Barnaby 2014 – One of the best festivals in the country launched

The fifth Macclesfield Barnaby Festival officially launched on Friday 13 June 2014 in an opening ceremony in Maccesfield’s Town Hall.

In a speech to over one hundred volunteers, supporters, artists and guests, London-based James Berresford, Chief Executive of Visit England, described Barnaby Festival as ‘one of the best of its kind anywhere in the country’. Describing his hectic schedule of high-level strategic meetings across the country, Berresford said the highlight of his week was opening and visiting Barnaby Festival. He described Barnaby as a special programme in a special place that breathed spirit and life into Macclesfield.

Barnaby Chair Lynne Jones, thanked the extraordinary team of volunteers, supporters, artists and hands-on ‘doers’ who make Barnaby greater than the sum of its parts. She extended thanks to Stephen Morris, founding member of Joy Division and New Order, who helped curate the programme of music for the Barnaby Big Weekend and will perform for the first time in Macclesfield town centre. Maxonian Morris spoke about his delight that the magnificent but disused Christ Church will become a major venue for the Festival and explained that this year’s Barnaby will be ‘fantastic and the best one yet’.

Ian Tabbron, Senior Manager Funding Programmes at Arts Council England, a key supporter and funder, stated that ‘Barnaby Festival embodies what is great in the community’ and that it is a microcosm of what the Arts Council hopes festivals will achieve. Paul McLeman of Orbit Developments, another important corporate funder, commended the volunteers and community spirit.

Aileen McEvoy, Barnaby Trustee, thanked the speakers, the invited guests, including the Mayor of Macclesfield and David Rutley, MP, and invited the guests to follow an art trail, visiting over 30 exhibitions and arts funded commissions located in wonderful heritage locations across Macclesfield. All exhibitions are open to the public and free to visit until Sunday 29 June.

Tickets for all events, as well as the complete listings for the Barnaby Festival 2014, are available at www.barnabyfestival.org.uk. Tickets are also available from the Visitors Information Centre in Macclesfield Town Hall.