Newark Creates Celebrates New Funding With More Fantastic Events For All

Thanks to this new funding, Newark Creates has been able to plan some brand new events. The first of these will see an aerial spectacle of dance, circus and theatre in Newark Market Place on Saturday 27 July. With performances at 12pm and 2pm, Fish Boy is a poignant yet joyful adventure by 2Faced Dance which is sure to captivate audiences of all ages. Follow young Tommy Minton on an unforgettable adventure as he goes on a hunt to discover where his best friend ‘fish’ has gone. With touches of humour, surprise and participation, this outdoor dance adventure celebrates friendship, uncovers what’s polluting our rivers and demonstrates the power of never giving up!

This is part of a planned series of events with an eco-friendly theme and supports Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Motion for the Ocean. Further linked activities in the programme will include Word Art graffiti with Urban Canvas during Newark Book Festival, from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 July, and several events at the Newark-on-Sea beach which is running from Wednesday 7 to Monday 19 August. These will feature the chance to make a mini garden and a have a go at some wood crafts as well as more environmentally-inspired fun at a special Eco Day.

Newark Creates’ latest project is the Newark BookBench trail in co-ordination with Wild in Art who are responsible for sculpture trails across the country including Clumber Park’s Shaun the Sheep installation and Lincoln’s imps. The benches, designed by a variety of artists local to Newark and Sherwood and the East Midlands, are now on display in a variety of locations across the town and will remain in place until Thursday 5 September. A programme of Meet Me At The Benches activities will be running throughout where the artists and local storytellers will host interactive sessions at each bench.

There are already plans for later in the year too including a Festival of Creativity across the town taking place on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October and Historical Escapades, an immersive family-friendly short film taking viewers through the history of Newark, projected on the front of Newark Town Hall on the evening of Friday 1 November, a fantastic alternative to fireworks celebrations. Newark Creates is also collaborating with Newark Festival so expect to see some more fun activities there too.

Newark Creates is supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, alongside the new funding from Newark Heart, and is led by Newark’s Cultural Consortium. Carol Newman, Director of Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, the lead partner in the consortium, said: “This new funding from Newark Heart, along with that from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is going to enable us to let our imaginations go even wilder with what can be done for Newark. After transforming the Market Place with colourful umbrellas last year and putting on the hugely successful light show at St Mary Magdalene Church, we want to continue on an upwards trajectory, making Newark even more vibrant, and engaging local people with more fantastic arts activity.”

The Newark Heart Project is into its third year and its aim is to increase the town centre’s vibrancy and encourage more footfall. It's why the project has chosen to support Newark Creates this year and is also one of the Newark Town Board projects with support from Newark and Sherwood District Council and delivery partner Newark Town Council.

Councillor Matthew Spoors, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “We know that events make a big difference to the town, and we are committed to doing all we can to encourage people to visit our town centres across Newark and Sherwood.

“Our Small Business Showcase and Plastic Ocean Show back in April saw dwell time in the town centre rise by 30% compared to average Saturdays so we’re keen to do more.

“I really believe that Newark town centre is fantastic and the events that Newark Creates put on have already added so much. I’m very much looking forward to seeing them build on an already busy schedule of quality activities attracting more people to Newark.”

To find out more about Newark Creates and upcoming events, including the full Meet Me At the Benches programme, follow Newark Creates on Facebook or visit www.newarkcreates.co.uk.