joy of being

Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Narratives in minnesota

Joy of Being is a visibility initiative rooted in using digital artmaking as a tool to honor the diversity and joy that exists within LGBTQIA+ narratives. The stories created by artists and community celebrate the lived experiences within families and communities to reflect strength, connection, and belonging.

In a time marked by unrest, the series emphasizes reconnection—to our shared humanity, to one another, and to the understanding that our lives are shaped through love and care. Each episode honors joy as something abundant and enduring: a radical, lived truth.

The storytellers in this series are heroic, brave, and resilient—celebrating themselves and one another as an ode to being. We ask that all of our community - listen and then share these stories widely.

In 2026 Joy of Being will engage ten participants in adding to work already produced since 2019. This is currently an invite only initiative, but we are willing to consider anyone with a story to participate.

With the support of In Progress, participants will:
• Create new digital portraits and narrative works;
• Contribute to a permanent, open-access digital archive housed on In Progress’s website and secured through long-term storage;
• Help shape a short online study guide to assist educators and community facilitators in teaching about LGBTQIA+ cultural diversity.