Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance marks Pride Month with focus on 'community' for 2022 Arcus Pride Art exhibition

Clifford Chance is marking 2022 Pride Month with its annual Arcus Pride Art event, a series of exhibitions created by the firm's LGBTQ+ and Allies network, Arcus. This year marks the 16th consecutive year of Arcus Pride Art -- the largest corporate supported exhibition of art works by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) and supporter artists.

Many of this year's events return to welcoming visitors in-person after the virtual exhibitions in 2020 and 2021.The theme for 2022 is 'Community' and includes events in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Newcastle (UK), New York, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Warsaw, Washington, DC. Each location will draw on local curators and Arcus members to interpret and bring the theme to life. The firm will also make a donation to English to Trans-form, a São Paulo-based NGO that provides free language teaching project for the LGBTQIA+ population.

Global Managing Partner Charles Adams says, "I am so proud to launch Arcus Pride Art this year. For the past 16 years, this event has raised awareness of the importance of LGBTQ+ equality and inspired so many of us to use our skills to help realise that goal. The law has been pivotal in the campaign for LGBTQ+ equality so whilst we celebrate together, we also recommit to embedding and driving that equality forward."

Global Head of Inclusion Tiernan Brady says, "Arcus Pride Art is such an innovative way to help drive inclusion. It is all too easy to think in some countries and workplaces that LGBTQ+ equality is settled. This is simply wrong. LGBTQ+ equality is, at best, in its infancy. Campaigns like this remind us that the change we want only happens when we campaign for it and that when we stop campaigning it can slip through our fingers."

He adds, "Art and the law have always been central to LGBTQ+ advancement so for us at Clifford Chance it is the perfect combination for an inclusion campaign. This year with our theme of community, our exhibits reflect how artistic expression can create visibility, advocate for fairness, highlight injustice and foster understanding."

Following their 2021 performance, the Clifford Chance Choir has recorded a rendition of Seasons of Love from the musical Rent. The premise of Rent exemplifies the theme of 2022 Arcus Pride Art as the play tells the story of struggling artists who form a community to support one another in their trials against the pressures of mainstream society. Their struggles include persecution against the LGBTQ+ community and those fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the early 1990s.

In addition, the firm is also hosting a series of inclusion events for its people and clients, and running an internal art competition where employees and their families are encouraged to submit works under the theme of "Community" with entrants being promoted on social network and via the firm's website.

To view the 2022 Arcus Pride Art Galleries and explore works from across the globe, click HERE.