Journeys Festival International Portsmouth 2019

Journeys Festival International Portsmouth is an annual arts Festival that takes place across the city. The Festival curates, presents and commissions a varied programme of work created by artists who have lived experience of forced migration and that explores the refugee experience through artistic and creative encounters. Now in its fourth year, the 2019 programme includes an inspiring and stimulating mix of live music, visual and digital art exhibitions, interactive installations, discussions and workshops. ArtReach produces and develops Journeys Festival International Portsmouth in collaboration with extraordinary artists, community groups, charities, arts organisations, volunteers and partners. We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who makes the Festival possible. *Images courtesy of Tom Byrne Photography

Journeys Festival International Manchester 2019

Journeys Festival International is an annual arts Festival that takes place across the city of Manchester. The Festival curates, presents and commissions a varied programme of work created by artists who have lived experience of forced migration, and that explores the refugee experience through artistic and creative encounters. Now in its fourth year, the 2019 programme includes an inspiring and stimulating mix of live music, visual and digital art exhibitions, interactive installations, discussions and workshops. ArtReach produces and develops Journeys Festival International in collaboration with extraordinary artists, community groups, charities, arts organisations, volunteers and partners. We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who makes the Festival possible. *Images courtesy of Drew Forsyth Photography.

Journeys Festival International Leicester 2019

Journeys Festival International is an annual arts festival that takes place across Leicester. The Festival curates, develops and commissions a varied programme of work created by artists from the refugee and asylum seeker community, and brings together work that explores the diversity of refugee experiences through artistic and creative encounters. Now in its seventh year, the 2019 programme spans 15 days and includes an inspiring and stimulating mix of live music, street theatre, interactive installations, films, talks and workshops. ArtReach produces and develops Journeys Festival International in collaboration with extraordinary artists, community groups, charities, arts organisations, volunteers and partners. We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who makes the Festival possible. *Images courtesy of Yel Media & Dr Matt Smith.

Night of Festivals Hounslow 2019

Night of Festivals Hounslow 2019 Since 2010, the ArtReach produced, Night of Festivals has popped-up across the country to wow people and stun audiences with a huge variety of art forms and events all of which have focused on celebrating freedom and democracy. Night of Festivals has ‘popped-up’ in Nottingham, London 2012 Olympics, Boston (Lincs), Slough, Barking, Hounslow, Leicester and the South Bank in London. ​ Night of Festivals is a platform for innovative artists (new, emerging or established), whose work explores themes of freedom and democracy. Over its 9 year history, Night of Festivals has been working with local communities to provide substantial opportunities for deeper engagement in its themes and artworks.

Journeys Festival International Portsmouth 2018

Journeys Festival International returned to the city of Portsmouth for the third year in 2018. From 19 - 28 October the Festival celebrated international sounds and global inspired artwork, sharing the art work of exceptional refugee and asylum seeker artists. The Festival has been welcomed to the city by a great team of partners who support us to share the refugee experience through great art. *Images by Strong Island Photography

Journeys Festival International Manchester 2018

Journeys Festival International Manchester is an annual Festival which showcases the work of artists from the refugee and asylum seeker community and through art events, performances, screenings and workshops shares the stories of those who have experienced forced migration. 2018 was the third edition in Manchester, Journeys Festival International has grown into a 10-day Festival working with over 100 artists in events that take place across the city. *Images by Drew Forsyth Photography

Journeys Festival International Leicester 2018

Journeys Festival International returned to its home city of Leicester for a sixth year in 2018. From 17 - 26 August the Festival hosted free artistic events, within leading venues and in the public spaces of Leicester city centre as the Festival shared the refugee experience through great art with as many people from different backgrounds as possible. *Images by Matt Cawrey Photography

Night of Festivals London 2018

Night of Festivals London was a powerful and successful weekend that truly brought something different to London’s South Bank, which, in a summer full of cultural programming next to the National Theatre, is no small feat!

Masca Theatre Tour 2018

From Winchester’s Hat Fair in Hampshire, the UK’s longest running street theatre festival, to Lincoln Castle’s ‘Castle of Legends’ weekend, and on to another two day of performances in Leicester Cathedral Gardens, the talented Romanians from Bucharest held audiences spellbound. The beautiful and intricate costumes, alongside the subtle humour, carefully balanced with historical accuracy, really hit the note. Many thanks to the General Council of Bucharest, Romanian Cultural Institute and Arts Council England that all funded this UK tour Initiated and delivered by ArtReach.

