FLINTA-focused party Leztopia awarded £10,000 as part of SHERELLE-backed Freeform Forum

SHERELLE has helped queer club night Leztopia secure a £10,000 creative fund.

The programme, powered by Relentless and Pirate Studios, saw the DJ and producer mentor Elianne Mahay-Goodrich (pictured above) – the founder of the FLINTA-focussed party – for three months ahead of them being awarded the Freeform Forum 2024 creative fund.

Other scene figureheads working on the mentorship scheme included ANTS Live, AZ Captures and Troy Roscoe.

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In order to receive the grant, SHERELLE supported Mahay-Goodrich in producing Leztopia’s fourth event, which took place at The Yard Theatre, Hackney Wick in September.

With an aim to create a safe and inclusive space for Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Trans and Agender people in the underground music scene, the rising promoter platformed DJs from east London's queer scene including Michelle Manetti, Alex Lebby and Berry from ‘Dykes on Decks’.

She also “adjusted pricing, networked across East London’s queer venues, and launched a DJ competition to increase ticket sales and boost platform awareness,” according to a press release.

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Speaking on the mentorship programme, Mahay-Goodrich said: “Working with SHERELLE has been a dream; she constantly pushes my creative limits and has paved the way for many women in music. I’m also grateful for the connections I've made with my fellow mentees and for the creative fund, which will help advance my vision for Leztopia.”

Meanwhile, Sherelle noted the necessity of parties like Leztopia in the current climate of club closures: “With UK nightlife in decline, the subcultures that rely on it are at risk. As one of the few female promoters, Elianne provides a much-needed safe haven through her event, which pushes boundaries in the music industry."

"We need more promoters like her who are dedicated to challenging norms and advocating for change,” she added.

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Mahay-Goodrich has said she will use the funding to put on more events next year, including one in collaboration with Sherelle as part of Leztopia’s first anniversary celebrations. She also plans to create an artist agency and record label focused on supporting FLINTA musicians.

This year marked the second edition of the Freeform Forum scheme. A total of 12 creatives received mentorship.

“Young creatives should keep their eyes peeled, as the programme is part of the brand’s wider Freeform platform, which aims at fueling the next generation of aspiring creatives via a programme of grassroots support, opportunities for emerging talent and boundary-pushing music experiences,” reads a press release.

Freeform will also be supporting a fundraising event for SHERELLE’s BEAUTIFUL platform at Peckham’s Carpet Shop on December 4, with sets from Loraine James, Emerald, George Riley and more.

Grab tickets here.

Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram