The arts industry in the UK is being squeezed, funding for most projects has been cut in the face of harsh economic conditions.
The gay arts scene has suffered hugely, most notably with the cancellation of two cultural festivals in recent years.
These include Queer Up North, the Manchester-based festival founded in 1992 and London's Gaywise Festival (GFest).
Both festivals provided a platform for gay artists to showcase their work, with Queer Up North (QUN) becoming the largest LBGT arts festival in Europe.