Hello and Welcome Beautiful Humans!
Queer social has wrapped up for 2021 but we will come back in 2022 with new and popular workshops for everyone!
If you’d like to teach with us in 2022, there is a tab below and if you want more information, email us!
Check this short wrap up video for some of the things we got up to 🙂
We wanted to create a space for LGBTQIA+ people to connect outside of party vibes, make new pals and enjoy in the fun of learning new things….
So Laneway Learning and Unicorns teamed up to invent QUEER SOCIAL – a queer workshop and social space for queers, by queers.
Learning new things has so many benefits, from developing new skills to increasing mental wellbeing. And it’s also just fun!
So come and join us for this cute new workshop series and be surrounded by other lovely queer people – you could also meet your new best friend or soul mate! 😉
We will be learning anything and everything – from how to make home-make eco-glitter bath bombs, to money management hot tips and how to crochet a unicorn!
There will also be fun little games to get you mingling and chill times at the end to hang out in our colourful space.
The workshops are also going to be super cheap thanks to a bunch of legend sponsors like City of Melbourne and Bank Australia – thank you x 100 for being on board to support us queers!
ACCESSIBILITY
- Wheelchair Accessible Venue
- Gender Neutral Bathrooms
- Quiet Spaces
- Low Level Music
- Discounted Tickets
- Free Tickets for First Nation Attendees
- Auslan Interpreted Upon Request
WHO IS BEHIND THIS LITTLE IDEA?
Two humans: Maria – Laneway Learning (she/her) and delsi – Unicorns (she/her).
Laneway Learning and Unicorns, are both community organisations that focus on creating spaces for our community.
We do it out of love and passion for developing safer spaces, with open hearts and all our empathy, commitment and energy.
However, there is only two of us so please be mindful that we might take some time to get back to you.
Artwork by @plasticmessiah
That workshop was life changing.
Queer Social Attendee (September 2021)
OMG I have missed Unicorns and the community around it. Seeing everyone at Queer Social made me feel like I could get through this pandemic.
Queer Social Attendee (October 2021)
The second the workshop ended, I recommended it to 3 other queer friends. Lockdown has been hell on mental healthy. Counselling and psychiatry offices are booked, their waitlists are closed. This isn't the cure, but let me tell you - I'm having the first good day in months and I owe it all to last nights workshop. Thank you.
Queer Social Attendee (October 2021)
These events are fulfilling an overlooked need for queer disabled folk in Melbourne. I appreciate that the topics are fun and uplifting. We need more of this.
Queer Social Attendee (August 2021)
Just fill this form if you’d like to teach a class at Queer Social!
All teachers are paid and will be invited to a thank you party at the end of the workshop series.
We might receive quite a few applications so we may not be able to get back to all of you. But we will defo keep everyones application on file in case we find a suitable future spot.
We are looking for volunteers to help us host these fabulous classes. Please read the information here and fill the form (selecting Queer Social in class format).
If you are feeling distress or need someone to talk to there is always someone who will listen.
Here are some fantastic organisations and helplines that we recommend contacting:
Past Queer Socials
Queer Social: Kokedama Moss Balls with Maria
This event will be half social chats with a bunch of like-minded queer people and half fun, educational and interactive workshop. Kokedama is an ancient Japanese botanical art like bonsai or ikebana art. The word ‘Kokedama’ means ‘moss ball’ in Japanese as they are plants living in freestanding balls of moss-covered soil instead of pots.…
Queer Social: Mixed Rope Basket Weaving with Maria
This event will be half social chats with a bunch of like-minded queer people and half fun, educational and interactive workshop. Learn a simple technique to make rope baskets in no time! Maria will show you an easy macrame hack to make any size basket out of rope. Mix different rope types and sizes to…
Queer Social: Macrame Rainbow Planters with Maria
This event will be half social chats with a bunch of like-minded queer people and half fun, educational and interactive workshop. Macrame is a craft using knots and weaves to make beautiful homewares, clothing and more. Its origins are a bit unsure, some dating it back to the 13th century in Arabia using knot patterns…
Queer Social: Colourful Rug Making for Beginners with Maria
Come and learn how to make a lovely rug using the Amish knot or toothbrush rugmaking technique! What's most impressive about this method is that it uses fabric strips cut off from old linen or fabrics, saving them from landfill and giving them a new life. It's quite addictive so soon you might be trawling…
SOLD OUT – Queer Social: An Intro to Hand Built Pottery with Maddy
Come and explore the world of pottery and clay modelling! Maddy will guide you through an introduction to pottery, supporting you to make your own piece of pottery art from air-dry clay. You might like to make an engraved plate, a little pinch pot or both! At the end of the workshop you will walk…
Queer Social: Leathercraft Basics – Leather Accessories with Gosia
Discover the art of Leathercraft and make some fun, handmade accessories! From earrings and brooches to cuffs and key rings. In this workshop, you’ll learn basic leatherworking techniques for 2D and 3D designs while creating your own unique and sustainable leather jewellery and accessories. There are lots of colours and finishes to choose from. You'll…
Queer Social: Pride Kokedama Moss Balls with Maria
Kokedama is an ancient Japanese botanical art like bonsai or ikebana art. The word ‘Kokedama’ means ‘moss ball’ in Japanese as they are plants living in freestanding balls of moss-covered soil instead of pots. Kokedama are a beautiful way to bring greenery into your home and are ideal for apartments or flats with minimal space.…
Queer Social: Kawaii Pride Magnets, Keyrings and Accessories with Maria
Kawaii is the Japanese culture of cuteness, and in this class Maria will show you how to make the cutest polymer clay accessories ever! Polymer Clay is a a fun and easy-to-use modelling medium with all the colours to choose from. Together we will learn how to mould different items, how to mix colours and…
Queer social: Renew Your Clothing with Pride with Maddy
What’s it all about? Join us for a fun class where you will learn how to customise, embolden or mend your clothing with the simple technique of needle felting. Needle felting is the process of turning loose wool into a solid felt using a barbed needle - it’s a very easy and mindful! With needle…
Queer Social: Kokedama Moss Balls with Maddy
This event will be half social chats with a bunch of like minded queer people and half fun, educational and interactive workshop. Kokedama is an ancient Japanese botanical art like bonsai or ikebana art. The word ‘Kokedama’ means ‘moss ball’ in Japanese as they are plants living in freestanding balls of moss-covered soil instead of…
Queer Social: An Introduction to Silver Clay with Maria
This event will be half social chats with a bunch of like minded queer people and half fun, educational and interactive workshop. Silver Clay is an interesting material for silver jewellery making. It's a pliable clay with powdered silver through it, meaning the clay can be sculpted into unique shapes and designs. The silver clay…
SOLD OUT – Queer Social Footscray: Ex Libris Stamp Making with Emilie
Have you ever enthusiastically loaned a favourite book to a friend, housemate, family member and it never came back? You need an ex-libris! Ex-libris are stamps that are used to mark books from a collection, usually used by libraries. In this class, Emilie will teach you how to design and make your very own custom…
Queer social is supported, as part of the Social Partnership program, by The City of Melbourne council.
We also received a customer impact grant from Bank Australia.
