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Preview by Paul Nelson |
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STOKE Newington Festival continues to grow into one of London's most
diverse, community-based festivals, which last year attracted over 50,000
people.
This year heralds the inaugural directorship of Chris Westwood and it will
run from Friday 14 - Sunday 23 June.
The Stoke Newington Festival exists with the two following key principles.
To commission and showcase the work of North and East London artists that
is both high in quality and unusual, and takes place in non-conventional and
local places, allowing spectators to have unexpected brushes with art.
To maintain a 40% focus in its programming, specifically encouraging and celebrating
the wide range of people and groups that live and work in Stoke Newington,
especially supporting the Turkish and Kurdish communities.
The Festival is also programmed to fully explore its multi-arts policy, programming
everything from Shostakovich to skateboarding, providing audiences with a
truly 'something-for-everyone' festival.
Highlights of this year's festival include All Live Sk8 +; a skateboarding
festival and Hip Hop concert, relayed on huge plasma screens. Midsummer
Night Dreams where Clissold Park will be beautifully lit and feature commissions
including laser and light installations on the water, and a performance by
the acclaimed Cinema Bizarre.
Further features include Word-On-The-Street, a literature day with
a difference, including bedtime stories for kids and a late night ghost story
session for adults, poetry slams and the longest letter in the world, in which
people are invited to write in between two enormous chalk lines that will
run down Church Street.
Throughout the Festival a lounge bar in the Assembly Rooms with featured DJs
will run every night. In addition, a programme of evening gigs and concerts
make up the series Sounds Like N16. The events will include The
Pin Ball, a showcase for local bands incorporating vintage pinball and
football tables; Global HeadFunk, a sprawling club night; classical
concerts from young orchestra Flux and a circus/cabaret night organised
by Continental Drifts.
The Stoke Newington Festival is funded by London Arts and Hackney Council
and is supported by local businesses.