Regeneration
Over 40 local makers and 250 creatives to showcase diverse talent at Walsall MakerFest 2024
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Get ready to be inspired! The first Walsall MakerFest kicks off across Walsall town centre on Saturday 7 September 2024.
Running from 11am-5pm, the free, one-day festival has a packed programme featuring live music, dance, storytelling, workshops, pop-ups, fashion shows, street food, a makers' market and more.
Alongside Walsall’s usual Saturday market traders, the Makers' Market will showcase the work of 40 creators from Walsall and the surrounding area. Expect a diverse array of ceramics, jewellery, beauty products, prints, cakes and more.
Gallery Square will be the location of Let’s Dance, a fantastic showcase of dance featuring over 120 dancers from 16 dance companies including Break Da Code, Ultimate Bhangra and Me Dance Company. Performances will span discipline and include Bhangra, break dance, Bulgarian folk, and street dance. The stage will also feature the culmination of bootcamps with renowned choreographer Shaun Cope who has worked with students from Walsall Studio School as well as Bethel Lighthouse Centre in the run up to the festival. The stage will be hosted by Wolverhampton singer-songwriter Shay Ramsey who has appeared on Britain’s Got Talent, Songs of Praise and was a semi-finalist on The Voice in 2023. Find out more on the Council's Website
There will be live music from 8 bands including 19 singers at The Crossing at St Paul’s featuring performances from 7-piece international collective Rhythms Del Toro, drag queen Asifa Lahore, Black Country-based Jamaican singer Janel Antoneshia and the talented local Zimbabwean mbira player, percussionist and singer Millicent Chapanda.
The Global Storytelling Village located at The Bridge will present storytelling from 20 creatives including Dr. Kuli Kohli, Wolverhampton’s Poet Laureate 2022-24, the Punjabi Women’s Writing Group along with stories being told by and for all generations.
15 artists and creatives will deliver workshops throughout the day letting visitors get creative, learn and explore. Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery will offer have-a-go workshops, Urban Hax will be showing what’s possible when science, technology, engineering and art collide, and theatre kids will have the chance to take part in a series of musical theatre workshops from RicNic Foundry. Wallsall Creative Factory will take over Lower Hall street with 24 artists/performers providing participatory activities and pavement painting throughout the day.
“ MakerFest is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible talent we have right here in Walsall. It’s not just about the beautiful creations on display; it’s about celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of our local makers.
Whether you're a seasoned collector or simply looking for a unique gift, you won't be disappointed because there's something for everyone. I encourage you all to mark calendars for September 7th and join us at Walsall MakerFest. Let’s celebrate the makers who make our borough so special. “
“ MakerFest is a huge project to come to Walsall and we have put in a lot of work by working in partnership with the Council and Urban Hax as well as our delivery partners in putting this event together and we are very proud of the creativity that will be showcased in Walsall on the day.
We have worked with over 40 makers, 60 singers and production assistants, story tellers, performers and creatives to showcase the true vibrant nature and entrepreneurial spirit that is present in Walsall and I urge everyone to come out as we have a fully packed day for everyone to enjoy. “
Walsall MakerFest is being delivered by Walsall Council in partnership with local non-profit Urban Hax CIC, The New Art Gallery Walsall and Walsall Cultural Compact. It has been supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)’s Cultural Development Fund: Round Three through Arts Council England.
For more information on how to get involved, view the digital programme on the Council's Website.
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