Active Rainbow

🫂 Stories Weave - our 2nd edition of our training programme that blends storytelling and queer education - will welcome 25 queer and allies youth workers, who are interested in exploring and learning how to use storytelling and stories as a tool to increase the quality of their youth work and work with queer youth. 📍 Gauja, Latvia 📆 July 17 – 23, 2026 (excluding travel days) 🔮 At its heart, the project recognizes that queer young people’s lives are made of many intersecting threads, identities, struggles, joys, and dreams. Storytelling and stories themselves offer a way to honor those threads and weave them together into a fabric of belonging, empowerment, and community strength. Each story is important on its own, but it is even more powerful when woven together with others! Thus, during the training, we will explore how to give shape to empowering narratives, by creating spaces and experiences to express and acknowledge a variety of stories. 🔎 Sounds exciting? If what you read so far resonates with you, find the full information and the criteria for participating in our #linkinbio👆 📨 Contact: [email protected] ⌛Deadline: We are contacting and engaging participants on the go. To secure your spot, apply right away. The latest you can apply is 1st of June. ____________________ 💖 We are bringing this project to life together with @incanto.foundation (NL) and with the support of our partners: 🇦🇲 Armenia - @queerlabarmenia 🇮🇹 Italy - @globalcassero / @casserolgbtqiacenter 🇬🇷 Greece - @emphilo.te 🇩🇪 Germany - @klainmine_ev 🇪🇸 Spain - @asociaciondinamica 🇨🇿 Czechia - @eycb.info 🤝 The project is co-funded with the support of the EU’s Erasmus+ educational programme, which is administered in Latvia by the @jspa_latvia #ActiveRainbow #StoriesWeave #nonformaleducation #storytelling #youthwork #queer #personaldevelopment #professionalgrowth

Hello! At the beginning of this month our Into the Wonder festival took place at @skapis.riga ✨ Day 1 of the Into the Wonder festival unfolded like a gentle spell, full of small movements of magic ⭐. After opening the festival, everyone began exploring the many creative stations, from blending their own tea and decorating chocolate cake to writing poetry, sealing handwritten letters with wax, making charms, and spending time in the playful corners with coloring and little creations shaped from dough 🪻. There was no hurry in this wonder, only an invitation to pause, make, and wander at your own pace. Visitors also found their way to the doodle booth, where @merazity captured moments of wonder in quick portrait sketches 🎨. The afternoon continued with a writing workshop by @katerina_dementeva_ , where thoughts and wonder slowly turned into words ✏️. After that, @simonavess offered a glimpse into transformation and artistry, sharing the basics of masculine and feminine drag makeup on stage 🖌️. As the evening arrived, we gathered to witness the live performance of “Stray Cats” by @ivo.krievins and @m_baltina , an experience that left us in awe and full of love for queer art 🐈🐈. To close the night, we surprised the audience with a live band performance 🎶. Day 1 was filled with creating, listening, discovering and wonder waiting in every corner. Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported us in creating little wonders everywhere 💓. 🤗 The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme, which is administered in Latvia by @jspa_latvia . It is a small-scale partnership program, coming out of the collaboration between @active_rainbow 🇱🇻 and @poprostudasie 🇵🇱. #ActiveRainbow #YouthQueerators #Erasmusplus #RainbowCooperations #partnership #network #youth #nonformaleducation #saferspaces #lgbtqia #community #art #queer #crafts #artsandcrafts

🗣️ #Throwback to Rabbit on the Moon: An Embodiment Journey for Youth Workers, where participants gathered in Fresno de Cantespino, Spain for a 5-day Erasmus+ training course focused on body-based learning and youth work. Our Latvian team of participants share their experiences and learnings, check it out. 🌿 From 23–27 April 2026, youth workers and educators explored how embodiment, movement, and mindfulness can support emotional awareness, connection, and well-being in their practice. 🎭 The training also opened space for discussions on ethics, accessibility, and inclusivity in body-based work, while integrating creative approaches like storytelling, poetry, and time in nature. 🤝 Implemented together with partners across Europe and hosted by @growlancomunidad . ℹ️ Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme. #ActiveRainbow #RainbowTestimonials #ErasmusPlus #YouthWork #NonFormalEducation #Embodiment #MentalHealth #Community #Inclusion #CreativityForChange

