Banbury presents…

photoBanbury’s Town Team is working with arts and entertainment specialists, Planet Neptune, to develop the Banbury presents… programme of arts, entertainment and culture, featuring all kinds of different types of performance, exhibition and arts events and activities.

Banbury presents… aims to put art everywhere, and is especially focused on presenting the programme in key outdoor open-air locations around the town centre, but also as pop-ups in empty shop fronts, through the town in procession and promenade, in the traditional and forum theatre styles, as installations and displays, to name just a few.

The specially selected programme includes a huge variety of music, dance, poetry, dramatic arts, circus, and media, visual arts and craft, but what makes it truly special, is that it features people who are locally connected and based in Banburyshire.

The Banbury presents… programme is a core element of the Cherwell District Council: Town Centre Vitality project, using High Street Innovation Funds and supported by a contribution from the owners of Castle Quay.

Cherwell District Council’s lead member for estates and the economy, Cllr Norman Bolster, said: “Cherwell District Council has been working hard with its Town Centre Vitality project to enhance the centre of Banbury as a lively and fun place for shoppers and visitors. This new series of performances will add yet more to the town centre and is set to attract still more people to explore and enjoy the town’s unique character.”

Cameron Murray of Aberdeen Assets Management, owners of Castle Quay, says: “We believe that ‘Banbury presents…’ is a fantastic opportunity to enhance people’s experience of Banbury town centre, and fully support this work. Banbury is a great town and initiatives like this will do a lot to encourage more people to visit the town centre and see that it has so much to offer.”

Planet Neptune’s, Suzette Watson, says:  “The Banbury presents… programme will showcase experienced professional artists and performers, and also makes a stage for newcomers, amateur artists, and welcomes local people from all generations and social groups, plus local organisations, schools, community groups and leaders, to not only perform and exhibit, but to get involved on the ground, and to influence the project by submitting their stories, poetry, and thoughts about what makes Banbury special for them.”

The programme is scheduled to begin during April and, once it’s underway, will be on every Friday throughout Spring and Summer with the team exploring possible expansion to Saturdays and Thursdays, and at looking at developing an Autumn/ Winter programme, as part of the project evaluation process.

There’ll be more details of the events via a new Banbury presents… FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Banbury-presents/368250960029255?fref=ts

The Town Centre Vitality project is being driven on the ground by Town Team coordinators, Neil Wild and Iain Nicholson.

Ends

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