Rico Johnson-Sinclair joins Shout, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, and will lead on the artistic, audience and fundraising activities for the Birmingham LGBT project as its first Festival Manager.

Already a well-known and highly respected figure, having worked across a variety of high-profile cultural activities in the West Midlands including Shout, Flatpack, Coventry City of Culture and the BFI Film Hub Midlands, Rico also created CineQ, a Birmingham based film festival for QTIPOC (Queer, Transgender and Intersex People of Colour).

With plans already underway for the 2020 Festival’s return in November, Rico will be working with artists and partners to ensure that Shout continues in its role to deliver a compelling and engaging Festival within the context of COVID-19.

Commenting on Rico’s appointment, Neil Anderson, Birmingham LGBT Trustee and Chair of the Shout Advisory Group, said “This is an exciting time for Rico to be joining Shout. We are absolutely thrilled by his appointment and look forward to seeing how under Rico’s stewardship we build on the successes of the last decade and look towards the next ten years.”