Night of Festivals Hounslow 2018

Night of Festivals took place in Hounslow on 9-10 June 2018 and was a great success!

VOICES 2018

VOICES - A new artistic collaboration that explores and celebrates freedom, providing a voice for those who go unheard. The project takes place across Europe with newly commissioned outdoor theatre and processional performances featuring local people and newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers in each city.

Corby Mardi Gras 2018

On Saturday 24th March 2018, Corbi Mardi Gras returned for a day of festivities. It was a great success, bringing together 5,600 attendees and participants. Highlights included beautiful light sculptures by award winning artists Same Sky, a community procession through the ancient woodlands of Hazel and Thoroughsale and a specially commissioned sculpture by Felicity Jones, a permanent legacy in the woods

Journeys Festival International - Portsmouth 2017

ArtReach proudly presented Journeys Festival International in Portsmouth for the second year from 19 - 29 October 2017. www.journeysfestival.com/jfi-2017

Journeys Festival International - Manchester 2017

ArtReach produced Journeys Festival International in Manchester from 02-15 October 2017. Two weeks of creative events took place in venues across the city to celebrate the creative talents of exceptional refugee and asylum seeker artists. The festival included JOURNEYS Weekender in Cathedral Gardens, a unique collaboration between Turner Prize nominee Mark Titchner and refugees from advocacy group United for Change/Pathway Arts. The Festival also brought cutting edge theatre as part of Orbit 2017 at HOME including a performance from Lemn Sissay. #JeSuis by Aakash Odedra Company was performed at Contact from 10 - 12 October and many other discussion events took place across the two weeks. See more at www.journeysfestival.com/jfi-2017

Journeys Festival International - Leicester 2017

The Festival in Leicester ran from the 21 August to 03 September. Events included Daniel Castro Garcia\'s Foreigner: Migration into Europe, #JeSuis by Aakash Odedra Company, the JOURNEYS Weekender and the New Walk Museum Takeover. See the full programme by visiting: http://www.journeysfestival.com/jfi-2017

Night of Festivals South Asia - Leicester 2017

Celebrating the spirit of South Asia to mark the 70th Anniversary of Pakistan and Indian Independence. Night of Festivals South Asia is a spectacular six day festival that took place from the 14th – 19th of August 2017, and featured internationally acclaimed artists and unique collaborations in visual arts, dance, street art and live music. In partnership with An Indian Summer

Night of Festivals South Asia - Leicester Video 2017

Celebrating the spirit of South Asia to mark the 70th Anniversary of Pakistan and Indian Independence. Night of Festivals South Asia is a spectacular six day festival that took place from the 14th – 19th of August 2017, and featured internationally acclaimed artists and unique collaborations in visual arts, dance, street art and live music. In partnership with An Indian Summer

Night of Festivals Hounslow 2017

Night of Festivals returned to Hounslow, bringing the arts and culture of South Asia to Hounslow High Street from Sat 10 - Sun 11 June 2017. In partnership with Middlesex Cricket and Inspire Hounslow.

Night of Festivals Hounslow 2017 - Video

Night of Festivals returned to Hounslow, bringing the arts and culture of South Asia to Hounslow High Street from Sat 10 - Sun 11 June 2017. In partnership with Middlesex Cricket and Inspire Hounslow.

Corby Mardi Gras 2017

In March 2017, ArtReach event managed the Corby Mardi Gras, presented by Made in Corby and the Friends of East Carlton Park. The Mardi Gras will return to Corby in 2018 presented by ArtReach.

Journeys Festival International Leicester Video 2016

The Leicester 2016 event was a month of sensational events, celebrating the artistic talent and incredible stories of exceptional refugee artists - creating a positive interface with the community, through great art and culture. Activity included: The Container Project in Orton Sq, Sanctuary Radio, Coffee Shop Conversations, Look Up outdoor visual arts exhibition, Core festival weekend including a world music stage and interactive performances, Pop Up theatre and the world premiere of Burning Doors by Belarus Free Theatre at Curve. Supported by: Arts Council England and Leicester City Council Partners included: The Y, Inspirate, City Festival, Leicester Arts Festivals, Attenborough Arts Centre, After 18, City of Sanctuary, Curve, LCB Depot, The Mighty Creatives, Soft Touch Arts, Counterpoint Arts, Belarus Free Theatre, Leicester Print Workshop and Phoenix.

