Scarborough's Crescent Arts to host two free workshops celebrating LGBTQ+ history next month
As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, Scarborough residents and visitors are invited to contribute their memories to a trail of cardboard rainbow plaques and a banner depicting the town’s queer timeline.
In June 1312, King Edward II and his favourite Piers Gaveston said their final goodbyes at Scarborough Castle. The story of their doomed love affair would inspire poets, dramatists, novelists and filmmakers for centuries.
Now Scarborough’s creative hub, Crescent Arts, is building on this medieval legacy by inviting the town’s residents and visitors to help them celebrate the length and breadth of local LGBTQ+ history – and to make it visible for the first time.
To mark LGBTQ+ History Month (February) 2026, Crescent Arts will hold two free community art workshops led by writer and historian Kit Heyam, author of The Reputation of Edward II and Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender.
At the first workshop takes place on on Saturday February 7, and is called ‘Out Of The Margins. Participants can drop in to make a rainbow plaque to commemorate the LGBTQ+ history that’s important to them.
From forgotten bars, to iconic drag performances, to the place you first held your partner’s hand – no story is too small to be worth commemorating.
Cardboard plaques can then be taken home, or join the workshop team as they take to the streets to display the plaques and make their history visible.
Sharing these histories will also pave the way for the second workshop, on Saturday February 22, called ‘Raise Your Banner’. At this workshop, participants can make their mark on a community timeline banner showing the centuries-long span of Scarborough’s LGBTQ+ history.
Just like the plaques, the banner will commemorate nationally significant events alongside the events that matter most to local LGBTQ+ people.
The edges of the banner will be decorated with textile art and fabric painting/drawing, which is a reference to the ornate medieval manuscripts of Edward II’s story. Participants can suggest a milestone for the timeline, and/or can help to decorate it.
Both workshops are free and drop-in. They will run from 11am until 3pm and will be located at Crescent Arts, Woodend Creative Space, The Crescent, Scarborough.
Tickets are not needed to attend, however to help manage numbers, people can book at https://kitheyam.com/events/.