Summer is right around the corner, which means toxic diet and fitness culture have been bombarding us with the ideas of achieving a “perfect beach body”. 🌸 This external pressure can prevent us from enjoying the warm summer sun, yummy food with loved ones, and drain our mental resources. So in this workshop let’s learn, discuss, explore, and hopefully prevent it from happening! 📅 Thursday 21.05, 18:15-20:15 📍 LGBT House, Stabu iela 19 📝 Want to participate? Fill in the application form in the link in bio: https://forms.gle/NBio36inAnnPjvUF9 🌻 What will we do? • We will learn the definitions and signs of the most common Eating disorders and issues closely related to them. • Explore where food guilt and negative self-image can come from. • Learn about ways to “reverse-engineer” our beliefs and explore what immediate actions can be taken to combat harmful self-talk. IMPORTANT NOTICE: This workshop does not involve the diagnosis or treatment of any mental disorders and is not to be used as a substitute for counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, or professional nutritional advice. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ We really hope to see you there. 🦋 🌻 Simona is a non-binary artist, life coach, and prospective therapist, who comes from a background of therapeutic art facilitation and DBT/CBT skills coaching. They use personal mental health struggles to educate, inspire, and connect with the community. Simona became a certified Peer Support Specialist in 2024 in San Diego, California, and continues to expand their horizons as a member of the European Association for Coaching. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme, which is administered in Latvia by @jspa_latvia . It is a small-scale partnership programme, coming out of the collaboration between Active Rainbow and Peemoti Keskus / @peemotikeskus 🇪🇪. #ActiveRainbow #TheCollectiveAct #Erasmusplus #RainbowCooperations #mentalhealth #youth #nonformaleducation #supportgroups #lgbtqia #community #outdoors #queer

🌸 We are constantly expected to reply, scroll, consume, update, react, and stay available all the time. Sometimes it becomes so automatic that we forget what it feels like to exist without being perceived through a screen. So this time, we want to invite you to slow down and connect with us for one evening. 📅 Saturday 30.05, 13:00-17:00 📍 @skapis.riga , Aristida Briāna iela 9a, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1001 📝 Want to participate? No need to register, just come, bring a friend or find yourself one there. 🌻 “It’s Okay To Be Offline” is a gathering-hangout situation focused on taking a break from digital noise. No productivity, no pressure, no need to perform or constantly document yourself, but a challenge to meet people and connect without phones or social media. Are you in? We’ll spend the evening talking, doing our art or hobbies (crochet, reading our books, writing, drawing, painting, just bring your materials), playing games, listening to music, drawing, journaling or simply sitting together. You are welcome to participate however it feels comfortable to you. You can come with friends or alone. 🌿 What will happen? • Upon arrival, we will invite everyone to put their phones away or be silent for the evening. • There will be conversation prompts, games, and cozy corners to relax in. • You are free to socialize, quietly exist, and bring your own games and hobbies to immerse yourself in. In the space there will be several games, conversation prompts and then you are welcome to bring your books, notebooks, pens, markers, crochet materials and anything (except screens) that you want to enjoy and play around with. We really hope to see you there. 🦋 The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme, which is administered in Latvia by @jspa_latvia . It is a small-scale partnership programme, coming out of the collaboration between Active Rainbow and Peemoti Keskus / @peemotikeskus 🇪🇪. #ActiveRainbow #TheCollectiveAct #Erasmusplus #RainbowCooperations #mentalhealth #youth

Open Call for artists is Extended [EN/LV] In case you missed it, we have a new submission deadline of all the artworks to exhibit in this year’s edition of Queer Museum under the theme “Who tells your story?
 🗓️ Exhibition Dates: June 03–12, 2026 📍 Location: @kanepeskc , Riga, Latvia at the Pride House during @rigapride ⏳ Submission Deadline: May 16, 2026 🎨🎤 Types of art you can submit, visual art, prints, zines, photography, video, installation, poetry, mixed media, performing arts, and more. So, if you are a performer, artist, part of a collective, initiative or an ngo, a writer, storyteller, publisher, activist and other, join us and be a part! 🔝 Learn more about how to apply in the application form that you can find in the link-tree in the Bio. ______________ Atklātais mākslinieku konkurss ir PAGARINĀTS Ja nokavējāt, mums ir jauns iesniegšanas termiņš visiem mākslas darbiem, kas tiks izstādīti šī gada Queer Museum izstādē ar tēmu "Kas stāsta tavu stāstu?" 🗓️ Izstādes datumi: 2026. gada 3.–12. jūnijs 📍 Norises vieta: Kaņepes Kultūras centrs, Rīga, Latvija, Pride House @rigapride laikā ⏳ Iesniegšanas termiņš: 2026. gada 16. maijs Mākslas veidi, ko varat iesniegt: vizuālā māksla, grafikas, žurnāli, fotogrāfija, video, instalācija, dzeja, jauktā tehnika, skatuves māksla un citi. Tātad, ja esat izpildītājs, mākslinieks, kolektīva, iniciatīvas vai NVO dalībnieks, rakstnieks, stāstnieks, izdevējs, aktīvists un cits, pievienojieties mums un kļūstiet daļa no mums. Uzziniet vairāk par to, kā pieteikties, pieteikuma veidlapā, ko varat atrast link-tree biogrāfijā. ______________ Queer Museum is an initiative and at the moment a part of the Pride Begins volunteering project, which is co-funded with the support of the EU's Solidarity Corps programme, which is administered in Latvia by the @jspa_latvia . #QueerMuseum #Riga #ActiveRainbow #PrideBegins #RigaPride #EUSolidarityCorps

