A new Arts Council England (ACE) funded company has launched in Manchester, with a stated goal of promoting performing arts created by transgender artists. Trans Creative, which is led by performer and activist Kate O’Donnell, opened for business on 10 February during Queer Contact festival.
The company was selected for ACE’s Elevate Fund, which is designed to help new arts companies get up and running via three years of financial support. Trans Creative also has partnerships with arts institutions in the area, including Contact.
‘Trans Creative was founded in response to a growing demand for creative trans work,’ said O’Donnell. ‘Our goal is to create positive representation of marginalised trans people in the arts, creating trans-led projects that boast trans-told narratives…we want to offer an authentic voice that represents the community.’
In the past three years the number of young people being referred to Gender Identity Clinics (GICs) has tripled, with O’Donnell stating this shows there is a need to ‘creatively explore these stories…we want to increase representation and nurture a confident trans community within the arts and in wider culture.’
O’Donnell has already performed a number of autobiographical shows that deal with her gender history, including Big Girl’s Blouse and A Short History of My Tits. In Autumn 2017 she will tour her new solo show You’ve Changed across the UK.
