Pride WA successfully launched the latest incarnation of Fruits in Suits, the Pride Professional Network, on Monday 30th April at the Lazy Susan Comedy Lounge, upstairs at the Brisbane Hotel. Forty brave souls braved the lashing rain to attend the launch in the company of most of the Pride committee, including MC for the evening, Treasurer and Networking Convenor Iosefo Tapusoa.
Special guest speaker for the evening was artist Jo Darbyshire, familiar to the community as the curator of 2003’s Gay Museum exhibition and winner of the 2005 Bankwest Contemporary Art Prize. Speaking on the eve of her departure to Canada for a residency with the Banff Centre for the Arts on a ‘Skills and Development Grant’ from the Australia Council, Jo discussed the development of the Gay Museum project and her journey through professional challenges over the past few years. Following the formal speeches, guests networked their way through the evening in the bar downstairs.
The new venue and format was popular with assembled guests, auguring well for the future of the event. The next Pride Professional Network will take place at 6.00pm, upstairs at The Brisbane Hotel on the May the 16th, with subsequent events on 3rd Wednesday of every month.
