Artists being urged to make space for festival
THE Barnaby Festival is calling for artists and art lovers to pitch their ideas and get involved in next year’s festival.
The biannual event, which will next take place in June 2016, is a family festival of arts and culture held in the town centre.
Artists in Macclesfield and beyond are invited to present proposals for display during the 10 day festival, and art lovers are encouraged to sign up and volunteer their homes as temporary exhibition spaces.
The theme is ‘Space’ and artists are challenged to come up with ‘interventions, installations, socially engaged projects, workshops and open studios’ in Macclesfield town centre, as well as exhibitions.
Organisers are looking for projects that explore the ‘Space’ theme as broadly as possible - from cosmology and the universe to space to breath, virtual space, secret spaces, geographical space and everything in between.
Karl Wallace, Barnaby Festival director, said: “We really want artists to stretch their thinking in relation to the theme and come up with ideas that are intriguing, challenging and engaging.
“Is there a space in Macclesfield that you have always wanted to create work for? Is there a space that you would like to introduce to the public so they see Macclesfield with fresh eyes?”
Art lovers who live in the town are being called upon to work with an art- ist and open up a private home or domestic space to show artworks during the festival.
Karl added: “Participation and engagement is at the heart of what Barnaby does so we want to work with residents to create unique festival experiences next year.
“You don’t need to have any arts experience just a willingness to try something new.”
Organisers expect to select about 15-20 projects which will be presented alongside Barnaby Festival Commissions - sitespecific artworks by locally based and internationally renowned artists, funded by Arts Council England.
The closing date for submissions is midnight, Thursday, October 1.
For details of how to apply, eligibility and selection criteria and a submission form are available at barnabyfestival.org.uk or from mail@barnabyfestival.org.uk
The Barnaby Festival runs from Friday, June 17 until Sunday, June 26 next year. Last year the event attracted 13,000 people to the town.
“We really want artists to stretch their thinking”