Swindon is preparing to host a new youth arts festival this summer with the aim of restoring pride in the town.

Taking place from July 22 to August 3, Signal Festival will celebrate art across all mediums, offering a fortnight of performances, career discussions and workshops.

Aiming to make art accessible to all, the festival, organised by six producers from Swindon, will encompass an array of events.

All six, who are all under 28, are involved in the creative industry, from visual art and theatre to music and dance.

Swindon’s young people provided the initial spark for the festival when, in 2023, Swindon Borough Council asked secondary school students what they liked most about the town.

The overwhelming response was "nothing". This feedback helped to shape the vision for Signal Festival.

The festival's producers said: "Living in Swindon, you can't ignore attitudes about the town and its potential.

"This often means that young people have to fight to create opportunities for themselves.

"Signal Festival is a chance to bring us all together, celebrate our talents and invest in our development.

"We want to empower all young people to create art and communities where they are, instead of feeling like they always have to find it elsewhere."

An opening showcase will be held on Tuesday, July 23, at Swindon Dance. It will be an evening of music, dance, theatre, film and spoken word from the a range of local artists.

On Wednesday, July 31, Swindon Arts Centre will be housing the town's first ever theatre and film careers event.

Then, on Friday, August 2, Signal Festival will take over Town Gardens for a day of pop-up performances and creative arts workshops.

Mark Powell, creative director of Prime Theatre, founding partner of Signal Festival, said: "Signal Festival is the living response to the producer's consultations with other young people about Swindon's arts and culture.

"They want more opportunities, more positivity and more celebration of youth talent.

"It's great to be one of the many organisations and artists answering their call to action.

"Signal Festival should be a step change in how we all work together to design and deliver a more creative future for the town."

Supported by various sponsors, including the National Trust and Swindon Wyvern Theatre, the festival is a collaborative milestone driven by Arts Council England funding and collaborations with organisations like Prime Theatre, Swindon Borough Council, GEL Studios, and The Listening Fund.