Shannon Novak

Director of Safe Space Alliance

Shannon Novak is the founder and director of the Safe Space Alliance, a LGBTQI+ led non-profit organisation that aims to help people identify, navigate, and create safe spaces for the LGBTQI+ community worldwide. Shannon also does additional work as a LGBTQI+ artist and activist in public/private space.

A safe space is a space where the LGBTQI+ community can freely express themselves without fear. It is a space that does not tolerate violence, bullying, or hate speech towards the LGBTQI+ community.

It began as an artwork at The Suter Art Gallery in Nelson, New Zealand, in response to the growing need for clearly identifiable safe spaces for the LGBTQI+ community. The gallery was the first safe space as verified by the Safe Space Alliance, and the Safe Space Alliance logo was installed temporarily on the gallery windows. The idea then spread to the surrounding community in Nelson including the Nelson City Council who became a verified safe space, then funded a light art project that projected the Safe Space Alliance logo onto buildings around the city. The idea then extended to other cities in New Zealand with the help of Auckland’s Britomart Group, then went international.

For more information, please visit the Safe Space Alliance website: http://www.safespacealliance.com