Open Barbers 10th birthday – March 2021 🎈

A white circle on a yellow background. In the centre is a red and white striped 10th, with the th wearing a rainbow coloured party hat. Inside the white circle it says Open Barbers. The white circle is being snipped like a ribbon, and between the words open and barbers are various hand drawn, dancing hairdressing tools.

In March 2021 Open Barbers turned 10 years old! To celebrate, we put together 10 exciting events AND a new, creative Crowdfunder!

Here’s an archive of what we did to celebrate:

We hope these festivities will help restore Open Barbers in 2021, and lift our spirits in the meantime!

Take some time to browse our Crowdfunder which is chock full of exciting offers and rewards from our amazing community, or simply donate if you can!

Check out our selection of events on Instagram Live with nine brilliant guests, and our birthday party hosted by Bar Wotever on Tuesday 16th March!

Donate to our 10th birthday crowdfunder

We raised £9,560 with 288 supporters!

If you want to support us today please donate to our Patreon:

Become an Open Barbers Patreon!

Media

For our 10th birthday we’ve had a bit of media coverage:
DIVA, 25/2/21
The Everyday Magazine, Feb 2021
Pink News, 31/03/21

Artists, makers, creators

Alongside our Crowdfunder linked above, these fantastic people are also offering us some of their proceeds towards our fundraiser too! Take a look:

Open Barbers lino print
by Gemma at Wild Water Art Store

Gemma Curtis is a queer artist and teacher, who runs her own lino-printing business – Wild Water Art Store – and makes work which is linked to her interest in books, wild-swimming, LGBTQ+ joy and nature.

Instagram: WildWaterArtStore
Twitter: @GemmaCurtis15

Gemma has made a lino print of the salon shop front and is kindly donating 50% of the profits to Open Barbers!

You can buy the prints for £22.50 at the link below!

Wild Water Art Store

The Lez Bag, Marlo Mortimer

Felix from Open Barbers is standing in front of a red shop front shutter which has some white lettering which is partially cropped from view. Felix is modelling a bag with a red and blue shoulder strap made by Marlo Mortimer as a crowdfunder reward. Felix is wearing a white t-shirt, black dungarees and a black beany hat. He has a moustache and round dark glasses. He has a brown wrist watch and tattoos on his forearms.

Marlo Mortimer invented The Lez Bag in 2016 in London and the rest as they say… is… lezgend. Marlo says: “Open Barbers is very close to my heart. And I want to raise as much ££ as possible for them!”

Instagram: @thelezbag

Marlo has created a special limited edition red/blue Open Barbers inspired lez bag (modelled by Felix above) for the birthday fundraiser, there are only 3 available, and you can buy them for £50 on the lez bag website below: SOLD OUT

The Lez Bag

Camp Books limited edition risograph print

A white, pink and purple risoprint sits on top of other prints of the same image. The image is of 4 different perspective on a votive hand, a hand with two fingers and thumb raised which is embellished with symbols. The text above the hands says The Work of Queer Hands, and the text below says is Manifold & Magnificent. There is smaller text along the bottom that is too small to be legible.

“Open Barbers is a sanctuary of rest, sweetness and warmth! I wish it many more decades of existence and hope many more queer spaces may open after its beautiful likeness!”

Instagram: @camp.books

The wonderful Brooke Palmieri of Camp Books has created this beautiful risograph print for Open Barbers 10th birthday, dedicated to the caring hands of the Open Barbers team. 100% of profits from this print go to our fundraiser, click below:

Camp Books Print Shop

Yoga with Kat Hobbs

A photo of Kat Hobbs looking up to the sky and smiling. Kat has red curly hair, blue eyes and a nose piercing. Kat is outside in a rural landscape. The bottom right corner is obscured by a blue triangular shape which states: Drop-in Yoga, Wednesday 6pm - 7pm. Chair Yoga, Wednesday 12 - 12.45pm. Pay what you can, move, breathe, build strength + flexibility and the instagram handle @hobbs.kat

Long time regular and supporter of Open Barbers, Kat re-trained in Yoga and sustainable movement to create more queer friendly, body positive, and accessible Yoga opportunities for all! Kat hosts regular mat-based, drop-in yoga classes on Wednesdays, 6pm – 7pm; and Chair Yoga every Wednesday 12pm -12.45pm.