Journeys Festival International Leicester 2016

The festival returned to Leicester for the fourth year in 2016 and hosted a full programme of events from 05 - 28 August. This included The Container Project in Orton Sq, Pop Up Theatre performances, Look Up outdoor visual art exhibition, World Premiere of Belarus Free Theatre\'s Burning Doors, Coffee Shop Conversations and a core festival weekend featuring a world music stage, interactive performances and digital kite flying. Our Leicester partners were: The Y, Inspirate, City Festival, Leicester Arts Festivals, Attenborough Arts Centre, After 18, City of Sanctuary, Curve, LCB Depot, The Mighty Creatives, Soft Touch Arts, Counterpoint Arts, Belarus Free Theatre, Leicester Print Workshop, Phoenix. With support from Leicester City Council.

Journeys Festival International Portsmouth 2016

2016 was the inaugural year of Journeys Festival International in Portsmouth. The city hosted a variety of activity including; The Container Project at University of Portsmouth\'s Creative and Cultural Industries Eldon Courtyard, Pop Up Theatre, Let\'s Go Fly a Kite activity day, Look Up outdoor art exhibition ft. Nikos Papdopoulos, Coffee Shop Conversations, The Floating Library, Burning Doors by Belarus Free Theatre at New Theatre Royal and the UK premiere of Sanctuary/Sustenance: The Story of Many Journeys. Partners included: Arts Council England, Artswork, Aspex, New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth Cathedral, Portsmouth Guildhall, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth Festivities and The British Red Cross.

Journeys Festival International Manchester 2016

2016 was the inaugural year of Journeys Festival International in Manchester. The city hosted a variety of activity including; The Container Project in St. Ann\'s Square, Look Up outdoor visual arts exhibition, Pop Up theatre performances, Coffee Shop Conversations, Film Screenings, Let\'s Go Fly a Kite activity day, Burning Doors by Belarus Free Theatre at Contact and the #JourneysFest Manchester Museum Takeover. Partners included: Manchester City Council, Arts Council England, Brighter Sound, Contact, Community Arts North West (CAN), Curious Minds, HOME, In Place of War, The University of Manchester, Manchester Museum, The Rethink Rebuild Society, Royal Exchange Theatre.

Night of Festivals, London 2016

The sun shone all weekend (6 - 7 August 2016) on Potters Field Park and More London resulting in a vibrant, successful and hugely attended event on London\'s South Bank. Everyone celebrated the opening of the Olympics in true Rio fashion with Paraiso Samba, Shademakers Carnival Troupe, Batala London, Kinetika Bloco, Gozart Carnival, Maracuta, London School of Samba, Mandinga Arts, and more, entertaining the crowds with processional carnival spirit! This was a culmination of our European FREEDOM project. ​ As the sun set on Saturday 6th August, Stelzen Arts, Oakleaf Creativity, Sabar Sounds and Mandinga Arts performed a stunning lit up carnival from London\'s Design Museum up the riverside. A finale on Potters Field Park was created to a crowd of thousands with the beautiful backdrop of London\'s skyline - a truly spectacular event!

Night of Festivals Highlights 2010-2015

Images from ArtReach Night of Festivals events from 2010-2015

Northwood Community Arts World Arts 2014/15

Exciting and accessible programmes in Northwood (London Borough of Hillingdon) project managed by ArtReach

Night of Festivals SPECIAL EDITION 2015

From 3-11 October 2015, Leicester played host to the Rugby World Cup first round stages, with teams competing in the city from Romania, Namibia, Canada, Argentina and Tonga. To mark the celebrations, Night of Festivals brought a SPECIAL EDITION to the city - which saw a packed programme of activities, performances and innovative artworks.

Night of Festivals Barking 2015

Night of Festivals Barking 2015 on 18/19 July was part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

NIght of Festivals Hounslow 2015

Night of Festivals presentation in Hounslow (11/12 July)

Night of Festivals Lincoln 2015

From 13-15 June 2015 ArtReach brought Night of Festivals Carnival to Lincoln City centre as part of the Great Magna Carta Weekend celebrations. A wide range of Mandinga Arts designed costumed carnival sections performed in the streets. Street performances accompanied by the amazing musicians of Sabar Sounds, wowed the public in City Square, High St, Cornhill and Brayford Water in Lincoln.

