Thursday 30th March to Sunday
2nd April 2006

What is aLAF?

When does it take place?

How do I pronounce it?

Where will it happen?

How can I get there?

Who can attend?

How can I submit work?

How can I help out?

How can I be a sugar mommy/daddy?

What is aLAF?

aLAF is a Lesbian Arts Festival - celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer women's artistry and creativity, from poetry to music, theatre to film making and visual art to the art of our own bodies.

With a bombardment of queer women's music, visual art, theatre, comedy, drag, film, and more, aLAF has been running annually since 2002, with performers, artists and audiences travelling from as far as the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, Sweden, Argentina and of course from all over Ireland!

aLAF emerged from a group of like-minded women with a desire to launch an Arts Festival in Dublin similar to those that happen in other cities around the world.

The aLAF committee is interested in discovering, exploring and promoting the creative and artisitc work of women in the LGBTQ community.

The mission of aLAF is:

"To foster artistic and creative expression that promotes lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer women's visibility and identity."

We work towards this by

• Holding an annual lesbian arts festival incorporating visual art, performance, music, dance, theatre and the written word
• Providing a forum for lesbian artists and for women interested in the arts to exhibit, perform, display and exchange information
• Improving access to LGBTQ women's art to a lesbian audience and provide a focus for developing that audience
• Encouraging the LGBTQ commercial sector and the community to support lesbian artists and cater to the growing demand for work by women, or of interest to women
• Promoting or stimulating initiatives that support existing or potential LGBTQ women artists
• Entertaining, stimulating, engaging, amusing and challenging the many lesbian, gay, bisexual transgendered and queer women around the world.

aLAF is still in the very early stages of development, but we are committed to the following values in our work....
Accountability - to members and the LGBTQ community
Promoting Diversity - aLAF recognises the diversity of LGBTQ women
Partnership - willing to work with others to forward aLAF's missions and aims
Accessibility - aLAF recognises that not all LGBTQ women have the same access to social or financial resources

A Voluntary Not for Profit Event

• aLAF is a "not for profit" organisation and all funds raised from events are invested back into the festival and other aLAF activities.
• aLAF is run and developed entirely by volunteers, some of whom are part of the co-ordinating committee and others who work on the various different aspects of the festival.
• aLAF is currently seeking to register as limited company and are developing a membership scheme.
• aLAF members will elect the co-ordinating committee and shape the future development of the festival.
• Our priorities for the future include securing core funding for the festival and building the membership base.

To subscribe to our emailing list please fill in our online application form.

When does it take place?

aLAF takes place over the 1st weekend in April in DUBLIN, IRELAND. Dates for aLAF 2006 will be announced shortly.

How do I pronounce it?

It's a flat ah for both 'a's in the name. Having a Laugh is the inspriation...

Where will it happen?

aLAF takes place in various DUBLIN city centre venues and aims to promote gay, lesbian, bi, queer and transgendered women's creativity. Work by women from all over Ireland, Europe and the world is showcased in a dizzying range of events, performances, exhibitions and workshops that just about manage to get across the scope and diversity of lesbian culture at the present time.

How can I get there?

See our Come to aLAF section

Who can attend?

EVERYONE is welcome to attend all events EXCEPT the workshops (women only)!

How can I submit work?

Submission guidelines for aLAF 2006 will follow shortly. We look for submissions from artists, performers, writers, filmmakers, entertainers, musicians and any women engaging in creative endeavors.

How can I help out?

To help with organising the festival, or get involved in any way please email: getinvolved@alafireland.com

How can I be a sugar mommy/daddy?

aLAF welcomes donations great and small as we are a self-funding organisation. You can support a specific programme event, emerging artists or contribute to the general Festival fund. All Sugar Mommies and Daddies receive invites to aLAF launch and wrap party, have access to advance ticket sales for all aLAF events, and are name checked in the aLAF program and website ( or can remain anonymous). Interested? Email sugar@alafireland.com to find out more.

This years sugar mommies and daddies include:

Alan Elliott

Anne Good

Eithne O'Connell

Karen O'Conner

Finian O'Shea

Jane Pillinger

Ailbhe Smyth