Throwback to IncludED – Queering Sexual Education As we are closing this chapter of queering sexual education and we are slowly opening up the next ones (stay tuned) we look back to the project and share also more of the created results! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 In our #linkinbio you can find the link to the project results, including the “Association Cards”, a tool that was created during the training to support conversations about sexual education! 🃏 The tool can be used in multiple ways and instructions are provided! The cards are available in a “print-cut-use” self organised approach! We will be happy to receive insights and captured moments of the cards in use, so snap your pictures and tag us here in instagram! 📸✊🏽 The tool is also available in limited printed copies, specifically for our local partners! Write to us at [email protected] if you want a copy! Lastly, we close this chapter with the video messages our participants share with the world! Enjoy! 🙌🏽✨ —————————————— IncludED was an 8-day immersive learning program bringing together 25 youth workers, activists, educators and facilitators. Together, they explored how to make sexual education more inclusive and affirming for LGBTQIA+/queer youth, using creative methods like embodiment, intersectionality, pleasure activism, art, and radical care. 🫂With the support of our partners: 🇮🇹 Italy - @globalcassero 🇬🇷 Greece - @gender_alliance_initiative 🇧🇬 Bulgaria - @bilitisfoundation 🇪🇸 Spain - @colectivomosaiq 🇷🇸 Serbia - @kolektiv.mana 🇲🇩 Moldova - @centrul_gdm 🇸🇮 Slovenia - @mojamavrica 🤝 The project is co-funded with the support of the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme, administered in Latvia by the @jspa_latvia #ActiveRainbow #IncludED #sexeducation #queer

Last summer, members of our team took part in IncludED: Queering Sexual Education — an 8-day international training course in Zvīguļi, Latvia, bringing together youth workers, activists, educators and facilitators from across Europe. 🌈 Together, participants explored how sexual education can become more inclusive, affirming and accessible for LGBTQIA+ and queer young people. Through non-formal education, movement, art, discussions on consent, pleasure, intersectionality and safer spaces, the project created space for learning, connection and radical care. 💜 We are grateful to everyone who shared knowledge, vulnerability and experience throughout the training, and to our partners at Active Rainbow for creating this space for collective growth and exchange. This project was co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme. #ErasmusPlus #QueerEducation #LGBTQIA #YouthWork #SexualEducation #IncludED

Queering the archive: Who tells your story? | Community Event We are step by step making our way to reactivate our channel and community here. We have been working non-stop backstage preparing for the upcoming pop-up exhibition within @rigapride , as well as researching, connecting with locals and Queer Museums and initiatives around Europe, studying, planning, learning and unlearning, and being in absolute awe with our so far discoveries and the people we meet along the way. 🥰🫂 Inspired by this process and more, we invite you to join us in the first series of events, where we would like to explore together the intersections, urgency, and responsibility of telling our own stories. 📅 Wednesday, 13.05., 18:30-20:30 📍 LGBT House, Stabu iela 19 (underground), Riga. 📝 Want to join? register via link in our QM linktree. For many marginalized communities, archives have often been shaped by outside perspectives, misrepresented, or erased altogether. Within an open space and peer to peer learning approach, we want to connect, reflect and exchange experiences, knowledge, desires and collectively imagine the possible creation of a queer community archive. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 Specifically to – explore why community-led archives matter – get familiar with archival activism, and its different forms – share tools and approaches for holding and preserving stories Whether you’re an artist, activist, archivist, or simply curious, your presence matters. This is not a lecture, rather a space where we can start co-creating together. 🙌🏽 We also invite you to actively contribute: feel free to bring an item you would be interested to include to this year’s exhibition. We will also have materials to craft, write, or paint something on the spot that can become part of the archive itself. [LV in the comments] The event is taking place within Queer Museum Riga initiative. It is part of the Pride Begins volunteering project, which is co-funded with the support of the European Union’s European Solidarity Corps programme, which is administered in Latvia by @jspa_latvia #queermuseumriga #activerainbow #nonformaleducation #queeringthearchive #queer

