion call to community and a surreal soundscape, rallying resonant reciprocity... She will represent the four suits of the tarot. 

The Cabaret of the Cards will begin, comprising of 3 ingenious acts, the 3 journeys that the fool pursues through the major arcana.

Journey 1 The Worldly One : Arkem Mark Walton

Journey 2 Turning Inwards : Charlie Jimenez

Journey 3 The Great Journey : Ella the Great

After this we gather to generate a group quest-i-on, posed to the tarot and followed by a 3 card reading.

We will embody these tarot insights through well-held whimsical psycho-magical acts and close the space together with a shared group intention.

This night plays with the insights of Rachel Pollack, tarot expert, trans activist, sci-fi writer and creator of the first trans cartoon super hero (and ex-Londoner).

A VFD Tarot Deck has been created by Sally Ruth Davies for the night, celebrating 22 Gender Queer Londoners .

There will be tea and cake.

Doors open at 7pm. The show starts at 7.30 and the event ends at 9.30pm.

This is an intimate event held at The Outsiders Gallery @VFD - book early to avoid disappointment.

NOTAFLOF (No one turned away for lack of funds) tickets available upon request. Please email info@vfdalston.com for more info. 

Supporting Grassroots Live Music with focus on celebrating and platforming Queer Musicians.

Plus mini DJ Workshop with IKONIKA

SOLD OUT

Jacqueline Ennis-Cole open-mic and book launch event. Private Invite Only

Jacqueline received a Spread The Word Commission Award in Autumn 2023. Recent readings include Lewisham Literature Festival, Autistic Shuffle, Devereux and with Poem Brut at Rich Mix and a Hundred Years Gallery. They received an Arts Council Project Award in 2024, to co-facilitate a series of free poetry workshops at CLR james Library and VFD for LGBTQIA+ communities and to produce a diverse and intersectional poetry anthology hatred is a bitter fruit. 

The co-host will be Venus - a martial artist, writer and performer from Harlesden. A sex worker for many years, her work is a reflection of her experiences with unconventional notions of power, strength, sensuality, subversion and the concept of embodiment as knowledge. She is a recent graduate with a BA in Politics, Philosophy and History, and is founder of Sex and Rage, a sex worker led organisation resisting stigma and shame through sex education. 

Our other co-host will be our own Lyall Hakaraia.