Spotlight on: Newcourt Community Festival

Creative experiences and performances by artists from Newcourt and across the city formed the heart of the festival. These local artists were chosen by a community commissioning circle, and included musical guests Colin Rea and Emily Howard, a storytelling workshop from PaddleBoat Theatre, a Right Royal Write-Off (think ‘medieval bards meet poetry slam’) from Spork!, dancing disco-fish puppets from PoCo Creations, and performances of a brand-new story, Georgina and the Dragon, from Northcott Futures emerging artist Donald Craigie. Local street artist Steve McCracken was also in residence, painting a large mural of his much-loved birds, whilst chatting to festival-goers about how he makes his art. You can still see the finished mural on the wall of the Community Centre garden!

The Newcourt Community Festival is part of a long-term relationship between the Northcott and Newcourt, which aims to stimulate and support creative and community activity that is responsive to the interests, needs and priorities of the local community. In Newcourt, this has already led to popular drama activities and creative holiday residencies for local children, and early plans are under way for a creative youth café offer. At the Festival, two ‘Creative Listeners’ spent the day talking to locals and running creative consultation activities, to learn about what people in the local area might want to see or do going forwards.