Festival hits £45k jackpot
BARNABY has received a £45,000 funding boost for its next festival in 2018.
The Arts Council of England has awarded the money to fund research and development in over the next year.
Ten artists from different disciplines – including digital, music, performance, carnival, visual arts, storytelling and literature - will be brought in to develop ideas with local community groups, residents and organisations.
These projects will then be developed for future festivals.
Karl Wallace, festival director will oversee the research and development phase. He said: “This is a great opportunity for the festival allowing us to work with communities which we haven’t previously been able to reach.
“It also helps us keep the festival visible throughout 2017.
“One of the arts practitioners already confirmed is John Hartshorn, director at Macclesfield Community ArtSpace, carnival arts specialist and artistic director of the Barnaby Parade since 2011. Others hail from elsewhere in the North West or further afield.”
Barnaby Festival is recruiting a Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator to start in November and develop new and existing relationships with community groups and schools across Macclesfield. The coordinator will be an arts missionary and artistic broker for the festival.
Karl said the festival now hoped to build on the success of ten days of space-themed celebrations in June,
He added: “This exciting new opportunity means we’re creating employment in the arts in Macclesfield and investing in Barnaby’s future.”
David Gooda, new chairman of Barnaby Festival said: “I’m passionately committed to the idea of the arts being where people are, and the Arts Council has given us a priceless opportunity to grow arts provision in Macclesfield.
“It’s a sign of the level of confidence that our funders have in Barnaby and its incredible team of volunteers.”
The festival will also receive continued funding and support from Cheshire East Council and Macclesfield Town Council.
Organisers say this year’s 10 day arts and culture festival was the most successful yet, with 12 sold out shows.
Almost 1,000 people gathered on Christ Church lawns for a spellbinding finale of family events.