Students host Art Festival – Under The Town

Under The Town, Blackpool’s award-winning festival for young people is back for its fourth year on Sunday 16 November inside the stunning Winter Gardens.

This quirky event features live music, dance performances, short film screenings, art exhibitions and much more. It is organised by over 30 young people completing their Arts Award with Blackpool Arts Service. This year’s event will showcase an exciting line up of musical talent from across Blackpool and the North West including local rock band Jekyll, acoustic singer-songwriters Flossie, April Keen and Jess Harwood. The headline act is the much talked about indie band from Lancashire, Tourist Attractions, who will be performing a set of original songs from their debut EP, Dusk.

The young people have also spent months preparing artwork and performances with creative professionals as part of their awards. One young person, Hannah Smith, is building an ambitious art installation of a giant cardboard box which reveals an attic of memories on the inside. Olivia Blaydes has choreographed and will perform a mesmerising contemporary dance piece. Lizzie Daly and Tom Hemmingway have each produced experimental films exploring issues around identity. Other groups of young people have worked together to create exhibitions of photos, paintings and interactive displays.

The young people have also invited a range of local dance groups including Urban Dance Project, Tip Toes and Barbara Jackson’s to entertain us with showcase performances. There will also be a chance for the crowd to join in the dancing too! Whilst all of this is going on you can also get your face painted or have your photo taken with your friends in the photobooth and take this away as a free keepsake from the day.

Hannah Smith, 17 and from Blackpool, is one of the 30 young people organising Under The Town and working towards her Gold Arts Award.  She said: “I have learnt so much already. It has been amazing to be involved and I can’t wait to see everything come together… I’m really excited to see the Tourist Attractions!”