Journeys Festival - Leicester 2014

Journeys Festival has been created by ArtReach in response to the exciting talents of artist refugees coming to the UK. From across the globe artists from all disciplines have sought sanctuary in this country, often bringing stories of extraordinary journeys (both physical and emotional). Journeys Festival provides a platform for these artist to engage with mainstream venues, audiences, producers and promoters and supports the development of their professional careers.

Night of Festivals Touring - Leicester 2014

Night of Festivals Touring in Leicester Humberstone Gate came alive for two fun filled days of live performances, storytelling, moving image, visual art and extraordinary carnival interventions.

Holyhead Art and Identity

In summer 2014 ArtReach has been working with a consortium partnership in Holyhead to develop an exciting proposal for a three year programme of arts and regeneration activity. The project has involved delivery of a range of taster events and activity and substantial local community consultation such as creative walking events, music workshops, stone carving and minecraft workshops.

Night of Festivals Touring - Slough 2014

The spectacular festival took place on Slough High Street and Town Square with two fun filled days of carnival interventions, live performance, storytelling, moving image and visual art.

Journeys Festival

Journeys Festival has been created by ArtReach in response to the exciting talents of artist refugees coming to the UK. From across the globe artists from all disciplines have sought sanctuary in this country, often bringing stories of extraordinary journeys (both physical and emotional). Journeys Festival provides a platform for these artist to engage with mainstream venues, audiences, producers and promoters and supports the development of their professional careers. Journeys Festival 2013 was supported by Arts Council England and Leicester City Council. Resources are currently being sought to deliver an enhanced version of the Festival in four locations over 2014/15. Refugee or asylum seeker artists are advised to contact [email protected]

Night of Festivals Touring 2013 - Nottingham

Night of Festivals Touring 2013/2014 in Nottingham. Old Market Square came alive for two fun filled days of live performances, storytelling, moving image, visual art and carnival interventions.

Bath Rio Carnival

ArtReach coordinated an exciting carnival procession in Bath city centre on Saturday 25th August as part of the Paralympics Flame Event. Working with our partner Mandinga Arts and local community groups in Bath (Gateway Centre), Keynsham (at St John’s Church), Radstock (St Peter’s Church) and Peasedown (Youth Centre) we created six costumed sections to support the procession of the Paralympics Flame through Bath Over 100 local people took part, including a section of disabled youngsters riding on adapted bikes (Wheels for All). Six talented Bath and Bristol based artists were engaged to work with local groups and created and animated costumes for the parade which was themed to the handover of the Olympics baton to Rio for 2016. In the gallery: Short video of the event (page 1)

Night of Festivals 2012

Night of Festivals is a unique festival concept devised and produced by ArtReach. It is about celebrating freedom and independence through innovative art and artistic inspiration. In 2012 Night of Festivals has been reinvented with a world focus, in keeping with the celebrations of the London 2012 Games and the London 2012 Festival. Artists from around the world are celebrated in the event which includes visual arts installations, moving image, live music, carnival arts, street theatre and a special finale DJ set. Audiences are invited to enjoy and join in the rhythms of samba, Haitian Rara music and salsa, or to relax in the quirky environment of the ArtReach Nanoplex and be one of a small audience enjoying short moving image from around the world. In the gallery: Night of Festivals 2012 images by Anthony Hopwood Three short videos by VPoint TV (page 1)

Night of Festivals 2011

2011 Event - Night of Festivals Box of Tricks The vibrant sights and sounds of Latin America returned to Nottingham in May 2011 in the latest ArtReach event. In Old Market Square on Saturday 28th of May 2011 there were surprise performances from extravagant carnival characters and a visual feast of moving image works in our unique mini-cinema – the ArtReach Nanoplex. Throughout the day we showed a programme of short films, including works by Latin American artists, the beautiful Cine Opera, created by renowned composer Michael Nyman and our own short Night of Festivals 2010 documentary. On Sunday 29th of May, Night of Festivals joined the festivities at the Wollaton Hall Children’s Picnic. Mischievous carnival characters roamed the grounds, and families joined us in sonic space to create music with giant chimes as well as enjoying more special screenings in our mini-cinema.

Night of Festivals 2010

Night of Festivals 2010 Celebrating the Bicentenary of Latin American independence in Old Market Square Nottingham. In addition to the activities in Old Market Square: Nottingham Contemporary hosted the premier of Michael Nyman’s moving image work Cine Opera commissioned by ArtReach especially for the Festival. The New Art Exchange held exhibition of photographs and video interviews by John Perivolaris, exploring what independence means to Latin American women living and working in the UK today.