For the month of March, Kat is donating 50% of the proceeds from their classes to Open Barbers.

Follow Kat on Instagram or email kathobbs@gmail.com to book a class!

Kat’s Facebook

Events

We are celebrating our 10th birthday with 10 events throughout March! All of our Instagram Live events are FREE, and our Birthday Party with Bar Wotever is ticketed on a sliding scale range. We hope you can attend!

Birthday Party with Bar Wotever
Tuesday 16th March @ 7pm

The performer Shakona Fire in standing on a stage with arms outstretched to each side, in front of a stage curtain. Shakona is wearing fish net tight and a navy blue jacket with a belt. Shakona has long braids which fade from dark to light orange, and septum piercing. Tha image has a purple hue from stage lighting. The bottom left corner contains the watermark Wotever World, Henri T, (@henri t art) — Shakona Fire, Photo copyright Henri T Art (@henritartist)

To celebrate our 10th birthday, Bar Wotever are throwing us a party!

Hosted by the incredible Shakona Fire (pictured above), our party brings an exciting line up of performers right to your door, each with their own unique and exciting ways to entertain in a lockdown! Guest performers include Don One, Bad Lay-Dee, That Ray, Ebony Rose Dark, Prinx Silver, Georgeous Michael, Igor Maniac, The Mollusc Dimension, Meggie Brown, Mal Content, Tito Bone and Wastewomxn!

Join us in celebrating the talents among our community, meet the Open Barbers team and hear the history of how it all got started!

In Conversation – the videos

In conversation with Amy Pennington

The artists Amy Pennington is sitting wearing swimming goggles which hold and orange and blue print around their Amy's face. A hole is cut out of the print which Amy's face fits through. Amy has a sincere expression, and is wearing an orange and blue striped t-shirt. There is a hand on Amy's shoulder to the right of the photo.

Wednesday 3rd March 2021 @ 8pm (30 mins)

Join Felix as he chats with Amy Pennington, an artist who makes work that uses humour to connect human experiences and socio-political issues. Amy was resident artist at Open Barbers in 2016 and created our look book during this time. Find out what really goes through the mind of this extraordinary human who makes us laugh so hard and who we just can’t stop loving! If we’re lucky, Gerty the sausage dog might make a guest appearance too!

In conversation with Ingo Cando

The image contains Ingo Cando with messy blonde hair on top and shaved sides. Ingo is wearing glittering eye make up and big black eyelashes. Ingo has facial hair shadow applied with make up. Ingo's expression is snarling. Ingo is wearing a black hoody and is holding up a fist with the middle finger extended. The finger nail of the middle finger is painted black.

Friday 5th March 2021 @ 7pm (60 mins)

Join Greygory as he catches up with Ingo Cando, lifeblood of queer parties, cabaret and entertainment in London through all things Wotever World. Without Ingo, Open Barbers may never have got off the ground! Bar Wotever provided our very first, literal, platform by extending their support of emerging talent to our little enterprise back in 2011. Bar Wotever also celebrate their 16th birthday in March, so join us in celebrating a double birthday with Ingo and extend our collective, heartfelt thanks!

In conversation with Amy Lamé

Thursday 11th March 2021 @ 7pm (60 mins)

Greygory is delighted to be chatting with Amy Lamé, known and respected for SO MANY things! Radio 6 DJ, co-founder of Duckie, London’s first ever Night Czar (what a great job title!)… among many other wonderful ways of being in the world. Amy has been a huge supporter of Open Barbers over the years, inviting us to pop up at extravagant Duckie post-pride galas, and being a powerful and unwavering trans ally. Can’t wait to share a tea and cake with her!

In conversation with Madin Lopez

Madin Lopez is in front of a green plant. Madin is wearing a purple jacket, black polo neck jumper and silver chain. Madin has short, black curly hair. Madin is looking at the camera with a sincere expression.

Saturday 13th March 2021 @ 8pm (45 mins)

Meet the amazing Madin Lopez as they chat with Felix, exchanging knowledge, wisdom, kindness and passion for all things social justice and hair! Madin founded Project Q, based in Los Angeles, an astounding project whose ambition inspires Open Barbers infinitely in how they integrate their salon so holistically within QTIPOC community needs. We are incredibly honoured and excited to welcome them!

