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New Blackburn Town Hall Street Fairs
26th May 2015
Call for artists to help launch Blackburn’s Town Hall Street Fairs this summer.
Artists, designers and makers are needed for a serious of high quality street fair events being staged in Blackburn this summer.
Shop managers on Town Hall Street has been working with the Blackburn BID (business improvement district) to plan a serious of summer arts events to help attract visitors to Blackburn and visitors to the newly re-generated side of the town.
The Town Hall Street Fair will be staged by the businesses opposite the new library entrance under the direction of event manager and curator Heather Fox of Hopeful & Glorious. She has organised similar activities at Lytham Hall and previously set up the Platform Art Gallery in Clitheroe. Stalls will be set up as a pavement gallery either side of the pedestrianised area, with the existing businesses such as the Spiritual Emporium, No 11 and Rebound showcasing with outdoor activities and arts workshops in No 11.
There will also be street entertainment and activities for children linking in with the library including a workshop with Kate Bufton using recycled books. The events will take place on four Saturdays over the summer, Saturday 20 June, Saturday 18 July, Saturday 15 August and Saturday 12 September.
Heather Fox from Hopeful and Glorious, said: “We are helping the Blackburn BID set up an exciting new monthly makers event to help support a number of specialist businesses on Town Hall Street. We plan to start with a small number of arts and crafts stalls in June and grow this as a sustainable model each month."
The events are being financially supported by the Blackburn BID as part of the Attract & Support strand of activity to increase footfall in response to the appeal by levy payers. Blackburn BID Manager Harriet Roberts said, 'This is an idea that has come from the BID members as levy payers themselves and there's a strong swell of support for making it work. We hope that other businesses, not just those on Town Hall Street will
benefit as people find out about shops, businesses and cafés on a side of town that they may not usually visit. If the pilot is successful it could be extended to other areas and indoor spaces such as Blackburn Market.'
Applications are invited from both established and new artists, designers and makers working in ceramics, glass, jewellery, metal, wood, textiles, mixed media, basket-making, product design, furniture, photography, print-making, painting and more.
Details about the events and how to apply are on the BID website. Shortlisting begins on June 3rd so early applications are recommended.
Trader packs can be found at http://www.blackburnbid.co.uk/