We’re excited to invite you to join The Collective Act 1:1 Coaching ! 🌸 🌻Coaching is a partnership (defined as an alliance, not a legal business partnership) between the Coach and the Client in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires the client to maximize personal and professional potential. ✨ It is designed to facilitate the creation/development of personal, professional, or business goals and to develop and carry out a strategy/plan for achieving those goals. In this relationship, a coach serves as a skills mentor as well as an accountability partner to monitor and support the client on their progress. 📝 What happens after you apply? ✔ You’ll receive an email connecting you with the coach ✔ You’ll get a coaching agreement to fill in and sign before starting ✔ You and the coach will arrange session times, format (online/in person), and location together ✔ Sessions are fully free of charge ✔ You’ll receive up to 5 sessions, with a possibility for more 📝 Want to participate? Fill in the application form in the link in bio. 👀 A message from our coach: Hi! My name is Simona ( @simonavess ), (they/them), I'm a 28 y.o. non-binary artist and coach based in Riga, Latvia. I am a certified Peer Support specialist in the state of California (USA) and am currently working on my EU coach accreditation. I have 6 years of experience in providing therapeutic art, psycho educational workshops and 1:1 coaching to a variety of people. My last work experience also included DBT and CBT skills counselling to teenagers. If this sounds like something you're interested in trying out for yourself, me and the Active Rainbow team will be honored to assist you on this path! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ 🌈 We can’t wait to welcome you. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme, which is administered in Latvia by @jspa_latvia . It is a small-scale partnership programme, coming out of the collaboration between Active Rainbow and Peemoti Keskus / @peemotikeskus 🇪🇪. #ActiveRainbow #TheCollectiveAct #Erasmusplus #TheCollectiveAct #RainbowCooperations #mentalhealth #youth

We’re heading into Riga’s Old Town for a Colour Hunt Photowalk and you’re invited. 📅 16.05, 11:00-14:30 📍 Laima Clock Tower, Riga Old Town 📝 Want to participate? Fill in the application form in the link in bio. 🌈 Each of us will be assigned a colour of the rainbow. The mission is to explore the city, capture your colour in creative ways, and share perspectives with others as we walk together. 🌿 After the walk, we will gather for a picnic at a nearby park, where we will share photos, reflect on the experience, and open a discussion about FLINTA-focused events, community needs, ideas, the FETA project and more. 🌻 What will we do? • Meet and introduce the Colour Hunt concept and assign colours • Explore Riga Old Town through a creative photowalk • Capture photography based on assigned colours (architecture, people, textures, details) • Share tips, ideas, and approaches while walking together • Gather at a nearby park, for a picnic and open discussion ✨ Who is this for? This event is open to everyone, regardless of photography experience. It is especially welcoming to FLINTA individuals and femininities interested in community building, visual storytelling, and inclusive cultural spaces. You can join with a camera or just a phone. ☕️ We recommend bringing comfortable shoes, water, and optionally your camera or notebook. We will have snacks and some juices and games for the picnic, feel free to also bring your own to share. We hope to see you there. 🌈📸 🤝🏽 The event is taking place within the "From Empowerment to Action" KA2 project, which is co-funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ programme, through the @frsedukacji . It is a synergy and cooperation between Active Rainbow, @poprostudasie @kolektiv.mana @bevisiblebeyou @cqs.berlin . #ActiveRainbow #FromEmpowermentToAction #RainbowCooperations #partnerships #queer #nonformaleducation #youthempowerment #ErasmusPlus

✨ It’s been a while but we are coming back with two more workshops within our Collective Act project (stay tuned for more) that will be guided by @simonavess . Sounds exciting? 📅 Thursday 14.05, 18:15-20:15 📍 LGBT House, Stabu iela 19 📝 Want to participate? Fill in the form in the link in bio. 🌸 “Who are you?” is a question that can easily catch most of us off guard. 🌻 With external pressures, we often catch ourselves being drowned in titles that were assigned to us. Despite it being a “normal” societal process, if completely unchecked, it can negatively affect one's motivation, self-esteem, and overall mental state. A clear understanding of identity and its fluid nature is crucial to building a solid foundation for life. “Who am I?” is a question we can only honestly ask ourselves when we get a chance to slow down, explore, and reassess. With this workshop, we would like to offer you that space. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ☕️ Materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own notebook and favorite pen. We will provide hot and cold beverages, snacks and you can also bring your own to share. We really hope to see you there. 🦋 🌻 Simona is a non-binary artist, life coach, and prospective therapist, who comes from a background of therapeutic art facilitation and DBT/CBT skills coaching. They use personal mental health struggles to educate, inspire, and connect with the community. Simona became a certified Peer Support Specialist in 2024 in San Diego, California, and continues to expand their horizons as a member of the European Association for Coaching. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme, which is administered in Latvia by @jspa_latvia . It is a small-scale partnership programme, coming out of the collaboration between Active Rainbow and Peemoti Keskus / @peemotikeskus 🇪🇪. #ActiveRainbow #TheCollectiveAct #Erasmusplus #RainbowCooperations #mentalhealth #youth #nonformaleducation #supportgroups #lgbtqia #community #outdoors #queer