Northwood Community Arts

Driven by ArtReach, Northwood Community Arts (NCA) was established in 2005, from a base at St John’s United Reformed Church, in Northwood, Hillingdon, supported by a group of enthusiastic, local people in response to a growing need and demand for creative community opportunities and facilities in the local area. As a formally established voluntary organisation, NCA is a genuinely community led group which is committed to delivering a programme of creative projects designed to excite and inspire all sections of the community. The programme, directed by ArtReach, is facilitated by professional practitioners and includes activities such as children’s summer circus skills courses, dance workshops, creative programmes for the over 50s, theatre shows and inter generational family activities. The programme emphasis is on high quality provision with a focus on engaging and inspiring activities to encourage participation from the wider community, particularly those who might not normally access an arts facility or creative activities. See Northwood Community Arts website [email protected] link on project page.

Strange Cargo Symposium

Stretching New Boundaries: Participation in Visual Arts: A symposium charting current practice and future trends Stretching New Boundaries was an international symposium organized by Strange Cargo in partnership with Folkestone Triennial and delivered by ArtReach. It brought together some of the most influential international practitioners and theorists to discuss and substantiate the value and power in creating participatory visual artworks and to set an agenda for the future of this developing sector.

Nanoplex 2011

On 29th October at the Northampton Light Night event, the ArtReach Nanoplex was transformed into a dramatic artistic installation surrounding the gallery in a visually stunning area of light and film projection. As audiences approached they were immersed in the ambience of light, colour and sound and experienced a programme of unique digital artworks inspired by concepts of freedom, liberation and symbolism in Latin American culture.

Three Cities Create and Connect

Three Cities Create and Connect was a celebratory programme of arts projects and festivals creatively directed and project-managed by ArtReach. Boosting development of collaborations between Derby, Leicester and Nottingham, a series of new commissions was created in 2005 including Urban Beats. Urban Beats encompassed Classical Friction; a collaboration between Radio 1 DJ Bobby Friction, Viva Orchestra and composer Peter Stacey, and two East Midlands-based choreographers; and Musique et Espectaculo, which brought together North African Rai, Latin American jazz and Carribean sounds with innovative performance pyrotechnics by UK artists The World Famous. Trinidadian carnival artists also took up residence in each of the three cities to create extraordinary costumes with young people that toured throughout the region. Three Cities brought together Derby City Council, Leicester City Council, Nottingham City Council, emda (East Midlands Development Agency) and Arts Council England, East Midlands, and received funding from the Millennium Commission and Arts Council England through the Urban Cultural Programme. A Three Cities Proposal Fund was also created, enabling arts organisations within the three cities to bid for funding for specific collaborative projects that involved partners in each city and were delivered at festivals throughout the East Midlands.

Under Scan

ArtReach was appointed by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in 2005 to commission a major outdoor visual art installation for the region. After shortlisting a number of international artistic teams, ArtReach procured Mexican artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer to deliver Under Scan, an interactive video installation featuring 1000 video portraits of local people. A main public square (of up to 2,000 sqm) is flooded with light in which the portraits are discovered within the shadows of passing pedestrians. ArtReach worked with the artist and his Canadian team to successfully produce this highly technical yet accessible project which attracted live BBC broadcasts for each of the five locations; Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Northampton and Nottingham from November 2005 – March 2006. Following completion of the Under Scan project in the East Midlands ArtReach worked with commissioner emda and artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer to publish a book detailing the delivery of this important, large-scale video art work (including a collection of critical essays). Under Scan was presented for six months in 2007 as part of Venice Biennale and was produced by ArtReach in Trafalgar Square, London in November 2008.

Dance in the Park

ArtReach created an event that enabled more than 6,000 to enjoy a unique new festival of high quality professional dance and performances by local young people. The Dance in the Park festival this was a free entry event which featured spectacular and memorable performances across a wide range of dance styles. Two large stages hosted a continuous series of live performances all afternoon. Leading Bollywood figure Honey Kalaria led an estimated 1,000 people in a mass Bollywood dance routine, just one of many highlights of the festival. Dance in the Park featured crowd-pleasing performances from a host of internationally-renowned dance companies including Kinetika, the Alpana Sengupta Company, Badejo Arts, StopGAP, CapoeiraUK, 4x4, Fusion, Honey Kalaria and Honey’s Dance Academy, and a stunning finale by the Hip Hop Collective.