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
Upcoming Classes
SOLD OUT – Queer Social Footscray: Cute Closed Terrariums with Winter
This event will be half social chats with a bunch of like minded queer people and half fun, educational and interactive workshop. All workshops are taught by queers, for queers. Closed terrariums are miniature, self-sufficient indoor gardens. They're cute, fun to make, simple to care for, and easy to recreate again at home. If you…
- 1st Aug, 2024
- 6:30pm - 8:30pm (AEST)
- 3 Harris St, Yarraville VIC 3013, Australia
Queer Social Footscray: Learn to Code 101 with May
This event will be half social fun times with a bunch of like minded queer people and half super cute workshop times! When you think of coding, do you think difficult and boring? ! Well we'd like to change your mind on that! Just like pottery, crochet, or painting, coding is about creating something of…
- 29th Aug, 2024
- 6:30pm - 8:30pm (AEST)
- 3 Harris St, Yarraville VIC 3013, Australia
SOLD OUT – Queer Social: Beginner Botanical Watercolours with Caro
Come and enjoy the wonderful world of watercolour painting and illustrating! Whether you're a total beginner or haven't picked up pencils and brushes in a while, watercolour is a most engaging art medium. Fall in love with the brush strokes, creating your own colours, and lose yourself in the shapes and texutres of nature and…
- 19th Jun, 2025
- 6:30pm - 8:00pm (AEST)
- Level 3 Rooms 14, 15/37 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
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 Footscray: Queer Graphic Memoirs with Khale
Graphic storytelling is a uniquely accessible tool that can make complex and difficult topics easy for the reader to understand. Many people find a comic much easier and more comfortable to engage with than an essay or novel. Graphic storytelling can be a great way to tell our own stories - and our own nuanced…
SOLD OUT – Queer Social: Beginner Botanical Watercolours with Caro
Come and enjoy the wonderful world of watercolour painting and illustrating! Whether you're a total beginner or haven't picked up pencils and brushes in a while, watercolour is a most engaging art medium. Fall in love with the brush strokes, creating your own colours, and lose yourself in the shapes and texutres of nature and…
Queer Social Footscray: The Art of Shibari with Harli
Join us for a guided journey into the exciting world of rope bondage. Designed for curious, caring creatures, this class will explore the artform’s potential for profound intimacy, connection and trust building. We will learn the important foundations of safety and rope-craft before learning some basic yet effective techniques for empowering your inner rope-top. The lesson structure is designed…
Queer Social Footscray: Electronics & Light-up Cards with Jess
Who's the light of your life? Your queen bee? The apple of your eye? Express yourself and say it all with a handmade light-up greetings card! Reconnect with your science brain learn to make a greetings card that's extra special and memorable with a light-up effect! This beginner class will introduce you to circuits and…
Queer Social: Sculpting the Human Body with Maddy
Queer socials are community events that are half social chats with a bunch of like minded queer people and half fun, educational and interactive workshop. All workshops are taught by queers, for queers. Come and explore clay sculpting! In this class we'll learn the basics of creating a small torso of the human figure. The human…
Queer Social Darebin: 3D Collages with Yianni
Collage can sometimes be seen as just a 2D art form, but adding texture and depth can add another dimension to a work, offering perspective, depth of field, a greater level of realism and sometimes some trickery of the eye. Come and explore the possibility of the depths and heights of collage, have a good…
Queer Social Footscray: Life Drawing For Everyone with Billie
Life drawing is an artistic practice focused on drawing the human body in different poses and gestures. It's about observation, sketching and drawing but above all it's about having fun! In this very beginner classes we'll have a nude model in a series of quick and longer poses. No art experience required - just come and…
Queer Social: Leathercraft Basics – Make a Leather Purse with Gosia
Queer socials are community events that are half social chats with a bunch of like minded queer people and half fun, educational and interactive workshop. Discover the art of Leathercraft! In this workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of leatherworking while creating your own unique and sustainable leather pouch. Using 100% repurposed leather, you'll be guided through…
Queer Social Darebin: Sex – Pleasure Anatomy for Every-Body with Louise
This class is all about pleasure! Queer sex educator Louise Bourchier will teach you the ins-and-outs of sexual anatomy so you can maximise pleasure in your sex life (whether solo or partnered). Rather than the heteronormative, reproductive focus most of us learned in school, Louise’s style of grown-up sex ed focuses on the feel-good aspects.…
Queer Social Darebin: Deeper Intimacy and Connection via Shibari with Harli
Join us for a guided journey into the exciting world of rope bondage. Designed for curious, caring creatures, this class will explore the art forms potential for profound intimacy, connection and trust building. We will learn the important foundations of safety and rope-craft before learning some basic yet effective techniques for empowering your inner rope-top. The lesson structure is…
Queer Social: Erotic Art for Everyone! With Cherie
Queer socials are community events that are half social chats with a bunch of like minded queer people and half fun, educational and interactive workshop. All workshops are taught by queers, for queers. Learn how to work with pastels and mix media to create your first piece of erotic art! Erotic art usually includes all sorts…
Queer Social Footscray: No Needle Knitting via Cosy Pillows with Maria
Can you make a big chunky pillow in 30mins? Yes you can! In this class, we'll learn a No-needle knitting technique using the chunkiest, softest yarn. You'll leave with a new fun hobby and a new cozy pillow everyone will be able to finish during the class. This event will be half social chats with…
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.
