Local Advisor in Montreal
Michael Venus
I want to bring people together, to create community and inclusion.
My passion for Queer rights began 25 years ago when I attended the Stonewall 25 celebrations in New York City. That sparked my passion for activism and social change through art, which continues to this day. I am driven to bring people together, create community and inclusivity and have been fortunate enough to have Never Apart as a platform for this type of work. When the Goethe-Institut approached us with the idea of bringing “Queer as German Folk“ to our galleries, our response was a resounding “yes”! Our summer season at Centre Never Apart is dedicated to showcasing the many facets of the Queer movement and this exhibition fits in perfectly with our vision. As this is such an important year for recognizing international LGBTQ+ rights, we look forward to showcasing the movement’s past achievements from Stonewall to Berlin.
Biography
Michael Venus is a multi-disciplinary artist celebrating 25 years of his artist collective, The House of Venus. Michael is also known for his drag alter ego “Miss Cotton”, his annual wearable and performance art festival “Wiggle” and his “Icons and Demigods” photo series amongst many other activist-driven media projects.Michael’s work in film and television has aired internationally in over a dozen countries and includes co-producing the world’s first all LGBTQ+ sketch comedy show “The House of Venus Show” and, more recently, producing and directing three seasons of Never Apart TV. Venus has been living in Montreal for four years where he is Executive Director of Never Apart.
Never Apart
Never Apart is a non-profit organization in Montréal, Québec, Canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. Never Apart seeks to educate on equality, the environment and conscious living, while celebrating both established and emerging artists. The platform is geared towards igniting positive change and unity through culture — gatherings, music, art exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops and special events. If we can break down the separations in society and on our planet, if we can embrace our oneness, we can start something new.