Businesses from across the North East are giving their backing to one of the UK’s largest free LGBT festivals – and time is running out for more to pledge their support.
Newcastle Pride 2017, sponsored by business improvement district NE1, will return to Newcastle’s Town Moor from 21 to 23 July as part of its tenth anniversary year.
And thanks to businesses across the region and the North of England, the festival’s 10th birthday year is set to be the biggest yet.
The free LGBT festival – which attracted more than 73,000 visitors and contributed more than £10.4m to the economy in 2016 – has confirmed that NE1, Newcastle’s Business Improvement District, is back on board for the third year as festival sponsor – alongside Manchester Airport, who will be flying the flag as Main Stage sponsor over the Pride weekend.
NE1 and Manchester Airport will also be joined in sponsoring Newcastle Pride 2017 by a number of public sector organisations, including Northumbria Police and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.
More than a dozen businesses from across the region have also signed up to support this year’s event, including banking giants Virgin Money, Barclays and Tesco Bank, leisure brands Eazy Street, Powerhouse, Arnold Clark and Matfen Hall Hotel and housing and utilities providers Gentoo, Your Homes Newcastle and EDF.
Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, which organises the event said: “This year marks ten years of free Newcastle Pride.
“We are currently one of only a few festivals of this scale that is still free to attend and without the support of all of our sponsors, this simply wouldn’t be possible.
“They are the reason that we are able to bring the LGBTQ+ community together each year for an incredible free weekend of celebrating Pride in our past, present and future.”
Each company will sponsor a specific element of the festival, which runs primarily at Newcastle Town Moor from 21 – 23 July with overall support also being offered by Newcastle City Council and Ramside Event Catering, as well as media outlets Pride Radio, Made in Tyne and Wear and Made With Pride.
The popular festival, which brings thousands of visitors to the region every year, is returning with its largest ever line up in July as part of a whole programme of events – including a Black Tie Ball and LGBTQ+ Youth Prom – which will take place in the run-up to the Pride weekend.
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are still available, as well as Pride Guide and screen advertising opportunities, for businesses wanting to support Newcastle Pride in its tenth year.
Anyone interested is being asked to contact Peter Darrant on 07939 610 947 or peter@dcs.works
Mark Nichols, Chair of festival organiser, Northern Pride, added: “Those who sign up as sponsors, Pride Guide or screen advertisers are offered a unique opportunity to engage with the LGBT community on a wide scale and showcase their brand to a captive and receptive audience.
“It also sends out a powerful message of tolerance from each organisation and helps support our mission of reducing homophobia, promoting awareness of equality and uniting LGBT communities across the region.”
Photo caption : Left, Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride with representatives from sponsors NE1, Manchester Airport, Ramside Catering, Matfen Hall, Tesco Bank and Your Homes Newcastle.
