Arts Council boost for Barnaby 2018

Building on the success of the ten days of ‘Space’ themed celebrations in June, Barnaby has won funding to invest in developing ideas and community partnerships for the next festival in 2018.

The Arts Council of England has awarded a grant of £45,000 to Macclesfield Barnaby Festival to fund research and development in 2016-17. This news comes hot on the heels of continued funding and support from partners Cheshire East Council and Macclesfield Town Council.

During 2016 and 2017 the festival will bring in ten artists from different disciplines – including digital, music, performance, carnival, visual arts, storytelling and literature – and invite local community groups, residents and organisations to develop ideas with them. These projects will then be developed for future festivals.

Karl Wallace, Festival Director will oversee the research and development phase. “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, explained Karl Wallace, Festival Director: “This exciting new opportunity means we’re creating employment in the arts in Macclesfield and investing in Barnaby’s future.”

David Gooda, new Chair 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.”

Further details about the Community Engagement post at www.barnabyfestival.org.uk https://barnabyfestival.org.uk/get-involved/workforthefestival/ and the application deadline is 5pm, Monday 24 October 2016.