Old Courts to host music, art, food and big conversation on local money for local people
A day of free family friendly events with a serious message to discuss is being held at a popular Wigan venue
On Saturday October 31 The Old Courts in Wigan will host a day of music, art, conversation, shared food and family friendly activities to talk honestly about the issues shaping our community — and how we put power back into our own hands.
Join CommUnityCorner, Our House, Northwest Bylines, BoSI Bank of Smiles, IPPR North, Ey-Up, Give it a Grow, Wigan & Leigh Archives and king of the vox pops Adam Brichto for what is billed The Fete of Wigan from 10am to 5pm.
This community-led cultural festival is an opportunity to explore where Wigan is heading and where people think it should go.
A space to come together to have honest conversations with each other in a safe and playful space, the event will host dozens of organisations, community groups, and people interested in building their own democracy from the bottom up.
Old Courts artistic director Jonathan Davenport said: "The Old Courts has always been about bringing people together and 'Fête of Wigan' will do exactly that. Music, art, big conversations and family friendly activities all under one roof is a pretty comprehensive offer.
“Events like this are incredibly important as they give the community the opportunity to speak and to hear about what's shaping our town, what's important, what's unique and how we can all play a part in what goes on - proper equity."
Headline events include: the Big Conversation on Local Money for Local People: a fun and entertaining session led by The Bank of Smiles and IPPR North, to get people talking about local money and what putting back into our communities could mean for making Wigan a better place to live; and a talk and community scanning session will gather people's memories of Haigh Hall.
There is also a session run by Our House which invites people to build a People’s Charter for Wigan to shape a democracy that works for everyone. North West Bylines will host a space to explore citizen-led journalism and how it can spark new conversations.
The day will start with a semantic movement workshop for all ages - residents, parents, carers and children all welcome!
Visitors can get involved in an inspiring and inclusive poetry workshop led by local poet, writer, and performer Natasha Tingle, a nature focussed creative art session run by Give it a Grow will help kids create their own hedgehog art, as well as “memories of Wigan” collage and print making workshop run by Kirby Corless from Ey Up Gallery.
CommunityCorner will host a public living room for the day where people can connect with their fellow Wigan residents. Visit the Fête of Wigan eventbrite page for a full list of events and to book a free place on any of the workshops.
From 5pm on Friday October 30 the Fête of Britain will be organising a social and live recording of the Good Neighbours TV show for local community organisers in Wigan.
Anyone doing local arts and community work in Wigan who would like to come along can sign up to do so on the event page here.
The Fête of Wigan is part of The Fête of Britain, a nationwide rolling cultural festival that brings together the people working to build things differently.
The Fête is a mixed programme of culture, arts, activities for parents and children, shining a spotlight on community organisers, workshops for democratic agency, and more.
The thread running through is participation – so people experience what it feels like to build a new world together, and feel good doing it. The Fête’s aim is to bring people together in learning new skills to decide on the things that matter to them where they live, and have a laugh at the same time.