In conversation with Mercedez Gonzalez

The image is monochrome. Mercedez is standing in front of a brick wall. Mercedez is wearing a black top and a long necklace. Mercedez hs long dark hair and is smiling at the camera. Mercedez has one visible earring, a lip piercing, and a piercing at the bridge of the nose. Mercedez has a tattoos on the chest and forehead.

Saturday 20th March 2021 @ 8pm (60 mins)

Felix shares some co-birthday celebrations with Mercedez Gonzalez, our very beloved and greatly missed salon masseuse from 2016 – 2018. Now back in Chicago, Felix will re-connect with Mercedez who always brought such incredible energy, heart and soul to our space and community. She taught and encouraged us so much through her body positive, trauma informed ethos in massage and we can’t wait to see how she’s doing now. We LOVE you Mercedez!

In conversation with Kate Bornstein – cancelled

Kate Bornstein is standing next to Greygory Vass with a hand on Greygory's shoulder. They are in a room that has blue and white interior. Kate is wearing a brown hat and glasses with a tint that fades from pink to yellow. Katie is wearing two necklaces and a white top with a yellow top underneath, and a brown, black and white patterned waistcoat. Kate has blonde bobbed hair with a fringe and is smiling. Greygory is wearing a blue baseball cap and has short blonde hair and dark rimmed glasses. Greygory is smiling and has a bearded chin and a dark top.

Sunday 21st March 2021 @ 5pm – cancelled

Sadly due to unforeseen circumstances we’ve had to cancel this event with the wonderful Kate Bornstein, we apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment caused.

Sadly this event is cancelled

In conversation with Meg-John Barker

Meg-John Barkers is leaning forward infront of a bookshelf. Meg-John has short brown hair and is smiling. Meg-John is wearing a navy blue top with white stripes at the collar.

Tuesday 23rd March 2021 @ 6pm (45 mins)

Felix has a little hang out with Meg-John Barker, who we miss enormously since they moved away from London. MJ has had such a crucial and profound impact on us and so many of our clients with their essential writing and public speaking on mental health, sex and relationships, and how they intersect with each other and the wider world. Just like old times, Felix and MJ will have a heart-warming catch up that we can all get to enjoy!

In conversation with Fox Fisher

Fox Fisher is looking upwards towards the sky and is standing in front of a blue and a white building. Fox is wearing a grey beany hat and a blue shirt that has the words they and them one each collar. Fox is smiling and has stubble. — Photo copyright Sharon Kilgannon (@alonglines)

Thursday 25th March 2021 @ 12pm (60 mins)

THIS EVENT WILL BE HOSTED ON @MYGENDERATION, CLICK BELOW!
Fox Fisher will this time interview Greygory about being the founder of Open Barbers, stories of the past 10 years, and dreams for the future! Fox is the co-founder of groundbreaking, trans -led media production company My Genderation, celebrating trans lives and trans experiences. With Fox and Grey having so much in common, we hope this chat will warm your hearts!

In conversation with Jo Church & Liz Carr

Liz Carr (left) and Jo Church (right) are in the foreground and Greygory Vass is falling through the open door in the background. Liz has dark hair and is wearing a navy blue top. Jo has short, brown hair, is wearing a grean v neck t-shirt and dark rimmed glasses. Both Liz and Jo have open mouths and excited expression. Greygory is wearing a blue denim jacket and short and a grey beany. Greygory has dark rimmed glasses and an open mouth with shocked expression. Greygory is standing on one leg and has arms outretched as if falling or flying. There is a white building in the background with windows.

Tuesday 30th March 2021 @ 7pm (60 mins)

For our final event of the series hosted by Greygory, we hope this one will tickle you. If you’ve never had the chance to see Jo & Liz (Jiz) in action, don’t say you weren’t warned. Jo has been a regular of Greygory’s for many years, but since he spent time with Jo alongside her wife Liz Carr (actor, comedian, presenter, activist) and their three cats, then it all started to stop making nonsense! Enjoy our last event with the lightness, love and humour that Jiz spread everywhere they go!