Discussing cultural matters is important for most NETWORK members, quite a few of whom hold management positions in cultural institutions. Others sit on cultural commissions for governmental authorities and foundations. This means that it is often possible for NETWORK members to enjoy extraordinary and unique visits to museums and exhibitions.

The NETWORK Cultural Commission coordinates the ongoing NETWORK cultural activities. One particularly important aspect is the promotion of activities that involve the existence of gay and lesbian people and the representation of homoeroticism in painting and film. The NETWORK Culture Prize was created to lend greater visibility to these concerns.

 

The most ancient literary works in existence are fragments of cuneiform inscriptions on clay tablets that describe the love of the Sumerian king Gilgamesh for his friend Enkidu. This myth arose more than 4,000 years ago and is older than the first books of the Bible, even older than Homer’s epic tales, the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Antique Europe also left behind countless literary and pictorial representations of love between men. From the early Middle Ages to the contemporary times, homoeroticism and love between men is quite rare in literature and pictures or depicted in such a universal manner that people today can hardly make out the homoerotic context. There is a suspicion that is neither proved or disproved that some works did in fact exist and that many homoerotic works of art are gathering dusts in the archives of museums or were destroyed.

It wasn’t until 1870 that depictions of love between men and unambiguous homoerotic themes were again found in European painting and photography. Thought there are a few, predominantly negative, hints to be found in literature, it wasn’t until the age of Sigmund Freud that writers began to explore the soul and homosexual authors no longer sublimated their homoerotic feelings with aesthetic discourse about platonic love relationships, as was the rule in the Romantic age.

Countless testimonials to love between men from outside Europe have been handed down through the ages, particularly from Persia and Japan from the 12th to the early 18th centuries.

 

Gay culture today

Contemporary gay culture involves an artistic discussion of the gay identity.

Gay artists, whose works deal with general issues, and who are known to be homosexuals, function as positive role models for the gay community. These artists also delve into the topic of homosexuality, yet this aspect of their work is often unknown or known only to a few insiders.

Gay actors and actresses who are role models and idols for the gay community.

Cultural events and performances, such as theatre, film screenings and concerts that have been created by gay people for gays.

 

Other categories

Gay icons are artists who may not be gay, but who deliver sexually ambiguous performances and are very popular among the gay community. Particularly in pop music during the disco generation there were many such, mostly female music stars. Their arrangements and lyrics were largely created by gay men. Some of these stars revel in the adoration of their gay fans, while others do their utmost to rid themselves of their gay image.

There are also television programs, including “Six Feet Under” and “Desperate Housewives" that are written and produced by gay men. Such programs are often the target of homophobic groups that lament the "queering of culture". This demolition of the ancient patriarchal system simply does not fit into their view of the world.

And then there are opera divas, such as Maria Callas, who have a very large gay following. This adoration often arises from appreciation of the singer’s unique vocal interpretation of love and transience. It generally does not have much to do with the topic of being gay in and of itself.

Heterosexual actors who convincingly play gay characters may be good actors, but are not gay actors.

Acts of love between men that are painted by women may please homoerotic eyes, but they are certainly not gay art.

 

This prize is awarded to a gay artist in Switzerland every two years. The intention of the NETWORK Cultural Prize is to encourage artistic discussion of the topic of being gay. The NETWORK cultural commission selects an area of art every two years in which the prize will be awarded and assembles a competent jury.

The NETWORK Cultural Prize is intended to promote artists with an award of 10,000 Swiss Francs.

 

The association and members of NETWORK support the following cultural projects in Switzerland, both ideally and in part also materially:

 

Luststreifen, gay film festival in Basel

Pink Apple, the gay/lesbian film festival in Frauenfeld and Zurich

Pink Panorama, gay/lesbian film festival in Lucerne

Pro Elisarion, the association to preserve the cultural heritage of Elisàr von Kupffer

Queersicht, gay/lesbian film festival in Berne

Warmer Mai, the gay/lesbian cultural month in Zurich

 

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Get in contact with NETWORK Culture Commission