We are delighted to present to you our programme for 2023: Newark Creates Events Programme 2023 (PDF File, 1,393kb)

The Cultural Consortium has been successful in securing funding from Arts Council England, Cultural Heart of Newark and UKSPF to create a fabulous series of arts installations, trails, workshops and performances celebrating our spaces for our final year working with Historic England as part of the HSHAZ programme.

Launching on 17^th May, we are working with The Neurodiversity Umbrella Foundation to bring you a summer of colour to celebrate all the different minds we have here in the UK. Every Umbrella Project installation helps to raise awareness and understanding of neurodiversity.  The visual display will launch in May in Newark Market place with community performances, linked events and education programmes in schools, and will run until the end of September. Post project we will be using the Umbrella’s to continue to create more art too!

On 17^th and 18^th June, we are working with our festival partners in Lincolnshire and the SO Festival, where we are excited to bring some of the SO Festival acts to Newark! On the Saturday, we welcome ICHI, from Nagoya in Japan, who takes the notion of a one-man band to new limits, combining his quirky handmade instrument inventions (Stilt-bass, Kalilaphone, Balloon-pipes, Hatbox-pedal-drum, Tapumpet, Percussion-shoes & Hat-trick-hat) with steel-drum, ping-pong balls, toys & everyday objects all in the space of one short set. On Sunday we welcome Sonia Sabri Dance Company with Mughal Miniatures – look out for news on how to book to view these short free shows and details on times.

We have two Artist in Residencies who will be popping up at various cultural events throughout the year and working within communities as well – Nicky Rafferty, our storymaker and James Mayle, graffiti artist. Look out as Newark Creates pops up at Newark Book Festival, at the Market Place Beach, Heritage Open Days, Steampunk Festival, Traditions Festival, Newark Festival, Big Draw and more.

Throughout the year we welcome Urban Canvas to Newark with their pavement art creations, from community building chalk art rainbow roads to interactive games and 3D heritage art works.

Our Fun Palaces event returns from the 6^th to 8^th October, as we join in the 10-year anniversary celebrations.

To culminate the year in November, Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries Youth Arts team will be working with a secondary school to create a sound and light installation at St Mary Magdalene Church for two free evening viewings.

And the fun doesn’t stop there as we start planning for 2024, which includes working with Wild in Art to explore a Bookbench Sculpture trail. We may add some more in along the way too!

If you or your group are interested in taking part in any aspect of our programme please contact Sara Bullimore, Cultural Programme Co-ordinator on sara.bullimore@inspireculture.co.uk. To keep up to date with the times and locations for events please follow us on social media.