Preparations for SpareParts, the UK’s only Festival of Art, Performance and Spectacle dedicated to transport and travel, are getting underway with the fantastic news that Fleetwood Festival of Transport has been awarded a grant by Arts Council England (ACE)to tour SpareParts to two other transport Festivals in the North of England.
Fleetwood Festival of Transport is one of only four organisations in the North of England, and 15 nationally, awarded funding from the Strategic Touring Fund in this cycle.
This investment will support SpareParts: On the Move – a pilot programme which will connect three ambitious transport festivals in Fleetwood, Crewe and Sandbach. Led by Fleetwood Festival of Transport, the organisations will work together to produce and deliver an exciting programme of outdoor arts which local audiences can enjoy and take part in. The project aims to continue this partnership approach and develop a touring network of transport festivals.
Adam McGuigan, SpareParts Festival Director said, “We are delighted that the work Fleetwood Festival of Transport, Wyre Council, LeftCoast and the Arts Council have been building for the past 3 years has been recognised again by ACE. We are excited to work with local residents to explore the rich transport heritage in all three locations and see how these stories can be brought to life at trAction and Sandbach Transport Festival. We have worked together to create an incredible programme of spectacular performance which we are sure will thrill thousands of people at all three festivals.”
Sarah Maxfield, North Area Director, Arts Council England said, “I’m really pleased that we’re supporting the Fleetwood Festival of Transport through our National Lottery funded Strategic Touring programme. The SpareParts Festival is already a highlight for many people in and around Fleetwood, so it’s great that this investment will enable it to tour to two other transport festivals in Crewe and Sandbach. Not only will this help transport festivals in the North West work better together, but it will also mean more people can enjoy and take part in the events.”
Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, said, “Tram Sunday and Spare Parts is a real highlight of the Fleetwood year and showcases Fleetwood at its best, from old trams to modern dance. I’m proud to be a part of Tram Sunday in Fleetwood and I’m also proud that we can now share this fantastic event with audiences in Crewe and Sandbach.”
Michael Trainor, Artistic Director of LeftCoast, said: “Tram Sunday featuring SpareParts is quite simply Fleetwood’s best day and we are really pleased that the Arts Council has seen the potential to take the SpareParts Festival to other areas of the North West. The Fleetwood Festival of Transport Committee should be immensely proud that their work over the past three years has paid off so splendidly. The artistic programme which has been developed over the past three years is unique. Transport and art collide in a way that is becoming incredibly popular with residents and visitors alike, Crewe and Sandbach are in for a treat!”
More details of the artists and performances will be released prior to the three festivals which will be held in Sandbach on 22nd/23rd April in Crewe on the 8th/9th July and in Fleetwood on 16th July 2017.
LeftCoast and Wyre Council have worked with organisers of the Fleetwood Festival of Transport for three years to bring SpareParts to the ever popular annual ‘Tram Sunday’. Fusing transport and arts to create a fantastical family experience, completely free of charge, in and around Fleetwood, this is a day not to be missed. You will be sure to find something to awe and inspire you – from the spectacular Great SpareParts Arts Parade to wandering around the SpareParts Village in the town’s Memorial Park where all performances, workshops and other creative experiences take place in or around vehicles. You may even bump into a few strolling or mobile artists during the day!
The organisers are looking forward to working with trAction and Sandbach Transport Festival to see how SpareParts can develop and grow with the collaboration from two dynamic new partners.
Featured image courtesy of CJGriffiths Photography.
Show Comments (0)