Festival season has hit Swindon with brand new events coming to town.
From July 22 to August 3, Signal Festival will be taking over 13 locations and venues in Swindon, with around 70 events available for young people aged 11-25.
Locations include the Wyvern Theatre, New College, and Town Gardens.
The brand new festival focuses on fostering love for the arts in young people, beginner or experienced, and giving them the experience and skills to pursue creative careers in their hometown.
Their aim is to create ‘a Swindon where art is easily accessible and young people are empowered to create it’.
Arlo Carter, Signal Festival producer, says the festival came around after “a series of consultations with local young people about their relationship to and perspective on Swindon.”
“Last year, the previous mayor’s task force went to a local secondary school to ask the children what the best thing about Swindon is. The most common answer was nothing," he said.
In response to this, the Learning Fund enabled Prime Theatre, along with six young producers, to put together a festival to try and shift cultural perspectives on Swindon.
Events range from gigs and exhibitions to discussions and screenings.
Events will take place across the town (Image: Getty)
The festival focuses on a broad range of arts activities, including writing, dance, and theatre. Young people are encouraged to participate and perform as much or as little as they like.
Signal Festival also promises career workshops on areas such as digital game design, directing and screenwriting with industry professionals.
Carter is especially excited about the careers event with Get Into Theatre.
"It’s all about representing different pathways into the industry," he added.
"The Federation of Drama Schools and LAMDA are coming, but also local organisations and artists with their own unique pathways into the industry.
“I am most excited about a young person walking away realising there are many different ways into the industry. To change the perspective that there is only one route is something we are aiming for.”
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